I am having trouble deciphering the Dubai Port threads -

[stop the bleeding]

at first it seemed like good news, now when I read further it seems like there is a lot of "uh ohs" on the thread - do we have finality/conclusion about this Senate announcement today?




Is good, bad or a little of both, also please explain if possible.


Thank you in advance.

[hlthe2b]

1. ditto

help us out, someone... plz

[napi21]

2. It's both good and unknown.

From everything I've read, it's a good thing that the deal was stopped, by whatever measure. There are still a LOT of unanswered questions though. CNN said the "ports" were only 10% of the deal, the rest was financial, but had no more info than that. So we don't KNOW what it really means. I heard ONE report that the sale of Reuters news service was part of that original deal, and if it was and is now off, I think that's a good thing. The other rumor is that Dubai was to buy Albertsons grocery stores. I don't know if that's good or bad. The grocery business is certainly NOT an extremely lucritive business.

I think it's best to wait, watch, and listen, to what surfaces in the next day or so.

[stop the bleeding]

3. cool or not cool - but either way glad I am not only one waiting to

see what this really means.

[MADem]

5. Good and unknown!!!

Sounds like something RUMMY would say!!! Hell, let's make you the SECDEF...you'd surely do a better job than he's doing!

[napi21]

8. I'm not sure if that was a compliment or a slam?

If I'm better than Rummy....well, isn't everybody? And what in the world is SECDEF?

[MADem]

12. It was a compliment

The press would be happy, because they wouldn't have to adjust to strong changes in the way the word comes down from the podium at the Five Sided flea circus. And given that you post in a progressive forum, your policies would make much more sense than his do.

SECDEF=Secretary of Defense.

[napi21]

13. Well, that you. I KNOW I could do better than Rummy!

At least what I say makes sense! His...not so much!

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. I think it's the US ports that are 10% of the deal

The bulk of P&O's assets are port operations in the rest of the world; Dubai will run these (no other country objects to them). P&O are also the leading English channel ferry operator, and also have a freight operation.

Reuters is nothing to do with P&O; there was a rumour that Google was considering taking it over, but I can't find much more than that. Albertsons was sold to SuperValu in January, a publicly traded American company.

[havocmom]

4. Many here guessed it was all a ploy to make GOP in Congress look good

as in: standing up to bushco. Now there is a move for closing debate, I believe on ethics bill, but hey, I just got home from the ER and haven't slept in 48 hours. Here's a thread that has some smart people who are watching... check it out and ask questions. They'll help ya out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x616341

[napi21]

9. Maybe, but I think it was a way for Shrub to save face and not

have to back down from either side.

[havocmom]

11. At this point, I fail to see how saving his face is of value

He isn't going to be running for public office again. Now Congressmen who have been rubber stamping his shit for five years have some work to do if they want to make an appearance of giving a damn about this country. bushco policies have all been failures. The Congress is guilty of going along and not doing their job as an equal branch of government. The GOP is hurting and they know it.

Thinking this was just another dog and pony show. Some huge corporation (under what ever flag) will run the ports and many HUGE CORPORATIONS have not shown good citizenship of late.

[central scrutinizer]

6. whatever keeps it front and center in the news is good

IMHO - this issue is a loser for the repugnants.

[gkhouston]

7. no one really knows what's shaking down yet

my guess is that the R's are trying to shelve this PR nightmare by arranging a sale to an "American" company. Distrustful lot that we are, we suspect that the buyer will either be in bed with Dubai or BushCo or both.

[Just Me]

10. Appears to me the BFEE got creative and offered a shell company,...

,...to make sure this Dubai deal goes through. Nothing about the contract changes except for the facade. It's total bullshit.