Norm Ornstein: Dubai Ports Considering Selling Operations To Halliburton

[kpete]

Norm Ornstein: Dubai Ports World Is Considering Selling U.S. Operations To Halliburton

Today Dubai Ports World announced it would “transfer fully the U.S. operations…to a United States entity.” This evening on the PBS News Hour, AEI scholar Norm Ornstein said that DP World was considering selling its U.S. operations to Halliburton:

If this is done now through the backdoor, where D.P. has any role at all, Congress is going to go ballistic, and it’s going to be a disaster, I think, for the administration.

They have got a dilemma now, because there simply aren’t American companies that have the know-how and the breadth to do this. Interestingly, and perhaps ironically, what I had heard earlier in the day, as they were looking at those that have the — the kind of resources, Halliburton was a name that came up.

Very interesting.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/09/dpworld-halliburton/

[immoderate]

1. Shit. I'd rather have Dubai than Halliburton.

At least they have the benefit of the doubt.

--IMM

[Cleita]

8. Oh don't worry. Dubai willl subcontract from Halliburton.

Don't you think this went through too easily?

[immoderate]

34. My faith in humanity is restored.

--IMM

[saigon68]

36. Here's the Chimps present to the TAXPAYER

[blondeatlast]

38. I don't think he cares to bother with the lubricant... nt

[saigon68]

40. I forgot the Photo of THE BAG OF SAND thats mixed with the stuff

Advantage Gripware 15 Lb. Sand Bag with Sand.

[wordpix2]

61. I've always believed they're one in the same clusterfuck

[feistydem]

2. of course

[Atman]

3. I WIN!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=617061&mesg_id=617061

Unfortunately, the rest of us lose.

[Webster Green]

12. NO WAY!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2503002&mesg_id=2503016

[Atman]

16. D'OH!

I guess it WAS kind of obvious.

[Nye Bevan]

45. Au contraire!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=614508&mesg_id=614590

;-)

[Marie26]

80. You win

When this port deal first broke, I just said that I'd be more worried about it if Halliburton was the buyer. D'oh!

[FatDave]

87. As Mr. Colbert says...

[Avalux]

4. I've been thinking Halliburton all day -

and now this coming from and American Enterprise Institute lackey; would expect it to have some validity. Not sure it's a dilemma though; the operations will go to Halliburton and no one will protest. Because after all - they're American, the are the only company large enough for the job, and they've done an outstanding job in Iraq. That's what we'll be told, end of story.

[pnorman]

30. "American Enterprise Institute lackey"

American Enterprise Institute he is, but he doesn't come across as a "lackey". He's been a guest on the Al Franken show a few time that I recall, and appears to be in substantial agreement with him. He certainly makes a lot of sense, and his days at AEI may be coming to an end.

pnorman

[katty]

72. Now the real plan can be implemented by reliablecorpfascists

at HELLiburton.

[Coexist]

5. Why - when there are not ONE but TWO American companies

that DO THIS PROFESSIONALLY already.

http://www.asiterminals.com/ - based in New Jersey - East Coast

http://www.ssamarine.com/company/history.html - based in Washington State - West Coast

See - we have the entire country covered without that effing company.


For crying out loud, these people don't even CARE to even PRETEND to hide their cronyism anymore.

Well, maybe this is a good thing - tie the name Halliburton to Dubai and the UAE - the American people apparently don't like the UAE, so lets hope this hits Joe and Jane America the wrong way.

[ReadTomPaine]

29. It's done on purpose - to make opposition seem pointless.

Bush is telling us & Congress, in very certain terms, that he will get his way and that he's not ashamed to show it. Raw naked power and contempt - Bush family SOP.

[CrispyQ]

57. Ahhh, but the evil dick has not looted enough from the treasury yet!

Simply stunning about the cronyism, huh?

I hope you're right about Joe & Jane America. Unfortunately, some of the wingnuts I know who listen to faux are more concerned about the corruption of the UN than they are about Halliburton & our government. I assume that limbaugh & o'reilly must go off on the UN all the time. ???

[Dem2theMax]

6. I swear, DU'ers could write the history of the world before it happens.

Halliburton was called much earlier today here at DU. LOL. Why am I laughing?
Scotty, PLEASE beam me up!

[Pachamama]

21. Actually, there were DUers predicting this last week...guess we have

figured this criminal cabal out so well we know their M.O. and can make accurate predictions....

[Dem2theMax]

24. Scary, isn't it?

Now if we could just run the court system. :evilgrin:

[babylonsister]

7. What happened to the definitive transfer, to an American company?

They haven't picked the company yet? :wtf: :wtf:

Oh, and it just might be Halliburton?
Ohhh, say it isn't so!:banghead:

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Well of course

Is anybody really surprised??

[Bozita]

10. Has George Schultz lost his clout? ... No mention of Bechtel

[spindrifter]

11. Au contraire. We do have American

know-how--SSA Marine a privately held company hq'd in Seattle that does about a billion in business. The problem is getting ramped up to handle the amount of business P & O had. I venture to say that H*burton does not actually have the experience or staff. On the other hand, Carlyle has been investing in other companies that claim transportation expertise, such as QinetiQ. The question is can they qualify as "American" interests or would Carlyle have to buy in farther. Then it gets back to the same problem the others have--can they hit the ground running without tripping over the velcro fasteners on their shoes?

[Cleita]

14. I did some superficial scanning of Halliburton to see if they had

anything that amounted to that type of experience. By a stretch, they have some experience with our navy, but nothing that I could find involving ports.

:shrug:

[spindrifter]

19. You are absolutely right, but, their offspring KBR

currently is doing port ops at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth, England. I don't know what volume that port does, however, and don't think that is adequate portfolio for the type of experience necessary. On the other hand, H*burton/KBR might be able to hire former CSX people and others who are American and put together the type of management that they could tout as adequate.

[pnorman]

31. SSA is no bargain either,

unless you like agressively anti-union companies. Here's what Freak Republic thinks of them: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583150/posts

pnorman

[spindrifter]

64. No, it's not good--and

we need to make sure the unions have our support if SSA takes a larger profile in port ops. as a result of the Dubai departure.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002855717_ssa10.html

[Perky]

13. I actually hope it happens that way

it is precisely that type of cronyism in the Houston- Cartel Middle East Axis of evil that may be the final straw for many GOPers who are running out of "Yeah...but" arguments that defend Bushco.

This could wind up being a perfect storm.

[shance]

15. Was this their plan to begin with? To create a fury and hand it over to

Halliburton as if it were an unexpected change of events that was already planned?

Was it all in the plan to allow their illegal NSA spying as well by leaking it out initially?

What is truth and what is fiction?

Seems apparent that everything is the opposite of what they are saying.

Now of course they own the media, and it is their accomplice. Why would it be that much of a surprise?

We cannot believe anything that is coming from the media or the White House. Everything they say is part of another lie or another plan.

Watch what they say and not what they do.

[peacetalksforall]

17. Halliburton -the one in constant trouble with the GAO? That Halliburton?

The one who serves contaminated water? That one? The one that overcharges to the max? That one?

The one whose former and future CEO is Cheney who struck an 18% approval rating today - three ahead of Paris Hilton? That Cheney?

Lemmings will love to have Halliburton. They're so American - cheaters, liars, and torture facilitators along with KBR, their brother company.

Yep, that Halliburton.

Just keep reminding yourself -

you and me - we have to find out why the heads of the WH, Homeland Security, Treasury, State and DOD did not know about UAE.

you and me - we have to learn about PNAC and Bush dynasty friends in the UAE deal that didn't happen as originally planned and where they stand in the new deal.

Can we count on them to be slimey or will they get some integrity?

Should we wait and see or shall we hound our leaders to find out for us?

[spindrifter]

It is KBR, child of H*burton that

would be most likely to be involved, IF, and that's a big IF, H*burton is the "American entity" that Dubai goes with. KBR is currently involved in port management in Devonport Royal Dockyard, Plymouth, England. http://www.halliburton.com/kbr/infra/portsHarbors.jsp
H*burton, the poppy, is more into stuff like engineering.
My theory, however, is that H*burton will have a tough time developing the kind of relationships a port operator needs unless it hires--you guessed it--the friendly guys that used to work for CSX and WP-D. Maybe J. Snow would quit his post as Secy. of Commerce to go back to "work." Snicker.

[acmavm]

18. Well finally, Halliburton is out in the open. Like has been mentioned for

the past couple of weeks.

What a frigging scam. Will the American people resent being had again, or will they just roll over and let this bunch of crooks screw them?

[Doctor Panacea]

91. Yes, we are screwed again.

The American people will take it up the ass, since a third of the country loves a wild ass fucking from BushCo any time of the day or night and consistently reaches orgasm from it. I am thinking of the Christofascists in particular and all of the other sick, twisted Republicans who deeply resent the notion that government should do anything except help big business.

[entanglement]

20. Well, at least it's an American company

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[cantstandbush]

22. If the UAE really wanted to get back at Bush, they would NOT sell

to Halliburton. If Congress lets that go through after all the mismangement of fed funds by Halliburton, they all need to be kicked out. I bet Cheney is slapping his knee right now.

[PATRICK]

23. No one else?

Japan doesn't have port security? How about Red China? We haven't exchanged bullets for many decades. Maybe the irish unless they get port security from the Emirates too. And if this is a sad example of empire what happened to Britain anyway?

I keep hearing Halliburton has this best of the best expertise monopoly and the more I hear it the less I trust it even if it is true.

One big happy non-national club. One wonders why there is so much violence in the nations that birth and support such fine corporations to the cost of every other national interest.

Maybe if we just bought millions of real vultures to our insecure cities we'd at least be sure we would be contributing to the natural food chain.

[Shipwack]

53. This reminds me of something I've been wondering about...

::I keep hearing Halliburton has this best of the best expertise monopoly and the more I hear it the less I trust it even if it is true.::

How can Halliburton be the only one qualified for so many diverse things? Logistics, oil well fires, power-grid restoration, hurricane repair, food service, etc... They keep getting these contracts with the excuse that they were the only ones who could do the job...

[TankLV]

79. Don't forget that Halliburton was a NOBODY until bush*co was installed

in 2000.

They were a very minor player.

Another in a long series of COINCIDENCES, don't you think?!?!?!

[ingac70]

89. Minor?

Halliburton's KBR was the main contractor for the military all through the '90's.

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. Has Halliburton ever been under SEC scrutiny?

Why should it be treated any differently than any other American corp.?

[Marie26]

26. We all know it's going to Halliburton

I wish they'd just come out and say it.

[snot]

27. ALSO IMPORTANT: What matters is who owns & manages the Co., not

whether it's formed in the U.S.

Whether it's technically "American" makes little difference in itself.

[incapsulated]

28. It's so predictable..

We could write the next year's events on our own.

[Bluebear]

32. This was probably the plan all along. nt

[Trevelyan]

33. some links for Halliburton -- let your friends and acquaintances know

where they can find information on Halliburton corruption and remind them that Brown and Root was known as Loot and Burn by soldiers in Vietnam.

Go to Sites: HalliburtonWatch and Know Your War Profiteers for playing cards with Kissenger/Condi Ect. War Criminals
Http://www.warprofiteers.com http://www.ruckus.org

Documents Reveal Concern Regarding Halliburton Contracts
A top Army contracting officer asks for an independent investigation
By André Verlöy

Rep. Slaughter's petition to form a Truman Commission for waste in bush's war on Iraq:
http://www.votelouise.com/page/petition/truman/

A conservative was asking if there were any American companies who could handle the ports and said liberals on the AOL messageboard wouldn't answer her and I didn't know about the above American companies but had heard the prediction about Halliburton on DU so I appreciate the information and URLs.

[LaloBorges]

35. I knew I smelled a RAT

"Scent of Victory"? Who said that? The moment I heard the news I smelled a rat, and anyone who has any ideas that the cons that are running this country will let millions, if not billions of dollars get away that easy is fooling themselves.

Isn't the Carlyle company involved in this deal? If so, you think the bushies are going to let this one go? or was this a plot to eventually give the contract to Halliburton anyway?

[npincus]

37. KA-CHING!

[liberal N proud]

39. ANd you could knock me over with a feather >

NOT

[BR_Parkway]

41. Certainly Congress will need to make a big fat tsubsidy to them

in some form or fashion so that they can "afford" to do the deal - after all, they don't want this profitable business, they're being drug into this under protecting us from terrorism.

Part of me is sitting here wondering if Cheney just one some sick bet - "Hey, watch how I can manipulate the entire country into buying me a multibillion dollar company AND having them think that I'm saving their stupid asses once again" Ok Condi, I told you, where's that $100 you owe me.

[nuxvomica]

42. Yesterday Blitzer and Cafferty joked about it on the Situation Rm

BLITZER: You know, Jack, there's a lot of chatter out there on the web right now that Halliburton is going to get these six ports. Can you imagine what the uproar would be then? I don't think that's going to happen.

CAFFERTY: I don't think -- I mean, they're brazen, those folks in Washington, but I don't think anybody down there's got nerve enough to do that. I mean, I'm cynical, but even I don't think that's going to happen.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/09/sitroom.02.html

Gosh, even Blitzer is aware that that would be a bad move. Won't they be surprised!

[Epiphany4z]

43. is anybody

surprised? Not me..they are getting way to predictable.

[SharonRB]

44. And this is a surprise to anyone here, why?

I said this all day yesterday. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if I found out that this was the plan all along.

[Catherine Vincent]

46. Oh my!

There was a DUer that predicted this a few weeks ago. I don't remember who.

[derby378]

47. ginbarn predicted this would happen last night...

What Bush defeat? This administration has proven once again that it's going to have its way no matter what Democrats or Republicans say or do.

[The Stranger]

48. At least the racists behind the massive media assault will be happy.

"Them damn ragheads won't be running the ports."

:sarcasm:

[Sensitivity]

49. Notice that Cheney did not come out in support of Dubai deal

[wordpix2]

63. not just Cheney---entire BFEE is deep into Halliburton

see these links---Prescott Bush was on Dresser board, Geo. HW Bush started career at Dresser and Dresser was sold to Halliburton. These asswipe Bushes are heavy into Halliburton so don't let Cheney's finger in the pie fool you.

http://www.famoustexans.com/georgebush.htm

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/Halliburton_Company

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/BFEE

[converted_democrat]

50. How many DU'ers predicted this? There are some very smart people

on this board..

[Dukkha]

51. you could see this coming from space

it was so obvious

*'s governing resembles more like Palpatine's plotting each day "everything has proceeded according to my design"

[yy4me]

52. Like we didn't call this one right away. This whole thing was

planned just as it happened. How phony was this one! I hope the country does go ballistic. Proves a point we have made all along. Is this deal the real "wake-up call"?

[leesa]

54. Ah, yes, the 9-11 partners in crime, continue their crime spree.

[VP505]

55. Stevie Wonder

could have seen that coming.:hurts:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

56. It's A Small World After All!

Dubai, Halliburton...In Neocon World it's all the same!!



Come on, everyone, join in!

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all

There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to ev'ryone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world

[IronLionZion]

58. Why bother playing games?

If this was their plan all along, then why didn't they just do this in the first place and save themselves the embarassment?

No, I'm with the Plaid Adder on this one. They are just fucking dumbasses who don't think about their Orwellian war on fear. "Never attribute to malice what can be explained by pure stupidity."

[seafan]

59. Halliburton spokeswoman says rumors are "False and baseless."

snip

So, said Rep. Vito Fossella (R-S.I.), "The fundamental question is this: Who are operations being transferred to?"

DP World did not say. And scratch Halliburton off the list.

Melissa Norcross, a spokeswoman for the controversial U.S. company once headed by Vice President Cheney, called suggestions circulating on the Hill that they might take over "false and baseless."

http://www.nydailynews.com/business/story/398280p-337512c.html




Watch what they DO, NOT what they say.

[wordpix2]

75. BFEE will create a Halliburton-KBR subsidiary specializing in ports manage

ment, you can count on that.

[gkhouston]

76. KBR already HAS a subsidiary that does ports management

and BushCo is going to try to ram this deal through using the rationale that not that many American companies are big enough to afford buying the ports from DPW.

Oh yeah, let's hand the ports over to a subsidiary of Halliburton because they've done such a competent and cost-effective job with taxpayer money in Iraq. :sarcasm:

[Julius Civitatus]

60. ...and THE FIX IS IN!!!!

Come on people! Raise your hand if you knew this was gonna happen from the get go!

I truly wonder if this was the plan all along. Just like they got Alito in ther Supreme Court by proposing Harriet Myers first.

[librechik]

62. no bid--how timesaving!

[marmar]

65. Ahhh....follow the bloody money trail...

and it will invariably end up at Halliburton's headquarters.

:think:

Clearly this company wants to own the world.

[savemefromdumbya]

66. Between the DEVIL and the DEEP BLUE SEA!

I expect they have to keep the Carlyle group happy and Neil Bush

[AnneD]

67. Carlyle Group....

you forgot to add the Carlyle group...they're in this deal somewhere!

[wordpix2]

74. Carlyle--Poppy---Halliburton all interwoven, see links

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/BFEE

[grasswire]

68. it's a TWO-fer!

Republicans get to look strong against Bush. And Bushco gets richer! Maybe there's another component that would make it a yet another trifecta.

[Initech]

69. Oh yeah, I called it! I called it!!

[madokie]

70. oh shit, tell me this isn't true.

you don't reckon the assholes cooked this deal out so halliburton could wind up with the posts deal, If this is true we are so fucked. our country cannot afford another halliburton dealings

[ContraBass Black]

71. Called it!

As did the rest of DU.

[Norquist Nemesis]

73. I'm holding off on reaction. It sounds like "rumor"

and I'm smelling a rat. Just sayin'....red alert antennaes are going automatic on this little 'tidbit'.

[Ravy]

77. I think this is a *GOOD* thing.

This isn't like some free government handout where Haliburton can bilk the taxpayers out of billions.

Dubai *selling* these rights to Halliburton has every appearance of cronyizm to the average person so there will be backlash. But it isn't nearly so bad as the free government give-a-ways they have been getting since *. This would be, in my opinion, a legitimate business deal, something Halliburton has not done in a long time.

This can be used to call attention to their not-so-upfront business dealings, and will keep the national scurity/sellout/cronyism on the front pages a while longer.

[TankLV]

78. Boy - did WE ever call this one!

Could see it as soon as the words left the Dubai bastards lips.

And some here STILL question our powers of foresight.

[Marie26]

81. Does anyone know when we'll find

out for sure? They can't hide this forever.

[lies and propaganda]

82. i feel so dumb that I didnt think Halliburton immediately after hearing

about the 'entity' they were looking at.

This makes me puke. Guess its Deadeye Dicks way of sticking around forever.

[kpete]

83. DPW Divestiture a Sucker Punch?

DPW Divestiture a Sucker Punch?
Based on commenters' speculations in the story below, "Dubai Ports Deal : CNN," I did some checking. Lo and behold:

1)3/4/06 Thomas DeFrank, the veteran New York Daily News reporter with crampons firmly fixed to his White House sources (and who you often see on MSNBC's Hardball), writes (via Contra Costa Times reprint):

The White House is quietly pushing a Dubai company to "significantly restructure" and partner up with a U.S. outfit to keep the port deal from sinking, sources told the New York Daily News on Friday. ... <...>
One snag to such a deal may be that sources say the U.S. company best equipped to partner with DP World is Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

After undergoing so much scrutiny for its no-bid Iraq contract and the handling of some of its duties there, Halliburton may not be able to help DP World land the deal, a source admitted. <...>

... DP World will have to come up with a deal that will pass muster with Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. <...>

n addition to a rigorous investigation, it's important to look at having an American company administer the contract, and DPW would have to be totally separated out from the U.S. company in terms of access to information that the company would have or could acquire," King told the Daily News. ...


2) Newsday, commenting that Sen. John Warner's Senate floor statement was "vaguely worded," reports that:

"The funny thing is that Halliburton may be the one American company with the capacity to do this," said one congressional Republican, speaking earlier this week on condition of anonymity. "Problem is that the Democrats would probably complain that the Dubai deal was a big ruse to get Halliburton the contract." Vice President Dick Cheney used to run Halliburton.

(Kpete: This article gets more and MORE insightful --- Oh My....:}
http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/03/dpw_divestature.html#more

[beingthere]

84. Un be liev a ble! Except it's too believable. n/t

[TheModernTerrorist]

85. suprise, suprise

:eyes:

[Disturbed]

86. Poised to Profit from Katrina: Halliburton,

Poised to Profit from Katrina: Halliburton, Houston Head the List

"It also looks like Halliburton's KRB was contracted to "clean-up" and level New Orleans - the contracts might be extended to landfill the city to sea level, ..."

http://www.atsnn.com/story/168481.html

Another success story for KBR.

[Higans]

88. Completely predictable N/T

[RB TexLa]

90. What is Halliburton not white enought to run the ports either?

:shrug:

[Independent_Liberal]

92. Holy shit! Another prediction of mine came true!

I was predicting something about deals with Halliburton would get revealed.