Bush's Perplexing Port Stance Continues

Beep Beep Beep.....This off the wires......Bush administration refuses to admit mistake or listen to any kind of reasonable alternative view. This Deja vu?

What is going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? As this situation gets more and more bizarre, I become more and more worried about what Bush and his advisors are thinking at this point. This is either stupidity in it's simplest form or there is something to this story that has yet to come to light.

First this little revelation...

WASHINGTON President Bush wasn't aware that shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports were being sold to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates until after his administration had approved the deal, the White House said Wednesday.

Susan Page, USA TODAY http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-22-bush-ports_x.htm

Ah WHAT?!?

We believe once Congress has a better understanding of the facts and the safeguards that are in place that they will be more comfortable with the transaction moving forward.

Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary

Hopefully a "better understanding" then Bush had once it was approved. I feel dizzy.

It shouldn't have happened, it never should have happened... The quicker the Bush administration can get out of the deal, the better... There's no question that two of the 9/11 hijackers came from there and money was laundered through there... From our point of view, we don't want foreigners controlling our ports. From their point of view, this is a legitimate company that had a legitimate bid and won, and here are all these congressmen saying all these things about not wanting this company. It looks to them like it's anti-Arab.

Thomas Kean, former R-Gov. New Jersey; Chairman of the 9/11 Commission

Someone hold me.

Kean makes an interesting point. Not only is it potentially harmful in the future in terms of security, but is definitely harmful now in public relations with the Middle East. Bush is making the valid concerns of Congress look like simple racism. Great, now this is harmful on more then one level.

Not really shocking that the UAE gave 100 million for Katrina Relieft which may have greased the wheels on this deal a little bit, but I think there is more to this story. I'll keep my one reader (maybe) updated.