Lawmakers urges White House to review Arab port takeover [View All]

Lawmakers urges White House to review Arab port takeover
Critics contend deal could affect national security

Thursday, February 16, 2006; Posted: 12:32 p.m. EST (17:32 GMT)

(AP) -- U.S. lawmakers formally asked the Bush administration Thursday to reconsider its approval of a sale giving a company in the United Arab Emirates control over significant operations at six major American ports.

The lawmakers, including four senators and three House members, sharply criticized the UAE as inconsistent in its support of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.

They also said the country was a key transfer point for shipments of nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya and was one of only three nations that had recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government.

"Outsourcing the operations of our largest ports to a country with a dubious record on terrorism is a homeland security and commerce accident waiting to happen," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York. "The administration needs to take another look at this deal."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/16/congress.ports.ap/index.html