RockThrower

Bush and Dubai Ports: A Snow Job

Controversy Raises Issues of Competence and Corruption

These guys should at least get their stories straight.

Seeking to defend the sale of U.S. port operations to a company based in the United Arab Emirates President Bush this week said, “Our government has looked at this issue, and looked at it carefully.”  His statements were backed up by assurances from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan who told reporters "The president made sure to check with all the Cabinet secretaries that are part of this process, or whose agencies or departments are part of this process." 

But not so fast.  On the same day, the Treasury Department issued a statement saying that Treasury Secretary John Snow, the chair of the committee responsible for the review and approval of the sale of the port operations “had learned of the approval of the Dubai Ports deal after the fact,” and that Assistant Treasury Secretary for International Affairs Clay Lowery was the most senior Treasury official involved.

The statement was apparently intended to put some distance between Snow and stories raising questions about what would appear to be a huge conflict of interest on his part.

It seems that before joining the Bush Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury, Snow was the Chief Executive Officer of the CSX Corporation. When he left CSX he received a $33 million dollar buy out and another lump sum payment of $8 million dollars.  Shortly after Snow’s departure, CSX sold its port operations to Dubai Ports International for $1.23 billion. There was only one hitch to the deal.  The sale was subject to review and approval of the little known Committee on Foreign Investment.  But not to worry, the Committee just happened to be chaired by the newly minted, not to mention newly rich Treasury Secretary John Snow.

So who’s telling the truth here?  Is the President right, was the deal investigated at the highest levels of government?  Did the chair of the Committee charged by law with approving the transaction fulfill his responsibilities to ensure the security of the American people by conducting a thorough review of the sale of one of America’s most important assets? Or, as he says, did the Treasury Secretary only learn of the deal after it was completed?

I don’t know the answer, but either way, it’s not a pretty picture. One thing is for certain though.  If John Snow isn’t smart enough to officially and publicly recuse himself from a decision-making process impacting a company that recently paid him $40 million, he’s not smart enough to be making decisions about the security of the United States.

Meanwhile, the president says that “we don’t need to worry about security” and appears to be surprised about the controversy over the sale.  But the reality is that the furor over the sale is being driven by a public with increasing doubts about the competence of the Bush administration, and growing concerns that a corrupt Republican regime has placed the interests of the wealthy and powerful ahead of the safety and security of the American people.

The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight

Cheney shooting is symbolic

Apparently there is no truth to the rumor that Dick Cheney thought he was shooting at Cindy Sheehan.

Actually, when I heard about the shooting I figured the VP’s target was some reporter in the White House press pool who pissed Cheney off by writing a critical story of his intentional leaking of classified documents.  Or maybe some blogger.

But the reality is that Harry Whittington is just the latest victim to get an up close and personal lesson in what happens when you get too close to the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

Whittington wandered a little out of the way and just to show the boy’s who was in charge Cheney fired off an errant shot that caught his hunting pal flush in the face. Pretty typical for an administration that seems to shoot first and think about what they are doing later.  Let’s not even talk about taking aim.

And when things don’t go so well, just cover it up. If it gets out, just deny it ever happened, or better yet, blame it on someone else, preferably a Democrat, or a least a Republican who doesn’t follow the party line.  If things get really tough, you can always play the 9-11 card.

But hey, what’s a little bird shot between friends.  There are a lot of folks who have come out of this deal a lot worse. Just ask the families of some of the soldiers in Iraq who could have used some adequate armor or maybe some the residents of New Orleans who probably would have appreciated it if the White House would have moved a little faster in response to the levee’s breaking during Hurricane Katrina.  Hey, who could have predicted that?  Certainly not a couple of macho guys like Bush and Cheney, one who was off chopping wood and the other doing his impression of Earnest Hemmingway wandering around in some stream.  But as it turns out no one needed to predict it, the authorities told them.

The incompetence of these guys is frightening. Their macho “dead or alive” blustering has placed a lot of people in harms way, meanwhile they are too busy off playing “tough guy” to bother with governing.  And besides, its not as much fun as hanging out at some luxury game farm where they drive you out to shoot at the little birds, and maybe once in a while, take a little shot at your friends.

Maybe Americans should start wearing orange vests. I don’t know about you, but the next time I see Bush or Cheney coming, I’m going to duck.

Will Porter Goss File Criminal Charges Against Dick Cheney?

I wonder if the lecture by CIA Director Porter Goss in the Opinion section of Today’s New York Times  applies to Vice President Dick Cheney? 

Goss came out blazing today against the leaking of classified information to the nation’s news media.  Criticizing those who do so Goss said those who “go straight to the press are not noble, honorable or patriotic. Nor are they whistleblowers. Instead they are committing a criminal act that potentially places American lives at risk.”

Pressing his case he added, “these disclosures can tip the terrorists to new technologies we use, our operational tactics, and the identities of brave men and women who risk their lives to assist us.”

Strong words, but the timing is either interesting or comical depending on your interpretation.  Because just this morning the nation’s newspapers are running a new story reported first by the National Journal that Scooter Libby, the indicted former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney testified that he was “authorized by his superiors” (apparently meaning Cheney) to disclose the highly classified National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq to reporters. Libby reportedly did so in a meeting with former New York Times reporter Judith Miller during a period in which the White House was seeking to rebuff charges by former ambassador James Wilson that the White House was trumping up its case for the war.  It was during this time that the identity of Valerie Plame, “one of those brave men and women who risk their lives to assist us” was disclosed as a CIA agent.

Goss goes on to say that he takes his “responsibilities seriously” and that “unauthorized disclosures undermine our efforts.” Goss also tells us that since becoming director he has "filed criminal reports with the Department of Justice because of such compromises.”

Does that mean that Goss will file a criminal report regarding the intentional leaking of a highly classified document to the press at the order of the vice president? 

My guess is no.  And i would bet that Goss is in for a little lecture of his own.  Doesn't he know that Vice President Cheney and President Bush are above the law?

Feingold Shows a Better Way

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine was right about one thing last night, there is a better way. Senator Russ Feingold steps up to the plate to show Democrats how its done with a firm and fair response to the President's State of the Union speech.

You can also see Feingolds response at:

http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statement/05/11/200613124.html