Port Deal Dying Despite Support from Frist, Corker
Despite continued support from Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate candidate Bob Corker, Dubai Ports World appeared to begin backing away from the Bush Administration deal to sell operation of six U.S. ports to the company owned by the United Arab Emirates. CNN reports that after Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert told President Bush that the deal was dead in Congress, DP World announced that it would transfer its operation of American ports to a U.S. “entity.” It did not, however, specify which U.S. “entity.”
Due to the ambiguous nature of the announcement, Senate Democrats continued to press for a vote on an amendment offered by Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to block the deal, and Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke renewed his call for Frist and Corker to oppose the deal.
“DP World has recognized that the overwhelming majority of Americans oppose this dangerous deal. It’s time for Frist and Corker to do the same,” Tuke said. “They cannot continue to turn their backs on us.”
Frist was stung Wednesday when the Senate rejected a procedural move he attempted to prevent a vote on Schumer’s amendment. Corker also suffered a blow when Rep. Zach Wamp, the lone member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation supporting Corker’s run for the Senate, joined 61 other members of the House Appropriations Committee in voting for an amendment blocking the deal.
“Security-conscious Americans of both parties have fought hard against this deal, and Frist and Corker have pushed a wait-and-see approach,” Tuke said. “This isn’t a time to be timid. America should not be in the business of outsourcing security at its ports. Period.”
Tuke again took Corker to task for saying the United States should “err on the side of being cautious” when it comes to national security, saying the former Chattanooga mayor obviously doesn’t have the background necessary to handle vital national security issues in Washington.
“He clearly misunderstands the importance of these matters,” Tuke said. “He’s just not ready for the U.S. Senate.”
