NPR Series: Ports Deal Ignites National Security Concerns https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5230349 Bowing to pressure from Congress, a Dubai-based company backs out of a White House-approved deal to run cargo terminals at ports in six U.S. cities. Bipartisan concerns over national security greeted widespread publicity over the Dubai Ports World agreement. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:53:02 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Ports Deal Ignites National Security Concerns https://www.npr.org/series/5230349/ports-deal-ignites-national-security-concerns Dubai Ports World Gets Specific About Its Plans Dubai Ports World says it will sell all of its operations at U.S. ports to an "unrelated" U.S. buyer in the next four to six months. Previously, the company had said only that it would transfer its operations to a U.S. entity, a phrasing that proved too ambiguous for many in Congress. Wed, 15 Mar 2006 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/15/5282209/dubai-ports-world-gets-specific-about-its-plans https://www.npr.org/2006/03/15/5282209/dubai-ports-world-gets-specific-about-its-plans Dubai Ports World says it will sell all of its operations at U.S. ports to an "unrelated" U.S. buyer in the next four to six months. Previously, the company had said only that it would transfer its operations to a U.S. entity, a phrasing that proved too ambiguous for many in Congress.

]]> Brian Naylor Ports Deal Prompts Politicians to Look at Ownership Issues In the wake of the Dubai Ports World deal, some members of Congress want to crack down on foreign ownership of ports. Mon, 13 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/13/5259277/ports-deal-prompts-politicians-to-look-at-ownership-issues https://www.npr.org/2006/03/13/5259277/ports-deal-prompts-politicians-to-look-at-ownership-issues In the wake of the Dubai Ports World deal, some members of Congress want to crack down on foreign ownership of ports.

]]> Nancy Marshall-Genzer President: Ports Deal Defeat Sends Wrong Message President Bush says he is troubled by the protests that led to the collapse of the Dubai Ports World deal. He said Friday that the fight against the deal sends a bad message to moderate American allies in the Middle East like the United Arab Emirates. Fri, 10 Mar 2006 12:02:01 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5256413/president-ports-deal-defeat-sends-wrong-message https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5256413/president-ports-deal-defeat-sends-wrong-message President Bush says he is troubled by the protests that led to the collapse of the Dubai Ports World deal. He said Friday that the fight against the deal sends a bad message to moderate American allies in the Middle East like the United Arab Emirates.

]]> David Greene Democrats Leverage President's Political Ports Problem Democrats in Congress are leveraging the Dubai ports deal as a political issue. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Republicans have had the upper hand on homeland security. Now, President Bush's firm support of a deal for Dubai to take over terminal operations at six key American ports is eroding that advantage. Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255724/democrats-leverage-presidents-political-ports-problem https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255724/democrats-leverage-presidents-political-ports-problem Democrats in Congress are leveraging the Dubai ports deal as a political issue. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Republicans have had the upper hand on homeland security. Now, President Bush's firm support of a deal for Dubai to take over terminal operations at six key American ports is eroding that advantage.

]]> David Welna Government Report Questions N.Y.-N.J. Ports A report by the Department of Homeland Security criticizes lax screening of truck drivers by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The report says drivers using phony documents, or having criminal records, have received passes to work at ports operated by the authority, compromising security. Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255706/government-report-questions-n-y-n-j-ports https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255706/government-report-questions-n-y-n-j-ports A report by the Department of Homeland Security criticizes lax screening of truck drivers by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The report says drivers using phony documents, or having criminal records, have received passes to work at ports operated by the authority, compromising security.

]]> Pam Fessler Ports Controversy Not Entirely Resolved A Dubai-owned company is backing away from a plan to manage terminal operations at some U.S. ports. Under political pressure from Congress, Dubai Ports World says it is transferring operations to an unspecified American "entity." Democrats in Congress want to hear more before giving their seal of approval. Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255721/ports-controversy-not-entirely-resolved https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255721/ports-controversy-not-entirely-resolved

A Dubai-owned company is backing away from a plan to manage terminal operations at some U.S. ports. Under political pressure from Congress, Dubai Ports World says it is transferring operations to an unspecified American "entity." Democrats in Congress want to hear more before giving their seal of approval.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)

]]> Adam Davidson Ports Showdown Averted, White House Relieved A Persian Gulf shipping company that had hoped to take over terminal operations at six American ports has backed out of the deal. The announcement may have averted a major showdown between the White House and Republican members of Congress who opposed the transaction. Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255703/ports-showdown-averted-white-house-relieved https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255703/ports-showdown-averted-white-house-relieved A Persian Gulf shipping company that had hoped to take over terminal operations at six American ports has backed out of the deal. The announcement may have averted a major showdown between the White House and Republican members of Congress who opposed the transaction.

]]> David Greene Dubai Company Bails Out on Ports Deal The Dubai company that was to acquire rights to manage U.S. ports announces it will transfer the rights to a U.S. entity. The deal was soundly rejected by a House committee, and Republican congressional leaders told President Bush that the deal should be scrapped. Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/09/5254845/dubai-company-bails-out-on-ports-deal https://www.npr.org/2006/03/09/5254845/dubai-company-bails-out-on-ports-deal

The Dubai company that was to acquire rights to manage U.S. ports announces it will transfer the rights to a U.S. entity. The deal was soundly rejected by a House committee, and Republican congressional leaders told President Bush that the deal should be scrapped.

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

]]> Brian Naylor Dubai Company Gives Up on Ports Deal A Dubai-owned company says it will drop its quest to take over operations at several U.S. ports. DP World, the firm involved, issued a statement saying it would "transfer fully" the planned operations to a "United States entity." Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:05:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/09/5254603/dubai-company-gives-up-on-ports-deal https://www.npr.org/2006/03/09/5254603/dubai-company-gives-up-on-ports-deal A Dubai-owned company says it will drop its quest to take over operations at several U.S. ports. DP World, the firm involved, issued a statement saying it would "transfer fully" the planned operations to a "United States entity."

]]> House Committee Votes to Block Ports Deal In the latest sign of friction between President Bush and members of his party in Congress, a Republican-dominated committee votes to block the Dubai Ports World deal. The move by a House panel puts Congress on a collision course with the president, who has threatened a veto. Thu, 09 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/09/5253395/house-committee-votes-to-block-ports-deal https://www.npr.org/2006/03/09/5253395/house-committee-votes-to-block-ports-deal

In the latest sign of friction between President Bush and members of his party in Congress, a Republican-dominated committee votes to block the Dubai Ports World deal. The move by a House panel puts Congress on a collision course with the president, who has threatened a veto.

]]> Brian Naylor