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Hillary Criticizes Ports Deal NewsMax.com Wires MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Speaking just miles from the Port of Miami, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she is pleased the Bush administration and a United Arab Emirates company have agreed to delay the company's takeover of significant operations at six major American ports. But the New York Democrat and former first lady said she is still opposed to the deal and plans to introduce legislation that would block Dubai Ports World or any other company owned by a foreign government from operating U.S. ports. Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the UAE government, had been expected to take control of operations at the ports under a $6.8 billion deal with London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. In her first public comments since Dubai Ports World volunteered to postpone its takeover late Thursday, Clinton said she is "very pleased when last night the administration and the Dubai company said that they would subject themselves to the questions that Americans and their elected representatives have. That's the way a democracy is supposed to work." But Clinton added that she did not believe another country should be running American ports. Story Continues Below
"We cannot cede sovereignty over critical infrastructure like our ports. This is a job that America has to do," Clinton told about 600 people at a breakfast sponsored by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Union members protesting the proposed takeover echoed that sentiment. "We believe American companies who are willing to bid on the port operations in the U.S. should be given that opportunity," said Mike Scott, president of Teamsters Local 769. About 30 union members rallied Friday at the Port of Miami with signs that read "Goodbye Dubai - Secure America's Ports." "The president is constantly talking about how tough he is on terrorism, yet he's willing to outsource one of our most vulnerable areas, the ports, to a country with known ties to terrorism," Scott said. Meanwhile, a Republican congressman from Florida said Friday that he planned to introduce legislation next week to give Congress oversight of how the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States makes foreign investment decisions. The interagency committee is chaired by the secretary of the treasury. "We have questions that time delays alone won't answer in the sale of our port operations to the UAE government," U.S. Rep. Mark Foley said in a statement. "National security concerns should come first and my legislation sheds light on the secret process by which foreign investment decisions are made and approved." In her 45-minute address in Miami Beach, Clinton also touched on issues such as improving health care, making a commitment to renewable energy, tax cuts, the war in Iraq and the budget. Clinton, who is seeking re-election in November, also talked about issues of particular interest to Floridians including relations with Latin America, the stability of the government in Haiti and the federal response to disasters like hurricanes. Clinton, who is seen a possible candidate for president in 2008, drew applause in renewing a call to take the Federal Emergency Management Agency out of the Department of Homeland Security and for having an independent commission investigate the response to the Hurricane Katrina. Next week marks six months since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, destroying large portions of Louisiana and Mississippi, and the region has barely begun rebuilding, Clinton said. Clinton also talked about memories specific to Florida, including visiting the state after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and her first visit to the state with her family in 1957. Clinton drew laughs saying that she will never forget a stop at a restaurant in the Florida Panhandle when a man entered with an alligator on a leash. Clinton also drew a parallel between today and her first visit to Florida, saying there were similar concerns about security with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, by the Soviet Union in that year. The difference, she said, is that today America has lost some of its "can-do spirit." "We're not making the decisions today that will enable us as a nation to grow richer and safer and smarter and stronger," Clinton said. The Republican National Committee said Clinton spends a lot of time attacking Republicans. "While the president's focus is on defending America it seems New York's junior senator remains dedicated to her political aspirations," said Camille Anderson, a RNC spokeswoman. "For someone that claims to be solely concerned with serving her constituents, Sen. Clinton spends an inordinate amount of time and energy attacking Republicans." © 2006 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Editor's note: Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
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