Rumsfeld Just Learned of Port Deal - but approved it on the 13th?

[Rose Siding]

BREAKING: Rumsfeld and Pace Not Consulted On Transfer Of Port Operations To UAE

In a press briefing today, Secretary Rumsfeld revealed that he was not consulted about the decision to transfer operations of six key U.S. ports to the United Arab Emirates, a country with troubling ties to international terrorism.

QUESTION: Are you confident that any problems with security — from what you know, are you confident that any problems with security would not be greater with a UAE company running this than an American company?

RUMSFELD: I am reluctant to make judgments based on the minimal amount of information I have because I just heard about this over the weekend.

Rumsfeld’s statement was particularly troubling because Dubai Ports World, owned and operated by the UAE government, will also take over a major contract managing the movement of military equipment for the U.S. Army. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace, who was at the briefing, also said he found out about the deal over the weekend. The deal was approved on February 13.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan claimed the Defense Department was part of “a rigorous review…for national security concerns.” If so, why were two of the Department’s top officials not even informed, much less consulted?

UPDATE: Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense, is a member of Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States. As such, he was one of the people who, according to the Treasury Department, unanimously approved the sale on February 13. How could do that when he didn’t even find out about the sale until last weekend?

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/21/rumsfeld-not-consulted/

[WCGreen]

1. He had a Thing that night, you know THAT thing....

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Project X?

[WCGreen]

8. Stop it....

Or the Germans will have our first born.....

[xiamiam]

3. been thinking that this invalidates the approval of the committee in some

way...tried to get some knowledgeable duers to give their opinions re the legality of the panel approval since not all members even had info..i dont know how it works...just seems that like everything else re this transaction...its fishy...inappropriate....shortsighted...incompetent...etc etc etc

[Rose Siding]

5. Maybe someone had his proxy? The question has to be asked anyway

and more, sanitized for the media ;)-

Who else is on that committee?
Can they be questioned?
Bush just learned of it, too. Is he in the habit of delegating security issues without any input at all?

[Catrina]

17. Also on the Committe were Chertoff, Condy and Hadley along with

Rumsfeld, and he says he signed 'something' but doesn't read everything he signs??? And he's the Secretary of Defense??? Chertoff, head of Homeland Security??? We are in BIG trouble!!

I can't remember the rest of the names on that committee. But not one of them was elected, they were all Bush nominees.

Something is really wrong about all this ~

And Rumsfeld needs to be questioned under oath.

[Marie26]

18. Members of CFIUS Committee

"In 1993, in response to a sense of Congress resolution, CFIUS membership was expanded by Executive Order 12860 to include: the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. In February 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was added to CFIUS. This brought the membership of CFIUS to twelve under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Treasury. The other members are the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Commerce, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers."

http://www.treas.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/

They're supposed to submit a report to the President after conducting the 30-day review. I'm starting to think no review was ever conducted at all. The web site says that the companies must voluntarily notify CFIUS of pending acquisitions so that the committee can review. What if someone "forgot" to notify? Would explain why no one seems to know about it.

And Bush HAD to have known what the committee approved. They must report directly to him & recommend a course of action. If the CFIUS issued a report on Feb. 13, Bush had to know on Feb. 13th. It's right there in the law:

"(2) Report to the President. Upon completion or termination of any investigation, the Committee shall report to the President and present a recommendation. Any such report shall include information relevant to subparagraphs (1) and (2) of Section 721(d) of the Defense Production Act. If the Committee is unable to reach a unanimous recommendation, the Chairman shall submit a report of the Committee to the President setting forth the differing views and presenting the issues for his decision."

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11858.html

[Rose Siding]

20. Very odd - The WH says bush didn't know about it til the deal was done

busted. again.

[spuddonna]

4. Rummy:"Yes, I signed something on Feb 13th, but did I actually read it?"

"Heck no! Do I always read the stuff they put in front of me? You bet! Unless I didn't... these are unknowns..." :eyes:

[Rose Siding]

7. Does that bit make me laugh every time I hear it? Golly, yes

Is it one of the best ways to stall for time in a conversation? Absolutely. Will I be able to stop doing this some time tonight. Not a chance!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Have I been caught in another lie? Cheese and crackers, no.

Rumspeak.

[spuddonna]

10. I almost snorted coffee out my nose on that one...

cheese and crackers... hee!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. That's from the Stephanie Miller show's Jim Ward.

Thanks to him I can't hear Rummy without the cheese and crackers...

:rofl:

[spuddonna]

16. Ah ha! lol I knew I'd heard that somewhere before!

lol Now I keep picturing Rummy waving his hands like Wallace from "Wallace and Grommmit"...
"Cheese, Gen. Pace! Cheese and crackers!"
:7

[spuddonna]

15. Rumsfeld could do his schtick much better with a mannequin...

He could drag Little Rummy out whenever he does these non-answer answers... At least there would be a fake 'other' to parrot back to him...

You know, whenever I think of Rumsfeld I remember a Frontline special I saw about him, think it was called Rumsfeld's War. In it, they talk about Rumsfeld's time in the Nixon admin., and how Rummy was looking to move into a cabinet position. Nixon said Rummy'd be okay in any cabinet position except Sec of Defense.

[ecstatic]

6. did someone forge his signature/vote? if so an investigation is needed

either that, or Rumsfeld has to admit he lied. Let's get them all under oath!

[Disturbed]

14. Do you think Rumsfailed would not lie because he is...

under an Oath? Lying comes so naturaly to him that it would be of no concern to him. If he was caught in a lie under Oath would he be prosecuted for it?

Even when he actually told the truth he was not prosecuted for his crimes.



Rumsfailed Admitted to Violating Geneva Convention

Rumsfailed admitted in public on TV that when CIA Director Tenet requested that an Iraqi prisoner be sent to a secret Afghan/US Prison that Rumsfailed did so. After four months a DOD Attorney stated that this was an illegal act. Rumsfailed then ordered that this prisoner be sent back to Abu Graihib but the prisoner was purposefully not listed at that location, also an illegal act. Rumsfeld also admitted to signing orders for tougher interogation methods which violated the Geneva Conventions.

Rumfailed has commited at least three violations of the Geneva Convention thereby also violations of The Constitution of the USA. Recently it has been found out that even more detainees were "ghost detainees". The fact that Rumsfailed and Tenet have not been charged speaks volumes. If Congress wishes to garner any respect they should move forward with Rep. Rangle's Impeachment Declaration of Rumsfailed and also prosecute Ex. CIA Tenet.

The US, Govt., Congress, and the Justice Dept no longer abide by the Geneva Convention or the Constitution of the USA.

[proud patriot]

12. he's so funny

x(

[Stephanie]

13. this is like recommending another 'dog bites man' story

it's worthy, but it's so goddamn much more of the same.

[Justice Is Comin]

19. They must feel like they just woke up from hypnosis and

they're in a boat. And then they find out the boat is in a sewer pipe. :rofl: