Bush Vows Veto of Bill Banning UAE Port Sale

Posted on February 22, 2006

President Bush is refusing to listen the avalanche of negative opinions being expressed about the UAE ports deal; in fact, he has now vowed to veto any legislation that would put a stop to selling control if our major ports to a company that is wholly-owned by the United Arab Emirates.

Bush said in a statement, "If there was any chance that this transaction would jeopardize the security of the United States, it would not go forward."

He also said, "It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world."

President Bush, pictured here in his infamous hand-holding stroll with Saudi King Abdullah (at the time, Crown Prince Abdullah) among the bluebonnets, does not seem to realize that his own party is ready to revolt. Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Frist have thrown down the gauntlet. The president has never exercised his presidential veto power even once since he was first sworn into office. And this is the bill he swears will be his first veto? To allow a foreign power who is known to support terrorism to take over our ports, while we are at war? It's politically tone deaf, to say the least. This is starting to look like this is Bush's "Read my lips: no new taxes" moment.

Message to the White House: it's time to stop tip-toeing through the tulips with Arab royalty and start paying attention to our ports and border security.