Thread: Myrick blasts ports deal; Dole `concerned'

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/13939050.htm

Posted on Thu, Feb. 23, 2006
Myrick blasts ports deal; Dole `concerned'
TIM FUNK
tfunk@charlotteobserver.com

WASHINGTON - More members of Congress from the Carolinas raised questions about the Bush administration's Dubai ports deal Wednesday, with GOP Rep. Sue Myrick -- normally a Bush ally -- writing the president an angry one-sentence letter.

The full text of the Charlottean's letter: "In regards to selling American ports to the United Arab Emirates, not just NO -- but HELL NO!"

Myrick's letter was cited on CNN as an example of how even strong Bush supporters are fighting him on this issue.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., said she was "deeply concerned" about the deal even as it was announced that her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, had been hired as a lobbyist for the United Arab Emirates -- the Middle Eastern country that owns the company that would run six U.S. ports unless the deal is blocked.

Mike Marshall, a spokesman for Bob Dole, said the former senator will be involved in lobbying Congress on the deal, but would not be lobbying his wife.

Alston & Bird, the law firm that employs Bob Dole, has been advising Dubai Ports World for months. Marshall said the contract with the company has been extended to include Bob Dole, who is a former Senate majority leader.

Lindsay Mabry -- a spokeswoman for Sen. Dole -- said: "Senator Elizabeth Dole's decisions are made independently of Bob Dole. Her No. 1 priority is the constituents she represents."

Sen. Dole told Sen. John Warner, R-Va., in a letter Wednesday that she will be in North Carolina today, so she'll be unable to attend a briefing on the Dubai deal for members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Warner chairs the panel and Dole is a member.

But she wrote that she worried that it "might compromise our ability to effectively control our ports and harbors. I do not believe that a transaction of this importance should be finalized until the administration and the Congress have had an opportunity to thoroughly examine, understand, and resolve these concerns."

She does plan to attend a March 2 meeting of the Senate Banking Committee when the Dubai deal will be discussed.

Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., of York urged the Bush administration Wednesday to reconsider.

Elizabeth Dole is flat out busted! How can she claim she has no conflict????

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Elizabeth Dole is flat out busted! How can she claim she has no conflict????

W

Now W you know little Liddy wouldn't fib to us.