Ports in a storm

Politics: Bush clamors for safety of veto pen over UAE takeover plan | John Dawson

President George Bush found himself the target of a political firing squad made up of both Democrats and Republicans when details of an obscure port deal began to rattle around Capitol Hill last week. At issue: Should the United States approve a deal that would turn over operational control of six major U.S. ports to a state-owned company from the United Arab Emirates?

Pledging a veto against congressional threats to stop it, President Bush insisted that the transfer of operations at ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami, and Philadelphia from British corporation Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, which recently bought the London-based firm, wouldn't compromise national security.