WARNER ANNOUNCES SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE BRIEFING ON DUBAI PORTS WORLD ACQUISITION

United States Senator John Warner announced that the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold an open briefing to address the national security implications of the acquisition of Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Navigation Co. by Dubai Ports World - a government-owned and controlled firm of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Current law (section 721, P.L. 100-418) provides a process for reviewing foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies to determine their effects on U.S. national security. Since 1988, the primary responsibility for reviewing foreign acquisitions and their potential effect on national security has fallen within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Twelve federal departments and agencies are represented on CFIUS, including the Departments of Treasury, State, Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security and Justice.

Representatives from these departments and agencies will be the briefers.

In announcing the briefing, Warner stated: “On Tuesday morning I met with Secretary Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary England, General Peter Pace - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - and others at the Department of Defense. We discussed the Dubai Ports World acquisition in-depth. After further consultation with the Administration, I decided a briefing for the Committee, in public session, is needed to allow the relevant facts to be put on the record for the availability of all Members during this recess period.

The United Arab Emirates, in my view, has played a key role supporting the United States in the war on terror. UAE provides access and logistical assistance to our men and women in the armed forces performing service in Afghanistan and Iraq, examples being extensive docking support for a large number of naval ships and airfield availability for the U.S. Air Force.

While we must always ensure that any proposed foreign acquisition does not threaten our national security, we must also recognize the importance of making fair and objective decisions in working with our allies, especially those which are actively supporting the coalition of nations engaged in fighting the global war on terror.”