House Committee Votes to Block Dubai Deal

On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to block the controversial deal that would shift operations of six major U.S. ports to United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Ports World, CNN reports.

The amendment seeking to halt the deal was filed within an emergency supplemental funding bill for military action in the Middle East and for disaster assistance in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region of the United States, according to CNN.

The full House could make its decision by next week, CNN reports.

Regardless, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-Va.) is leading a charge to salvage the ports deal, according to CNN.

A source close to the deal told CNN that under Warner’s initiative, Dubai Ports World would provide additional security assurances that Warner could later tout as proof of the company’s commitment to U.S national security.

“Unfortunately the situation on the Hill has deteriorated rapidly and it’s not certain anything will carry the day other than complete divestment,” the anonymous source told CNN.

President Bush has repeatedly threatened to veto any action that would stop the deal from reaching completion, CNN reports, because he says it would be interpreted as a sign of mistrust by the United States’ Arab allies.

For related content, read Dubai, or Not Dubai and Customs Rattles the Supply Chain.

For related news coverage, check out Dubai Deal OK’d by British Appeals Court, Dubai Deal OK’d by London High Court and Selling U.S. Ports to Dubai: Bad Security or Just Bad Politics?

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