Senate Urges Reconsideration of Deal to Transfer Shipping Terminals to Dubai-Controlled Company

The Oklahoma State Senate Wednesday called on President Bush to delay the transfer of shipping terminals at six U.S. ports to a company controlled by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Senate Resolution 65 by Senator Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, passed by a 38-7 vote.

Despite accusations to the contrary, Garrison closed Wednesday afternoon’s debate by saying the measure wasn’t intended to be partisan.

“This is a matter of our national security,” Garrison said. “We’re asking the President to delay the sale until there has been a thorough public review and disclosure of the transaction.”

Proponents of the measure pointed out during debate that two of the September 11 hijackers entered the United States from the United Arab Emirates and that the UAE is one of only three countries to establish diplomatic dies with the Taliban government that helped hide al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Bush has threatened to veto any legislation aimed at overturning the transfer which was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a committee chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury.

The seven members voting against the resolution were Senators Patrick Anderson, R-Enid; Senator Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher; Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond; Senator Todd Lamb, R-Edmond; Senator Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa; Senator Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City; and Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City.