<![CDATA[Bush Unaware of Ports Deal Before Approval – Yahoo! News:
President Bush was unaware of the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates until the deal already had been approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday.
In principle, I don’t have a problem with the ports deal if it was concluded legally. If we exclude companies because of their nationality, we’re getting to the kind of nationalist/racial fearfulness that this country has stood against internationally.
However, that the administration will turn around the day after President Bush defended the deal and say “he didn’t know about the deal,” compels me to point out that the President is where the buck stops and this is another example of the Bushies trying to have things both ways. If President Bush is going to make a politically unpopular deal—and defend it—he should also be taking responsibility for it.
I know, this is a country where, when the Vice President shoots someone in the fact and chest, that person apologizes to the Vice President.
Just when is this administration going to take responsibility for its actions? Hell, they won’t even stand up for their principles without hedging.
If, as reported elsewhere, the Saudi ports deal was concluded without the mandatory 45-day investigation of the companies involved, then the deal is illegal. I don’t suppose the President will be responsible for that, either.
Technorati Tags: accountability, Bush
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