WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Armed Services Committee chairman questions whether a Middle Eastern firm seeking to handle management of several U.S. ports can be trusted.
While the Bush administration says Dubai Ports World, a United Arab Emirates company, is not a security threat, and the company chief executive officer Thursday went over the company's management's deep U.S. ties, there are still concerns over the plan.
Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Thursday outlined several instances he says shows Dubai Ports World was involved in the movement of nuclear-related materials.
"They accommodate people who come with lots of money," The Hill, a Washington newspaper, quoted Hunter as saying.
"They (are) not interested in who it is, as long as they get to be the bazaar," Hunter said.
Several members of Congress have questioned the $6.8 billion deal in which Dubai Ports World would take over management of six U.S. ports from a British company.
A Los Angeles Times poll released Friday showed that more than 75 percent of U.S. respondents were against the deal.
