David Sanborn, who runs DP World's European and Latin American operations...was tapped by Bush last month to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.
CBS reports that Press Secretary McClellan dismisses connections between Sanborn and the ports deal:
McClellan dismissed any connection between the deal and David Sanborn of Virginia, a former senior DP World executive whom the White House appointed last month to be the new administrator of the Maritime Administration of the Transportation Department. Sanborn worked as DP World's director of operations for Europe and Latin America.
"My understanding is that he has assured us that he was not involved in the negotiations [between Dubai Ports and CSX] to purchase this British company," McClellan added.
"In terms of David Sanborn, he was nominated to run the Maritime Administration because of his experience and expertise," the spokesman said. Sanborn is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He is an operations professional.
"My understanding is that he has assured us that he was not involved in the negotiations [between Dubai Ports and CSX] to purchase this British company," McClellan added.
"In terms of David Sanborn, he was nominated to run the Maritime Administration because of his experience and expertise," the spokesman said. Sanborn is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He is an operations professional.
"My understanding is that he has assured us?" They can't check? Oh, but it gets better...
The connection with the sale of the British company isn't Sanborn, but Treasury Secretary Snow, according to the New York Daily News article:
Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose agency heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.
Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.
So why is McLellan dismissing Sanborn's connection? It's an old rhetorical device. I beleive the technical term is "bait and switch."
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Comments: 6
And frankly, I beleive McClellan is more savvy than to confuse two folks involved in an evolving news story. Too bad CBS isn't...:)
A perceived misdirection in the gabble is the biggest clue, to me, that there really *is* some weirdness with Snow's connection. Otherwise, why not deal with the issue head-on?
I do not believe the UAE is a present threat TODAY. However, the Arabs are a strategic group. What happens when it benefits them no longer to be our friends? What will happen to the Ports then?