Repeat After Me: This is Not About Port Security

The Bush administration, in an attempt to deal with the firestorm over the recently announced Dubai Ports World deal, is doing a seriously horrible job of trying to calm the fears of opponents. It appears the WH spin machine is broken.

The meme is: this is not about port security.

Separately, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said port security would not be threatened. “This is not a question about port security,” Gonzales said. “This is a question about port operation.”

Bush released a statement on Tuesday, Feb 21, 2006:

And so, look, I can understand why some in Congress have raised questions about whether or not our country will be less secure as a result of this transaction. But they need to know that our government has looked at this issue and looked at it carefully. Again, I repeat, if there was any question as to whether or not this country would be less safe as a result of the transaction, it wouldn't go forward.

Scotty McLellan repeated the same line during Wednesday's WH press briefing, but went on to say:

"This transaction was carefully scrutinized to make sure there were no national security threats".

Scotty also stated that WH spinmeister, Karl Rove, did not look at this deal to consider the political ramifications. Perhaps that's why the White House has jumped the shark on the message and is now trying hard to clean up this mess.

So, there you have it: this is not about port or national security but it was about port and national security, so we made sure there were no port or national security issues, so if you think this is or ever has been about port or national security - you're just wrong.

Clear as mud?

Update: Via CNN and Raw Story- Dubai Ports World has hired Bob Dole to lobby on its behalf.