did they really have to give their permission?

Analysis: Ports Review Provides Bush Cover

WASHINGTON - The White House got a gift in the ports security debate, a chance for the president to sidestep a battle with members of his own party and to tone down bipartisan criticism of the deal.

The offer by Dubai-owned DP World to submit to a broader review of security issues in its deal to take over major operations at six U.S. ports also could salvage a business deal critically important to its economic future.

The administration said Sunday it would move forward with the new review as soon as the DP World offer is formalized.
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The president's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said as late as Friday that the administration would not reconsider its approval. When it became apparent early Sunday that a broader review of the deal was inevitable, the White House tried to distance itself from the result.

Hadley said the negotiations to head off legislation were between Congress and the company, and the White House was simply willing to go along with their conclusion as long as it didn't block the deal. White House homeland security adviser Frances Townsend said the White House was satisfied that the review had been completed, and only a request from the company would lead to a new one.

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So, apparently, the WH will only listen to a foreign country when deciding our national security issues and refuses to listen to Congress. And they are demanding that we turn over our national security to a foreign government with ties to al-Qaida.
And how again is this the administration that is supposed to keep us safe from terrorism?!

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