This is another diary on another Bush Crime Family scandal that is still active in the sense that the perpetrator is still prosecutable, even though he has retired 'to pursue other interests'. This scandal was on the radar screen for only a few seconds last year, since it was seen as insignificant when seen in the light of the larger scandal involving DP World.
Secretary of the Treasury Jack Snow committed treason by allowing his former business partners to acquire US ports as a quid pro quo for a transaction that was completed between Secretary Snow and UAE prior to the former joining the Crime Family.
However, Senator Dodd did address it in a letter to the Bush Crime Family, a copy of which can be found on his web-site. What cannot be found on his web-site, and what I have requested from the good Senator approximately a dozen times, is an update on the situation.
It could be that the threat of uncovering details of the scandal was made and the agreement between the Senator and the Crime Family was resignation.
As background, here is the text of my letter to Senator Dodd:
March 30, 2006
Senator Chris Dodd
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
VIA FACSIMILE
Re: Treasury Secretary Jack Snow and CSX
Honorable Senator:
Greetings. I am a great admirer of your work and have been for decades. If it were not for you and Senators Feingold, Feinstein, Durbin, Kennedy and a handful of others, I cringe to imagine how bad things could be for this country.
Senator, I realize that there are so many wrong things going on that it must be difficult to deal with each act of cronyism, corruption, and incompetence that comes along. And, admittedly, I do not even know if Senators read faxes. But I must ask you about an old one.
A few scandals ago, when the Dubai mess occurred, I was so very pleased to see that at least one Senator saw the link: Snow-CFI-DP World-UAE-CSX-CFI-Snow. Once I heard that you had sent a letter to Snow regarding this matter, I sat in perched anticipation of at least a hearing of the Judiciary Committee on the matter. Your letter was exceptionally straight and to the point. Was the letter ever answered?
Interestingly enough, I see that John Bolten’s first leak/test balloon is something regarding replacing Jack Snow; pretextually, to have a better advocate for this wonderful economy. But, things are never as they seem in this Administration, so I always look for the real reason. Is it that Bolten realized that the other shoe on Mr. Snow’s bribery—and possible treason in choosing to reward DP World with a fast track approval as a payback for CSX, instead of putting our country’s security first by giving it a full review—could fall, and an impeachment of a cabinet officer might not be the best news for the Administration?
Even if that is not the case, I just wanted to ask that you update your web-site with any more information you have received regarding the letter, and, also I am most curious if you are going to pursue this issue that I think exemplifies the deep cronyism and corruption found in virtually every department, every area of this Administration.
Respectfully yours,
s James J. Risser
James J. Risser
And, here is the original letter that Dodd sent to the Crime Family one month before my inquiry into its status:
February 22, 2006
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
I write to express my concerns regarding Treasury Secretary John Snow's involvement in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' (CFIUS) approval of the acquisition of Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Navigation Co.'s (P&O) U.S. port operations by DP World. As you know, DP World is owned and controlled by the Government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Prior to joining the Treasury Department in February 2003, Secretary Snow spent approximately twenty years working at the CSX Corporation, including as Chairman and CEO. According to press reports, Secretary Snow received $72.2 million in compensation from CSX in 2003 (including $33.2 million from a special retirement pension), and he has a stake in a CSX deferred compensation plan worth between $5 million and $25 million. In December 2004, after Secretary Snow's departure from CSX, that company's port business was purchased by DP World in a deal worth more than $1 billion. It is unclear whether Secretary Snow was involved in any discussions related to that sale before his resignation from CSX in 2003.
There may have been no actual conflict in Secretary Snow's involvement in the CFIUS process related to the review of DP World's proposed acquisition of P&O's U.S. port operations. However, given the highly sensitive nature of this matter it would have been better had Secretary Snow not been the Chair, or served in any capacity, of the CFIUS review in this case.
The security of some of our Nation's most important ports is at stake. I know you agree that an effective and unbiased CFIUS process is a vital component of protecting the national security of these ports. In order for the process to be effective, however, it must be transparent and free from not only any conflict, but also the appearance of any conflict. Secretary Snow's involvement in the CFIUS review has clouded the recently concluded review process.
I believe that the additional information that has come to light with respect to Secretary Snow and the DP World acquisition of certain CSX port business makes it all the more compelling that an additional, more extensive review of the P&O-DP World deal be conducted to ensure that all of the potential national security implications of this transaction have been fully analyzed. Furthermore, I believe that Secretary Snow should not serve in any capacity as part of CFIUS during its review of this matter. Given that our nation's security is at risk, I believe that this is the prudent way to proceed. I hope you do as well.
Sincerely,
Christopher J. Dodd
United States Senator
And, from that day forward, the issue died. ZAP! All gone...
Senator Dodd, after my several e-mails and requests to hear an update on this matter, I renew them all and suggest that you, as you are now in the Majority, get to the bottom of this transaction.
If Secretary Jack Snow traded our Nation's security to enhance his own personal wealth, in a time of war, then I recommend that you refer the matter to the Justice Department for a fuller investigation into this treasonous behaviour.
Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution:
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
I argue that what Secretary Snow did was in essence to give 'aid and comfort' to the enemy by reducing the economic cost they would need to incur to infiltrate our Nation's port system for nefarious purposes during war-time.