President Bush yesterday stated that the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates would not change existing security operations at those ports.

“The company will not manage port security,” Bush told reporters gathered on the South Lawn of the White House. “The security of our ports will be -- continue to be managed by the (U.S.) Coast Guard and Customs.”

Bush added that Dubai had been “cooperative in the war on terror,” and that he considered them to be “an ally in the war on terror.”

Earlier in the day, President Bush had stated that he would veto any legislation sent to him by Congress blocking the proposed transaction.

Also See: U.S. Ports Under Arab Control? A Controversy Blooms