In the same year that public furor derailed a Dubai-owned company’s plans to buy and run operations at major American ports, the number of foreign business deals reviewed by the Bush administration for U.S. security risks surged to nearly 100, up from 65 reviews last year.
A few anxious companies in deals pending with foreigners have sought the Bush administration’s approval even for sales that do not raise obvious security questions, said lawyers and federal officials involved in these cases.