Last week, it was revealed that the U.S. Coast Guard had warned of “many intelligence gaps” concerning the potential for Dubai Ports World “to support terrorist operations” if it assumed control of U.S. ports.

Bush administration officials insisted the Coast Guard’s concerns had been addressed before the deal was approved. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte testified that DP World had sent a “letter of assurance” pledging to turn over any information that was needed to fill the gaps cited by the Coast Guard.

But in sharply-worded letter written this week, Senate Homeland Security Committee chairs Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) say the “letter of assurance” did no such thing. The Coast Guard’s concerns over intelligence gaps were never addressed:

A careful review of the “assurances letter” reveals that DP World is not, in fact, bound to provide the U.S. government with the information it would need to close the intelligence gaps the Coast Guard identified. … The language is weak. … Indeed, the assurances appear to amount to little more than a restatement of what the FBI or other law enforcement agency could gather anyway in the course of an investigation.

ThinkProgress has acquired a copy of the letter, which you can read here.

It was only a matter of time. While speaking in India prior to departing for Pakistan, Bush revealed his lack of familiarity with South Asia:

“I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world,” the president added.

Later, White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush meant to say Pakistan would be a force for freedom and moderation in the Muslim world. Pakistan is not an Arab country.

Bush’s knowledge of Pakistan has advanced, however, over the years. In 2000, while campaigning for president Bush could not identify Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf by name:

QUESTION: Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?

BUSH: Wait, wait, is this 50 questions?

QUESTION: No, it’s four questions of four leaders in four hot spots.

BUSH: The new Pakistani general, he’s just been elected–not elected, this guy just took over office. It appears this guy is going to bring stability to the country, and I think that’s good news for the Subcontinent.

QUESTION: Can you name him?

BUSH: General. I can’t name the general. General.

In the global war on terror, Bush needs to win the support of countries like Pakistan. The first step is to learn something about them.

President Bush continues to claim we are winning the war on terrorism. From a February 9 speech:

Despite the violence and the suffering the terrorists are wreaking, we’re winning the war on terror.

Brig. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, the Pentagon’s deputy director for the war on terrorism, disagrees. From yesterday’s Washington Times:

Thirty new terrorist organizations have emerged since the September 11, 2001, attacks, outpacing U.S. efforts to crush the threat, said Brig. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, the Pentagon’s deputy director for the war on terrorism.

“We are not killing them faster than they are being created,” Caslen told a gathering at the Woodrow Wilson Center yesterday, warning that the war could take decades to resolve.

Apparently Bush only listens to the experts when they tell him what he wants to hear.