CNN/AP--Congressman: Port deal lacks sufficient security

[PhilipShore]

CNN
Congressman: Port deal lacks sufficient security
Associated Press
Feb. 19, 2006

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/19/port.security.ap/

(AP) U.S. terms for approving an Arab company's takeover of operations at six major American ports are insufficient to guard against terrorist infiltration, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Sunday.

"I'm aware of the conditions and they relate entirely to how the company carries out its procedures, but it doesn't go to who they hire, or how they hire people," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told The Associated Press.

[mod mom]

1. Chertoff: details classified.

But Chertoff declined to discuss specifics of government discussions with the company, saying that information is classified.

So overseeing the ports of many of our (largely Dem) cities will be handled by a company/country with dubious ties. Hmmh...a new GOP form of the ultimate voter suppression?

Get angry!!!

[freefall]

2. Let's hope the Republicans continue to hammer away at this. n/t

[Massachusetts]

3. Arab company's takeover of operations at six major American ports

We are in the Looking Glass!!!!!! WTF!!! Why AREN'T the Men in Black SCREAMING about this?

[PsychoDad]

4. Would people have felt less threatened...

If this were a Chinese company?

Peace.

[tanyev]

6. Not me.

[Lerkfish]

7. the point is NO other country should provide our security, not even

Canada or Australia.
But especially not a country from a region that we are blatantly waging a pointless program of torture and destruction. Much of the muslim world believes we are singling them out for horrible treatment, and I do not blame them because I think the same thing.
Not a country you want patrolling our harbors. What happens if we (god forbid) attack Iran, as I believe we are going to? That would confirm in everyone's mind how insane our administration is. What would prevent UAE from smuggling in a dirty bomb as justifiable retribution?

Are we saying we cannot train americans to patrol our own ports to the tune of several billion dollars?

unbelievable.

[tabasco]

10. Nope. Ports are vital to our national economy and security.

It is our sovereignty that is at stake, and the corporate cabal is giving it away.

on edit: Any existing contracts with China or other countries should be rescinded, and the UAE contract canceled.

[nofoil]

12. No, I would not, but...

But the fact of the matter is that the majority of 9-11 perps were Saudis who give a terrible face to a beautiful religion. The whole thing makes me so sad, and very angry that an innocent country (Iraq) was attacked while the one that funneled money to terrorist orgs is rewarded with governance of our most important ports (at least those that weren't completely destroyed by Katrina). What a mess! I would be just as angry if UFO Worshippers from Trinidad or Pagans from Portugal were behind 9-11 and then the management of our ports later transferred to their countries. Senseless. Senseless. Senseless!!!!!!!

[stepnw1f]

13. No Foreign Country Should Handle Our Port Security

This is not an issue of ethnics. This is an issue of security vs. insecurity.

[BenDavid]

5. The Dems need to be out in front

of this and be the one's critical of this action by Bush... Yes, the Dems have been handed a gift and if they allow the repugs to be critical of their president then the democrats will look like also rans....again.....

[Zynx]

8. Bush: Outsourcing our security to the lowest bidder

[MissWaverly]

9. Bush outsourcing our security to the highest bidder

is this part of his latest money suck-up where he is taking the re-investment fund for
the federal pensions.

[crispini]

11. Good. This stinks.

Worst. Idea. Ever. K&R!

[humbled_opinion]

14. What are they thinking...

Oh I forgot they aren't thats the problem..

[Moderator]

15. kick

[Colorado Blue]

16. More Objections to Port Takeover by Arab Entity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 — Conditions set by the federal government for approving an Arab company's takeover of operations at six major American ports are not enough to guard against terrorist infiltration, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Sunday.

"I'm aware of the conditions, and they relate entirely to how the company carries out its procedures, but it doesn't go to who they hire, or how they hire people," said the chairman, Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York. Mr. King said senior administration officials had shared details of the sale with him. "They're better than nothing, but to me they don't address the underlying conditions, which is, how are they going to guard against things like infiltration by Al Qaeda or someone else? How are they going to guard against corruption?" Mr. King said in an interview with The Associated Press. He spoke in response to remarks that Michael Chertoff, the secretary of homeland security, made Sunday on the ABC program "This Week."

Mr. Chertoff defended the security review of Dubai Ports World, the company given permission to take over the port operations, but declined to discuss specifics, saying that information was classified. "We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint," Mr. Chertoff said.

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a British shipping company, was bought last week by Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the United Arab Emirates. Peninsular and Oriental operates the cruise ship terminal on the West Side of Manhattan and has operations in New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/national/20ports.html?th&emc=th

[rodeodance]

17. keep em coming (the objections)--

[MadMaddie]

18. The * Cabal does not take National Security seriously....

When are Americans going to get this simple fact? Katrina was the first hint that this country is in trouble with disaster response...Now this, who in their right mind would think this is a good idea...

<snip>
"They're better than nothing, but to me they don't address the underlying conditions, which is, how are they going to guard against things like infiltration by Al Qaeda or someone else?
<snip>

Um...what does that mean? The * Cabal has spent billions of dollars for security and he says they are "better than nothing". This is criminal....

they created the TSA for Airport security and realized that the task was really too big for them, they bit off more than they could chew...

they don't want to create a National Organization to manage the ports because they know it will fail...

they are political hacks not professionals

Impeach, Impeach, Impeach...Every day that goes by puts us closer to another attack because of their incompetence!!

[Colorado Blue]

29. I agree. I thought Katrina made us look weak and disorganized.

What on earth would we do in the event of (G*d forbid) a chemical or bioterror attack?

[AndyA]

19. This whole thing is just ridiculous

To think the USA would turn over important ports to United Arab Emirates to run is just foolish. How un-American can you possibly get???

[dflprincess]

25. Agreed - but what else can we expect from Bushco?

I did enjoy this line from the original post quoting Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York, "How are they going to guard against corruption?"

A Republican who's worried about corruption - how refreshing.

[liberal N proud]

20. Anyone with the least bit of common sense should see this

as a scam by the bu$h regime.

[grasswire]

21. I can only hope that some investigative reporting...

...is done, and soon, in order to find out where the connection is between this company and Bushco.

[sattahipdeep]

22. Remember: There is little our elected representatives can do to stop it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x466808

They cannot force a vote, remember the whole discussion was conducted secretly.

DeWine OK warrantless domestic Spying

White House officials are discussing a proposal by Sen. Mike
DeWine, R-Ohio, that would more specifically OK warrantless
domestic surveillance, but give lawmakers more oversight.

``If you're going to follow an American citizen around for an
extended period of time believing they're collaborating with the
enemy, at some point in time, you need to get some judicial
review, because mistakes can be made.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5632011,00.html

[Colorado Blue]

30. If Congress can't do anything about this, then it really

totally sucks.

I'm not comfortable with these secret deals AT ALL.

The spying, now this - whoa.

[Donkeykick]

23. WOW!

if this isn't conclusive proof that all Dubya wants to do is feed the defense contractors, of our nation, while allowing business to go on as usual, then I don't know what to tell you.:wtf: :eyes:

[thecrow]

24. Why not EMPLOY AMERICANS?!?!?!

This is such a stupid issue; when they needed airport screeners after 9-11, they were looking for Americans to do the job, weren't they/
They had to be backgound checked, and go through new training.

How on earth would we be able to do background checks on UAE persons?

They should be thinking more about our own citizens!
What about all those Katrina displaced? I'm sure they would be glad to have the job.

What on earth are Smirky and Chertoff thinking?

This is a disaster in the making, and disgusts me to no end.

[Colorado Blue]

28. I don't have the vaguest clue what people are thinking in

this case but you make a really good point: what's wrong with hiring an American company - purely apart from the security issues which I think are profound.

[barb162]

26. It's time to write to Bush and Congress: UNACCEPTABLE!

Our ports are absolutely vital; the security risk is too great.

[barb162]

27. kick

[reprobate]

31. Something really fishy here. Dubai Port World was created just for this

...takover according to

Forbes.com

"DPW is a new kid on the block. Created a month ago by the Dubai government, the company could probably stake a prime position in the rapidly consolidating shipping industry if it manages a takeover of the fourth-largest ports operator in the world."

Anyone got a tenspot to bet that there isn't some financial connection between the gov't of Dubai and someone in the Bushite administration.

I've found one connection to P&O and Dubai already, tho I'm not sure what it means. Robert Woods, CEO and Chairman of the board of P&O spent four years in dubai as director of the company's operations there.

These people inhabit a totally different world from you and I. I believe there are connection between all of them, and if not them directly, between them and mutual third parties. You and I, as citizens no longer have any control over them. Historicly that usually leads to political upheaval and revolution.

But we know that no revolution or upheaval will ever be led by Democrats. They are owned by these same people that own the repuglicans.

[goforit]

32. This may be the straw that breaks the camels back!

And I would hope people awaken to biggest sellout America
has ever seen.
How much more are we gonna take?