Paper: Coast Guard Has Port Co. Intel Gaps

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_on_go_ot/ports_security

WASHINGTON - Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday.

The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

"The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities," the document says.

[EarlG]

1. Document: Coast Guard Warned of Port Gaps

WASHINGTON — Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday.

The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

"The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities," the document says.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3688754.html

[sabra]

2. Document: Coast Guard Warned of Port Gaps

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3688754.html

Document: Coast Guard Warned of Port Gaps

The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday.

The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

"The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities," the document says.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[leftchick]

4. oh my....

The AP changed that headline pretty damn quick! It was originally the one EralG posted and then went poof!

[babylonsister]

5. Wow! Just heard this on CNN; kind of changes the whole picture,

doesn't it? And what else was this admin cautioned about that they aren't disclosing?:grr:

[leftchick]

6. bin laden determined to strike in the US?

I am still shocked that did not outrage more people.

[UpInArms]

10. Same here, leftchick

and this time the world appears to be watching.

[babylonsister]

16. Nice catch, though I meant, re: ports deal. Agreed, why

weren't more people OUTRAGED that their government lied to them?

[seafan]

7. Document: Coast Guard warned of intelligence gaps in ports deal

ABC Channel 13, Toledo, OH

Document: Coast Guard warned of intelligence gaps in ports deal

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news&id=3945767

[UpInArms]

8. Will *Co continue to threaten a veto and show exactly how poorly

he understands "National Security"?

K & R

:kick:

[sabra]

9. Bush:“I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.”

[UpInArms]

11. If only we had known they would fly planes into buildings.....

[Maeve]

12. And 12 admin panels signed off on this deal, right?

And they call Democrats soft on homeland security? :eyes:

[brooklynite]

19. Well, except for Rumsfeld, who didn't know about it...

and except for Snow who read it in the paper...

and except for Chertoff, who's DHS initially opposed the propsal...

and...

[leftchick]

13. Susan Collins, queen of the understatement...

<"This report suggests there were significant and troubling intelligence gaps," said Collins, R-Maine. "That language is very troubling to me.">

Very troubling? I would be ripping my hair out if I were you susie!

[sabra]

14. keep this one kicked....

:kick:

[Coexist]

15. Port security was also about to be dumped into a pile

with other organizations - and have to vie for Port Security Grants.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x531159

You would think the Coast Guard would be pissed off, right?

[Mithras61]

17. But... but... but...

But Bushie told me that a security review had been done and that there was nothing to worry about!

Stephen Hadley said that the review was completed and that there was nothing to worry about.

Snotty said there was nothing National Security-wise to worry about!

Now you're telling me that the people who provide security not only didn't get consulted during the review process, but that they aren't able to certify that security can be maintained with Dubai Ports World & the UAE in charge of operations, because they can't tell if the UAE was involved with terrorists!?!?!?

:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:



Just remember what Dr. Phil (that obnoxious R) is always telling people... "The best predictor of future behavior is PAST behavior."

We KNOW the UAE was involved with bin Laden (heck, they even played GOLF together!).

We know the Pentagon believes that several departments of the UAE gov't have been "infiltrated" by al Qaida.

We know that the financing for 9-11 went through the banks in UAE.

We know that at least two of the hijackers on 9-11 were from UAE.

We know that this deal (as far as w_rong is concerned) is about $$$$$$, and he doesn't give a rats a$$ about security.


What do you think the future behavior of the UAE will be?

[leftchick]

18. Lou Dobbs will be must see TV tonight!

:popcorn:

[katty]

20. Paper: Coast Guard Has Port Co. Intel Gaps

cont'd: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_on_go_ot/ports_security

Paper: Coast Guard Has Port Co. Intel Gaps By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 5 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday.


The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

[slor]

21. I just watched cnn coverage of this story...

and they did not seem to sense the outrage that should come from this. I guess they are used to both lying for, and being lied to, from the chimp, that it is simply not a big deal.

[LSparkle]

22. At least CNN is talking about it -- what about Tweety?

It should have been the lead on his show but wasn't mentioned ... something fishy there.

[emulatorloo]

26. Apparently Tweety is talking about it -- THread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x532264

[katty]

23. it's stunning, really-everyhour/day the WH gets busted-and

the bobble heads just keep on covering for this admin and yammering on about nothing.

[katty]

24. it should be the Lead on all stations

[tabasco]

25. Sounds like the Coast Guard is pretty worried about the deal.

Amazing how they tried to back-alley this deal without proper review.

Not unexpected from the corrupt corporate cabal.

[warrens]

27. Bwahahahahaha

Those scumballs in the White House will do ANYTHING to help their rich buddies. Including sell the country down the river. What the fuck, they can all retire to the South of France.

[liberal_patriot_md]

28. Crazy

I thought the CG was under the DHS and the DHS (Chertoff) signed off on this. It couldn' t possibly mean they were lying - could it?

[kstewart33]

29. GAME OVER.

The CIA intelligence screwups got us into Iraq and now intelligence gaps are going to thwart our port security if this deal goes down.

Unbelievable. This is the Dem issue of 2006.

[Up2Late]

30. But our so-called pResident said there was nothing to see here!

It's just unbelievable that they thought that saying to Senators and House Representatives, "Oh, by the way, the major Port in your State was just sold to a Foreign Government..." would just be O.K.:banghead: :crazy:

[IsItJustMe]

31. Lou didn't show the results of the Poll. Wonder why?

[MellowOne]

32. Faulty intelligence

Has such a familiar ring, doesn't it?

[PhilipShore]

33. Bloomberg: Coast Guard Said It Couldn't Assess Risk in Port Deal (Update3)

Bloomberg
Coast Guard Said It Couldn't Assess Risk in Port Deal (Update3)
Feb. 27

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aj.xg9sFesls&refer=top_world_news

Feb. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Coast Guard said questions about foreign influence, employees and operations made it impossible to assess the threat posed by a state-owned Dubai company's purchase of a firm that manages some terminal operations at six U.S. seaports.

``There are many intelligence gaps concerning the potential'' for assets owned by DP World or London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. ``to support terrorist operations,'' says a December intelligence assessment by the Coast Guard that was released at a hearing today of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The document wasn't given to a Bush administration panel assessing the national security risks of the acquisition, but its concerns ``were addressed and resolved,'' Clay Lowery, an assistant secretary at the Treasury Department, said.

After the 85-minute classified briefing, Collins, of Maine, said she was ``more convinced than ever that the process'' for reviewing the deal ``was truly flawed.'' Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the panel's senior Democrat, said that administration officials in the closed briefing portrayed the Coast Guard document as an ``early reaction to this deal.''

[Igel]

34. Good, I'm glad the Coast Guard's intelligence operations

can't fill in all the gaps. *That* would be scary, wouldn't it?

'The Coast Guard said the concerns reflected in the document ultimately were addressed. In a statement, the Coast Guard said other U.S. intelligence agencies were able to provide answers to the questions it raised.

' "The Coast Guard, the intelligence community and the entire CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States) panel believed this transaction received the proper review, and national security concerns were, in fact, addressed," the Coast Guard said.'

So, is only the bit that scares us that's important, or do the the non-scary bits count as well? Or do we only believe what scares us, when it suits us?

Collins is a jerk: if it plays well with the home audience, well, then, by all means, it must be the case. Rather like newspaper headlines, intended more to sell, than to enlighten.

[madrchsod]

35. this has been a problem since homeland security decided to roil

the coast guard and the navy together. neither service was happy with the deal and the coast guard really got the short end of the stick. it`s mission was ill defined under the new system and worse is that the coast guard knew what was needed and how to do it but was never given the tools..yes the coast guard was fuck`d over by homeland security and we are paying the price

[rodeodance]

36. AP Coast Guard Warned of Port Deal Intel Gaps

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060228/ap_on_go_ot/ports_security;_ylt=AsRh5r6wHZ_l.F0IPIB_7jOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

Coast Guard Warned of Port Deal Intel Gaps

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 31 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard raised concerns weeks ago that it could not determine whether a United Arab Emirates-based company seeking a stake in some U.S. port operations might support terrorist operations.

The disclosure came during a hearing Monday on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to assume significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. It also clouded whether the Bush administration's agreement to conduct an unusual investigation into the pending takeover's security risks would allay lawmakers' concerns.

The administration said the Coast Guard's concerns were raised during its review of the deal, which it approved Jan. 17, and that all those questions were resolved. London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. now handles the port operations.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment" of the potential merger, an unclassified Coast Guard intelligence assessment said.

[rodeodance]

38. but questions were answered- DP World

.....In a statement, the Coast Guard said the concerns reflected in the excerpt ultimately were addressed and that other U.S. intelligence agencies answered the questions raised.

The Coast Guard assessment raised questions about the security of the companies' operations, the backgrounds of people working for the companies, and whether other foreign countries influenced operations that affect security.

"We were never told about this and have no information about it," Michael Moore, DP World's senior vice president, said of the excerpt. However, he said it shows "serious and probing" questions were asked and that the initial approval of the deal indicates those questions were answered.......

[rodeodance]

39. and Justice says NJ lawsuit now 'irrelevant"

..The Justice Department said the Bush administration's decision to investigate potential security risks in the DP World deal renders irrelevant the state of New Jersey's federal lawsuit aimed at blocking the company from assuming operations at the Port Newark container terminal.

[lovuian]

37. Even the Coast Guard has to speak out about it

Its so obvious!!!

[usregimechange]

40. Now on main page of WP... kick

[Brothaman2k]

41. Now, all of the sudden...

I just heard on AC360 The Coast Guard is now saying that their gap quote was "taken out of context".

Sounds lime somebody got their arm twisted till it damn near snapped, ie recanted before they got their ass in a sling.

[usregimechange]

42. kick

[phoebe]

43. IMHO - the major issue = lack of documentation re: UAE dealings -

the Bush regime was/is undoubtedly expecting a quid pro quo deal allowing them to do the same in the UAE - but for what purpose? You can bet that the admin. has already got a back up plan in place, either clandestine or "open" using another country as a front, in order to get what they want..