The Wrong Way to Guard the Ports - New York Times 2/16/2006

[Coastie for Truth]

The Bush administration has done far too little to protect the nation's ports against terrorists. But it has taken that laxness to a new level by allowing a company from the United Arab Emirates to run significant operations at six American ports, including the Port of New York. The administration should reverse this decision.

National security experts have long warned that the ports are a key point of vulnerability. One of the worst fears about terrorism is that a nuclear device might be shipped from overseas and set off when it arrived in a port in a large city. The federal government should be doing everything it can to ensure that port security is as rigorous as possible, including keeping port management in trusted hands.

But the British company that operates the Port of New York, and other ports, has been acquired by Dubai Ports World, based in the United Arab Emirates. Although that nation is considered an ally, there have been troubling connections between it and anti-American terrorism. Many of the Sept. 11 hijackers and planners traveled through that country, and its banking system was used in preparing for the attacks.

But the Bush administration appears to have brushed these concerns aside. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a panel that includes representatives from Homeland Security, Treasury and other departments, has given its approval to the transfer of control. Senator Charles Schumer, Democrat of New York, who has long raised questions about port security, is asking the Homeland Security Department to take a closer look at the impact of the takeover.

<<<SNIP>>>

Some personal, added comments by the Appender, "Coastie"

This is a United States Coast Guard "Port Security Officer's Badge" - earned by training and experience - and expertise - in "Port Security".---->

<>

It is the same badge I earned at Coast Guard Port Security Officer school, and the same badge that I wore while on active duty in the Port of New Orleans, LA.

The penultimate sentence in the OP states:

"Putting port management in the hands of a country with such a mixed record in the war on terror is a step in the wrong direction."

That says it all.

"Coastie," Lieutenant, US Coast Guard, (Honorable Discharge)

[MadMaddie]

1. Just when you think that it can't get any worse...

Coastie for Truth....thanks for posting this story. There is not enough reporting of this issue. This is a National security issue and it is clear the * Cabal does not have the countries best interest in mind. It's treasoness.....

I believe that...

I think that when Dems get back in power they need to enforce the following
1. Industries that are critical to the infrastructure of the country cannot be owned by foreign entity. (I thought that that was a law but apparantly not)

2. Ports, Public lands etc cannot be sold to private companies

3. The government should give incentives to US companies to bring the jobs back to the US-this will not happen under this administration.

This is the pattern that these guys are using to destroy the country.

[acmejack]

2. They could get patriots to volunteer to come back & do it for less.

And do a better job, since they were invested in the results. Oh, we're currently out of work, underemployed, working in other fields (food service, walmart technician, etc). Putting port management in the hands of any foreign country is ridiculous at best and treasonous at worst.