Froomkin Nails It: "The Underlying Problem"/Why Ports Story Won't Go Away

[KoKo]

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Friday, February 24, 2006; 11:27 AM

President Bush has bought himself a little time to make his case that an Arab company should be allowed to take over operations at several U.S. seaports. But the port imbroglio threatens to develop real traction -- and not just because of the widespread outrage generated by the basic facts of the case.

The reporters and pundits I reference below see all sorts of worrisome and problematic things lurking just below the surface. Here are some of the problems they think are being exposed:

* The nation's serious, long-ignored vulnerabilities when it comes to port security.

* An enormous trade deficit that guarantees greater foreign ownership of U.S. assets of all kinds.

* The Bush White House's long tradition of stonewalling, misleading or just plain ignoring Congress.

* The lack of public trust fueled by excessive executive secrecy.

* The anti-Arab racism that has been a potent offshoot of the war on terror.

* More evidence of a president who is consistently out of the loop.

* The perils of living in a period of politics by hysteria -- even for its creator.

More on PORT SECURITY at..............

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/02/24/BL2006022400781_pf.html

[glitch]

1. Reads like he listens to Thom Hartmann. Good on him. :) nt

[Rose Siding]

3. I heard that earlier too. The screaming truth is the best unified mssg

[glitch]

4. Yeah, soon even the timid will be comfortable speaking the truth! nt

[rodeodance]

2. maybe cast some doubt on the admin.---just maybe.

[peacetalksforall]

5. I K & R, but you have to read the entire article - no registration.

Excellent. Lots of ammunition. Wonderfully stated. Pointed.

[KoKo]

8. It's very hopeful article...and a good read without registration...as you

said...

[MrBenchley]

6. The Tony Snow/Karl Rove exchange is surreal....

"SNOW: It's not like somebody comes in and shakes the president awake every time somebody has a sale that involves a foreign company.

"ROVE: Right.

"SNOW: If so, he'd never get any sleep and he'd never get any work done.

"ROVE: Exactly. Exactly."

[CJCRANE]

7. Great article. nt