Dubai Ports Cleared To Test Methods Used To Screen US Cargo

[kpete]

DP World to help test screening of U.S.-bound cargo
POSTED: 6:12 p.m. EST, December 7, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Dubai Ports World, the Arab-owned company which set off a furor with its purchase of six U.S. port operations earlier this year, has been cleared to join a federal pilot program to test the methods used to screen U.S.-bound cargo for radiation.

The Security Freight Initiative involves the use of existing technology -- including streaming video and nuclear-detection devices -- at foreign ports, according to details announced Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

The United States, however, "will not outsource our security," Chertoff said, adding that all decisions about whether cargo is allowed to continue to the United States "will be made 100 percent by U.S. officials."

Though the inspection authority rests with the host government, "American customs officials will satisfy themselves about the safety of a container before that container is allowed to continue to the United States of America," the secretary said.

"In the end the 'go, no-go' decision rests with our guys," he said.

more at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/07/dpworld.screening/index.html