How Port Security Works
BREAKING (7:44 p.m/Pacific): DP World just agreed to delay “parts” of its deal, by its own accord, reported by David Gregory on “Scarborough Country.” ….My take: this deal is done.
President Bush on Thursday defended his administration's
decision to allow a company from an Arab country to operate six major U.S. ports,
saying, “People don't need to worry about security.”
need to worry about port security
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| Remember the Carlyle Group? They're ba-ack! …there's more. |
Very busy afternoon for me out of my office, so let's get right
to it.
To give you an idea of how the port deal is registering with regular
folks out west, one gal I talked to today, who is smart but doesn't pay attention
to politics in detail and she's not a Democrat, had a quick quip at the ready. Know of a good dock in
New Jersey I can buy? She then rolled her eyes and said, “Could they be
any dumber? What are they doing? This is crazy!” Exclamation implied in
her tone. She may not know the specifics, but the bottom line registered. It's the same reaction I got from other regular folks (link added) that are supposed to be represented by the Republicans.
Sean Hannity has practically got us going to war with Iran in order to save
the president's port deal. He should get a medal for all the propaganda
he's spreading.
As regular readers know, Lou Dobbs is mentioned regularly around
this blog, which means I take my lumps for just writing this sentence. Dobbs
isn't liked in many quarters for his illegal alien coverage, which I believe
is actually moving legislators, representing how many people feel, not to mention
being one of the very first newsmakers covering the issue, which affects our
homeland security in ways few lawmakers have the spine to address.
Today, Dobbs took out after the port giveaway.
Sal Catucci of American Stevedoring Inc. said on Dobbs' program
that security is currently “the top priority.” He said a managing
company knows everything that's going on inside a port.
Here's how security works, according to Bill Tucker of CNN, who
went through it step by step on Lou Dobbs.
While the ship is in the water it's under the jurisdiction of the
Coast Guard. While docked at the port and goods are being unloaded, it's under
the jurisdiction of Customs and Border Protection. But the second those goods
go off of the ship and land on the docks, security is the sole responsibility
of the terminal operator. The security plans are reviewed by the Department of
Homeland Security, but the terminal operator is solely responsible for the execution
of those plans, which in this new deal of Bush's would be DP World. The plans
are classified “secret,” but if a foreign government gains control
of a terminal they become privy to “classified security arrangements.”
Remember this from this morning?
Under the deal, the government asked
Dubai Ports to operate American seaports with existing U.S. managers “to
the extent possible.” It promised to take “all reasonable
steps” to assist the Homeland Security Department, and it pledged
to continue participating in security programs to stop smuggling and detect
illegal shipments of nuclear materials.
Arab
Co., White House Had Secret Agreement
Sal Catucci says it's a bad idea because DP World would have the
blueprint of the security at the port.
The Port Authority's authority ends at the roads leading to and
connecting the terminals.
Lighting, fencing, close circuit TVs are shared by the port and
the terminal operator.
But when it comes to the security guards, they are “hired,
fired and paid” by the terminal operator, which would be DP World. In other
words, they absolutely will be in charge of direct security of the port terminal
and the cargo sitting on the dock, 95% of which is never screened.
Feeling any better? I didn't think so.
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