What stinks here is the hysteria and ignorance of "Conservatives" who should know better then to fall for a Democrat directed Press smear job.
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Sad to say, this hysteria started with Frank Gaffney's report of the sale going through. It took a week to get traction, since the media were fixated on VP Cheney and Mr. Whittington all last week. Now this item will fill the vacuum caused by Mr Whittington's discharge from the hospital. People like Schumer are opportunists. Not one of these "outraged" congresscritters appear to have known that these port operations were owned by a foreign company already.
I was very pleasantly surprised this morning to read an editorial by the Baltimore SUN urging calm and common sense.
Immediately attacking DPW because it is Arab is racist. I am sad that conservatives have such knee-jerk reactions without learning facts, or even asking questions.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.port21feb21,0,3610258.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines
From the editorial:
-----Potentially lost in this uproar is a clear understanding of what a stevedoring firm such as P&O does. For the record, its employees do not touch cargo. They aren't in charge of port security. They do not oversee shipping manifests. Stevedores are the middle managers who tell longshoremen when and where to load and unload cargo. That's pretty much it. In Baltimore, P&O employees are local people, most with extensive port experience, who help manage container operations at the Seagirt and, to a lesser extent, Dundalk marine terminals. -----
Operator cooperation is integral to effective port security. The Canadian PIP program, the US Customs CIS program, the Container Seal Verification Regime, and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), are just a few of the security regimes that require operator initiative, cooperation, and reporting.
As a small example, TWIC, a uniform personal credential that will vet the identity and background of individuals with access to cargo and to secure areas of a marine cargo handling facility, is implemented by the operator pursuant to explicit operator duties under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. The operator duties under the 2002 Act include requirements that marine cargo handling facility operators submit facility security plans that designate "secure" areas of the facility for control of access by vessels, vehicles and individuals.
You also say "Not one of these "outraged" congresscritters appear to have known that these port operations were owned by a foreign company already."
Honestly. What hogwash. P&O is British company. DP World is a state owned company of the UAE. The difference is readily apparent. You are aware, are you not, that Dubai has a lengthy history of terrorist financing and transit, including significant direct connections with 9/11.
Finally, you say "Immediately attacking DPW because it is Arab is racist."
My goodness. How PC of you. Perhaps you are not aware of Dubai's terrorist connections, after all.