Growing criticism puzzles many in shipping industry

The Baltimore Sun ^ | February 22, 2006 | Meredith Cohn

[the invisib1e hand]

this is no time for common sense. this is a political goldmine. /sarc

[angkor]

Weird. Just about everyone understands this is a perception and PR issue rather a real problem.

The WH has been a little naive in not anticipating this kind of hysterical reaction.

[new yorker 77]

I don't like the deal on the surface, but the people on both sides who pretend to care about the ports have no idea who runs them.

If you do not know the totality of our port situation, educate yourself.

That's what I am trying to do.

There's a reason there is no U.S. company managing these ports and it's because no such company exists.

It's hard to prevent outsourcing when there is no American company to source to.

[OldFriend]

Actually heard a caller to Sean yesterday saying that perception is reality and Sean agreed with the caller.

Evidently all logic has fled and hysterics and hyperbole rule.

[ronnied]

There's a reason there is no U.S. company managing these ports and it's because no such company exists.



the ila controls the ports, don't you know...makes no difference whose names are on paper....

[brothers4thID]

Agree with you there. I was afraid of a public stoning yesterday after I suggested Michelle Malkin was feeding the hysteria.

[proxy_user]

In New York, the ports are controlled by the Port Authority, called the 'PA'.

I guess that might make some consider them allied with the terrorists.....

[OldFriend]

Only if the PA workers arrive riding camels.

[OldFriend]

Having worked for SeaLand Service.....long time ago, I can assure you that the unions control EVERYTHING on those docks, in those ports, and on the ships too!

The loss prevention reports were VERY interesting! To say the least.

The dockworkers would be in the parking lot selling stuff right out of the purloined containers.

[angkor]

If you do not know the totality of our port situation, educate yourself.

No can do.

I think if you're walking down the path of "knowing the totality," then you also need to consider Hutchinson, Maersk, PSA International (the other P&O bidder), and all of the other global port operators who have U.S. interests. That's a tall order, something fit for several years of reasearch by a Wall Street analyst. Good luck.

But where all this (impossible) effort brings you is right back to the beginning, the very simple question of "what difference to our security does it make who operates an American port terminal"?

And the answer is "none", since security is run by TSA and the Coast Guard.

By the way, the consensus we've seen so far from container/shipping experts and professionals, and from Wall Street analysts, is that this is a big yawn. Do you think they're all ignorant as to security considerations? I don't.

[McGavin999]

Sometimes I am stunned with how bad this administration is about PR. Of course, every time they try to get the word out the media attacks them so they're in sort of a catch 22 position.

[Coop]

Just about everyone understands this is a perception and PR issue rather a real problem.

HUH?!?! I think there's a fraction of us here on FR that understand that. Most of the hysteria is over "Arabs running our port security!"

[brothers4thID]

Add to the "big yawn" group anyone who has worked in any form of government security/logistics.

[angkor]

I meant everyone who's surmounted the emotional issue of "Arabs running our ports", which I confess I held until I did just a little reading and thinking about it.

This is a red herring issue driven entirely by emotion.

[Coop]

Yep.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Perhaps it's just a ploy to create a government-owned company to do the job (as it's clear that the private sector doesn't want to do so.) Then there would be lots of potential political favors to be granted.

[angkor]

Add to the "big yawn" group anyone who has worked in any form of government security/logistics.

Acknowledged. Out.

[Coop]

I meant everyone who's surmounted the emotional issue of "Arabs running our ports", which I confess I held until I did just a little reading and thinking about it.

Perhaps you'll have more success at convincing some others around here than this "cheerleading, Bushbot troll" did.

[Coop]

Still lotsa work to do.

FR poll