No more so then any of the other commercial operations in the U.S., all of which are foreign owned. That includes those already owned by Saudi Arabia.
They're not all Americans now. And there also are arab-flagged vessels that routinely visit our ports even now and have ample opportunity to review our security. It's not like that level of security is secret.
The parent Company will send people over to oversee operations and run management jobs. No foreign company is going to invest all that money with out having some of its own people there.
Exactly how will those jobs enable them to compromise security? What specific knowledge do they have?
You wrote:
"All of these people working at the port will not be Americans. The parent Company will send people over to oversee operations and run management jobs. No foreign company is going to invest all that money with out having some of its own people there.
I don't know how many it would be but lets say it is just a dozen or so per port.
These people will have family back home. The terrorist know this. They can and have taken their own people hostage to blackmail them into doing their bidding and getting information about how the security and port operations here in the USA work will be one of them. They will inform them on areas of weaknesses, laxness, and schedules with regard to security. Let them know of any holes in security or workers. They will be there everyday with access to observe these operations unlike someone just stopping nearby to spy on the port which anyone can do now. After that it may be no long in the hands of the port worker. The terrorist cell will take over operations based on the information from the worker. And of course they still have his family so they can demand him to do more. Most people would be more than willing to sacrifice their lives and wouldn't care about the company he works for if his family is being threatened. This is not a far fetched scenario and is rather simple. I am sure the terrorist can come up with much better one.
It wouldn't be the company doing the terrorist attack. it would most likely be a handful of employees that came over with the parent company. The dock workers will no nothing of this until it's too late.
Why do want this deal to go through so much? What is in it for you?
There is nothing good here but to raise the risk of another terrorist attack. Giving them access to a vital avenue to our country.
Why can't you see this?"
You wrote that several days ago, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
And I think you have a point, which I see, because you explained it to me.
It's a valid point.
I don't know if it's dispositive, but it DOES give me a concern where before I didn't have one.
You're right. There IS a security risk of some magnitude. I don't know WHAT magnitude, but some. My earlier view was that there was absolutely NO security risk, at all, and that the opposition was just political hysteria.
But I see your point.