Paper: Coast Guard Has Port Co. Intel Gaps

Yahoo News ^ | 2/27/06 | LIZ SIDOTI

[Jhohanna]

WASHINGTON - Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday.

The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

[Jhohanna]

Quoted from the article: "This report suggests there were significant and troubling intelligence gaps," said Susan Collins, R-Maine. "That language is very troubling to me."

And yet, this remains a concern to all Americans, and rightly so. We seek to be reassured that this is going to be a good and SAFE deal, not something that's going to open up more Whoop on USA soil. I just want all of the facts to come out, so that the debate can be INTELLIGENT.

[frankjr]

Also from the article:

""In this case, the concerns that you're citing were addressed and resolved," Clay Lowry, the
Treasury Department's assistant secretary for international affairs, told lawmakers.

The Coast Guard indicated to The Associated Press that it did not have serious reservations about the ports deal on Feb. 10, when the news organization first inquired about potential security concerns."


This deal will go through and rightly so.

[mewzilla]

an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

Undated? How old is it?

[mtbopfuyn]

The whole thing is troubling to me.

[Marine_Uncle]

Most of us want the same thing. Interestingly, little is being said about how DPW has taken it upon themselves to put into operation (in their native ports), the latest models of x-ray and gamma scanner equipment along with a very rigidly controlled process to make sure a nuke will never leave their port facilities in a container. And this operational process did not just happen to be formulated last week.

[Jhohanna]

I dunno... this was released about 15 minutes before I posted it here. I'm hoping that more information comes out.

[Jhohanna]

Funny... the more I learn about it, the more I am reassured... at first. And then my brain takes over.... and I can see *all* the holes in it. *feh* There's just *way* too many unknowns right now, and everyone just pushing this thing right along needs to think about it and reason out WHY they are not looking deeper. Follow the money gang. It always goes back to the same places. Only problem is, that we DON'T know that part. Yet.

And YES, I would be as concerned about this if it were France or Spain. Or Australia or Japan. And I was this concerned about the takeover in LB too, but ya know. I was busy fighting the Indians.

[Jhohanna]

DPW has taken it upon themselves to put into operation (in their native ports), the latest models of x-ray and gamma scanner equipment along with a very rigidly controlled process to make sure a nuke will never leave their port facilities in a container.

Now see, where did you find that? I would like to see that. THAT'S the kind of thing I'm hoping that this delay will bring out. Because I'm all for giving the UAE a shot. IF they are not funneling money into the PA or Iran, and IF they abide by all of our security and laws, ESPECIALLY the immigration ones, which we all know that Port Authorities break all the time. At least in Cali they do. I'd like to see information about what GOOD could come of this deal. There are three sides to every story, but the MSM only tells us the one. It's up to us to look at the other angles.

[notigar]

Woops.

[CWOJackson]

"The Coast Guard indicated to The Associated Press that it did not have serious reservations about the ports deal on Feb. 10, when the news organization first inquired about potential security concerns."

"Any time there's a new operator in a port our concern would be that that operator has complied with the (International Ship and Port Facility Security) ISPS code overseas and we just want to take a look at their track record," Cmdr. Jeff Carter, Coast Guard spokesman, said at the time. "And then we would look forward to working with them in the future ensuring they complied with all applicable regulations and international agreements," he added."

[Jhohanna]

But the question is.... have they? Provably. I'm sorry, in 20 days, you don't have the time to look at those kinds of records. But I hope they did and I hope they have the good record that I would expect out of Dubai.

[CWOJackson]

"But the question is.... have they?"

Yes, they have. That's the Coast Guard's own response.

[Jhohanna]

Yeah, but come on.... we know how things have been 'looked' at in the past. And already there is enough stuff leaking out of the cracks to make ME nervous. But then, I do live in a port city and see how badly it is run.

[CWOJackson]

Those leaks are the disinformation from the unions and democrats.

[clawrence3]

In addition, the nation's REAL intelligence agencies all cleared this deal - just because some skipper floating out in the harbor has not, does not mean anything.

[CWOJackson]

The Coast Guard is an key element in the review process, especially in regard to port security. They had valid concerns that were adequately addressed.

[Jhohanna]

nation's REAL intelligence agencies

Muwahahaha... and what is your definition of REAL intel agencies? Certainly not the Fraternal Brotherhood of Ignoramii... or the Clustered Idiota Americanus species, right? I have next to no faith in either one of them after the lapses that brought about 9/11/01. And the OKC bombing. (not trying to relate them, but there was clear warnings and evidence prior to both that could have prevented them) Intelligence agencies are comprised of people, that, being human, make mistakes. Not only that, they are NOT the brightest apples in the box, always.

We need some statements coming out from MI6 - that DP World cleared *THEIR* investigations before allowing the purchase to proceed - you would think the Brits did their own investigations, yes? We need backing from DIA in the Pentagon - I haven't seen anything that tells me they have even been involved, as well as the NSA and DHS. Chertoff is a figureheaded moron that needs to eat about 15 cheeseburgers for breakfast. We've seen his statements on Katrina and the like to know that.

Honestly, I'm still on the fence about this whole thing. I see good and bad sides to both, mostly that we won't be able to execute money traces once it hits the sukuk in the Dubai Markets. But I see enough good points to balance the concerns, but NOT enough to convince me that this is good for our nation's security, especially as things are growing warmer with the nutcases over there in Iran and Syria. And *I* want to know that my kids are going to be safe from terror attacks on our home soil. Don't you?

I guess that is what has been making so many people so angry, is the sheer secretive nature of this entire deal. It seems like it was so backdoored, so hushhush that it wouldn't induce these kinds of discussions and arguments. RIGHT. Not in today's world. My husband has spent years over in the Middle East, and though they may all be aligned with us today, those do not run nearly as deep as our roots do with say, Britain. Arabs are known to turn on a deal on a dime. And who's to say that won't happen 10 years from now - especially since we have NO knowledge of the UAE leadership anymore since they were all replaced in December!

Instead of mudslinging, press... how about trying to reassure the people and present the FACTS about it, not the smear campaigns about everyone and everything else.

[Jhohanna]

Hm. I can see that, but then, why are the coming from 'pubs?

[mtbopfuyn]

But then there's that little thing with David Sanborn. Bush claiming he didn't know anything about the deal until last week when a month before he nominated DPW's own Mr. Big to head up our Maritime Adm. Something smells.

[Marine_Uncle]

Give me some time, not making excuses but I am a woodpecker on a number of Iraqi posts, and ready to take a break for din din. But in advance. I read it in one of the articles we read at FR in the past week, and Hadely made comment of it to Wolf Blitzer during an interview at CNN. If I don't get back to you with URL links forgive me. I assure you it will be seen in more articles as things settle out.