The Ports Deal Is History, But Is Security Still a Concern?

FOX News ^ | 3/13/06 | Interview

[Luis Gonzalez]

This is a partial transcript of "Special Report With Brit Hume" from March 10, 2006, that has been edited for clarity.

JIM ANGLE, GUEST HOST: Different people draw different lessons from the two-week debate over port security and whether to let a company from the United Arab Emirates own the unloading operations at six U.S. ports. Several experts repeatedly tried to tell Congress that it was focusing on the wrong thing. One of them is John Carafano of the Heritage Foundation and author of "Winning The Long War." He argues that the U.S. is less safe without the deal than it would have been with it. And he joins us now.

[Paige]

It may be history to some but it is hitting the pocket book of every American.

[Paige]

It may be history to some but it is hitting the pocket book of every American.

[STARWISE]

Carafano was frightening in his description of the help we may be losing. Read the whole interview, if you haven't seen it.

[cripplecreek]

Fear tactics are increasingly tiresome.

[Joe Boucher]

Never was about security, was about making G.W. look bad.

[ConservativeBamaFan]

Is security still a concern?

It is out here, but I'm sure it isn't given a second thought inside the beltway when it comes to borders or ports.

[STARWISE]

"CARAFANO: Well, you know, the fact is, is we couldn’t do Iraq without the cooperation of the UAE because that port in Dubai is our central power projection platform in the region. It’s invaluable to us. And here’s the other irony, is that the reason why Dubai wanted this company to begin with is because they had vast holdings in Asia.

I mean, so it would have taken the U.S. security regime a lot of places we aren’t now, which is the risky places, the third world places, the places that don’t have good security, and it would have started to bring some of the security regimes that we use in Singapore and Rotterdam and these places into this third world. That’s all dead now."

[Walkingfeather]

Actually this was a lesson to Bush that he has been forgetting the fundamentals that put him into office. Take care of your base. This was the exact mistake he make with Meyers. His base is fatigued with the lack of response on illegals. Meyers was another flaunt and it blowed up real good.... The port deal was the same.

Both could have been avoided with the proper communication and connection to his Base. I don't know what has happened that they are making mistakes they didn't before, maybe they are overwhelmed, but taking care of your base is like preventative maintenance on a car. You might not hear anything wrong, but you better check under the hood to make sure their is not wear that you can not see.

[hedgetrimmer]

Never was about security,

You don't remember the world before Bill Clinton decided to use our government to reorganize "so that human beings are organized in a way that takes advantage of the new opportunities of this era.", do you. He said we needed to submerge our "poisoned nationalism". This would include the implementation of the OECD Maritime agreement that ultimately led to the federal government allowing foreign entities to purchase US infrastructure.

GW looks bad because he is clearly on the side of internationalism, not "poisoned nationalism". He clearly is attempting to fulfill the Clinton policies of economic and political integration with every despotic dictatorial regime on the globe, as well.

[hedgetrimmer]

It may be history to some but it the internationalization of our economy is hitting the pocket book of every American.

[Paige]

Oh give everyone a break! One question, do you support the use of ethanol? Since gas is going to 3 bucks a gallon thanks to this port issue, wouldn't you rather pay the farmers to grow corn than keep people who hate us rich? NOW remember you need to think carefully about this question. It can open up all kinds of new issues. :)

[Willie Green]

Good morning, Luis.

Politics and Strategy After the Dubai Ports Case
Reform CFIUS to Stop Foreign Raiders from Dismantling the Defense Industrial Base
Bush Economic Polices Threaten National Security

[Howlin]

Ping....

[Howlin]

ANGLE: How much information about security does a port terminal operator have?

CARAFANO: Well, this is the dumbest issue. What they’d have access to is their security plans. So if they wanted to blow up their company that would help them. But, you know, you don’t buy a $7 billion company to blow it up. You know, that’s not how terrorists operate.

[Howlin]

CARAFANO: Right. I mean the only security they’re really providing is access, gate guards, fences, that kind of stuff. It’s really designed more to deter crime. The real security at the port is provided by the U.S. government through the Coast Guard and the

[DCPatriot]

Thanks for the ping, Howlin!

This topic gets my blood pressure up...which isn't good for me. ;^)

[Howlin]

CARAFANO: Well, you know, the fact is, is we couldn’t do Iraq without the cooperation of the UAE because that port in Dubai is our central power projection platform in the region. It’s invaluable to us. And here’s the other irony, is that the reason why Dubai wanted this company to begin with is because they had vast holdings in Asia. I mean, so it would have taken the U.S. security regime a lot of places we aren’t now, which is the risky places, the third world places, the places that don’t have good security, and it would have started to bring some of the security regimes that we use in Singapore and Rotterdam and these places into this third world. That’s all dead now.

ANGLE: Because they were willing to take all the security initiatives that we want to pursue and take them to all their overseas ports to use there before things are shipped to the U.S.

CARAFANO: Yes, they were going to spend their money to make our supply chain safer. And that’s off the table now.

ANGLE: They were going to spend their money to do it?

CARAFANO: Right.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The Ports Deal Is History, But Is Security Still a Concern?

Apparently not to the politicians who were swallowed up with goofy hysteria for 3 weeks. 

[Cannoneer No. 4]

But, but, but, Carafano is a globalist, yeah, yeah, a globalist, and we don't have to listen to him, yeah. AmericaFirst!