U.S. Hiring Hong Kong Co. To Scan Nukes

AP ^ | 3-23-06 | TED BRIDIS

[My Favorite Headache]

U.S. Hiring Chinese Co. to Scan Nukes By TED BRIDIS and JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writers 27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of the Dubai ports dispute, the Bush administration is hiring a Hong Kong conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside cargo passing through the Bahamas to the United States and elsewhere.

ADVERTISEMENT

The administration acknowledges the no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. represents the first time a foreign company will be involved in running a sophisticated U.S. radiation detector at an overseas port without American customs agents present.

Freeport in the Bahamas is 65 miles from the U.S. coast, where cargo would be likely to be inspected again. The contract is currently being finalized.

The administration is negotiating a second no-bid contract for a Philippine company to install radiation detectors in its home country, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. At dozens of other overseas ports, foreign governments are primarily responsible for scanning cargo.

While President Bush recently reassured Congress that foreigners would not manage security at U.S. ports, the Hutchison deal in the Bahamas illustrates how the administration is relying on foreign companies at overseas ports to safeguard cargo headed to the United States.

Hutchison Whampoa is the world's largest ports operator and among the industry's most-respected companies. It was an early adopter of U.S. anti-terror measures. But its billionaire chairman, Li Ka-Shing, also has substantial business ties to China's government that have raised U.S. concerns over the years.

"Li Ka-Shing is pretty close to a lot of senior leaders of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party," said Larry M. Wortzel, head of a U.S. government commission that studies China security and economic issues. But Wortzel said Hutchison operates independently from Beijing, and he described Li as "a very legitimate international businessman."

"One can conceive legitimate security concerns and would hope either the Homeland Security Department or the intelligence services of the United States work very hard to satisfy those concerns," Wortzel said.

Three years ago, the Bush administration effectively blocked a Hutchison subsidiary from buying part of a bankrupt U.S. telecommunications company, Global Crossing Ltd., on national security grounds.

And a U.S. military intelligence report, once marked "secret," cited Hutchison in 1999 as a potential risk for smuggling arms and other prohibited materials into the United States from the Bahamas.

Hutchison's port operations in the Bahamas and Panama "could provide a conduit for illegal shipments of technology or prohibited items from the West to the PRC (People's Republic of China), or facilitate the movement of arms and other prohibited items into the Americas," the now-declassified assessment said.

The CIA currently has no security concerns about Hutchison's port operations, and the administration believes the pending deal with the foreign company would be safe, officials said.

Supervised by Bahamian customs officials, Hutchison employees will drive the towering, truck-like radiation scanner that moves slowly over large cargo containers and scans them for radiation that might be emitted by plutonium or a radiological weapon.

Any positive reading would set off alarms monitored simultaneously by Bahamian customs inspectors at Freeport and by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials working at an anti-terrorism center 800 miles away in northern Virginia. Any alarm would prompt a closer inspection of the cargo, and there are multiple layers of security to prevent tampering, officials said.

"The equipment operates itself," said Bryan Wilkes, a spokesman for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency negotiating the contract. "It's not going to be someone standing at the controls pressing buttons and flipping switches."

A lawmaker who helped lead the opposition to the Dubai ports deal isn't so confident. Neither are some security experts. They question whether the U.S. should pay a foreign company with ties to China to keep radioactive material out of the United States.

"Giving a no-bid contract to a foreign company to carry out the most sensitive security screening for radioactive materials at ports abroad raises many questions," said Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y.

A low-paid employee with access to the screening equipment could frustrate international security by studying how the equipment works and which materials set off its alarms, warned a retired U.S. Customs investigator who specialized in smuggling cases.

"Money buys a lot of things," Robert Sheridan said. "The fact that foreign workers would have access to how the United States screens various containers for nuclear material and how this technology scrutinizes the containers — all those things allow someone with a nefarious intention to thwart the screening."

Other experts discounted concerns. They cited Hutchison's reputation as a leading ports company and said the United States inevitably must rely for some security on large commercial operators in the global maritime industry.

"We must not allow an unwarranted fear of foreign ownership or involvement in offshore operations to impair our ability to protect against nuclear weapons being smuggled into this country," said Sen. Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record), R-Minn., a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. "We must work with these foreign companies."

A former Coast Guard commander, Stephen Flynn, said foreign companies sometimes prove more trustworthy — and susceptible to U.S. influence — than governments.

"It's a very fragile system," Flynn said. Foreign companies "recognize the U.S. has the capacity and willingness to exercise a kill switch if something goes wrong."

A spokesman for Hutchison's ports subsidiary, Anthony Tam, said the company "is a strong supporter in port security initiatives."

"In the case of the Bahamas, our local personnel are working alongside with U.S. customs officials to identify and inspect U.S.-bound containers that could be carrying radioactive materials," Tam said.

However, there are no U.S. customs agents checking any cargo containers at the Hutchison port in Freeport. Under the contract, no U.S. officials would be stationed permanently in the Bahamas with the radiation scanner.

The administration is finalizing the contract amid a national debate over maritime security sparked by the furor over now-abandoned plans by Dubai-owned DP World to take over significant operations at major U.S. ports.

Hutchison operates the sprawling Freeport Container Port on Grand Bahama Island. Its subsidiary, Hutchison Port Holdings, has operations in more than 20 countries but none in the United States.

Contract documents, obtained by The Associated Press, indicate Hutchison will be paid roughly $6 million. The contract is for one year with options for three years.

The Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration is negotiating the Bahamas contract under a $121 million security program it calls the "second line of defense." Wilkes, the NNSA spokesman, said the Bahamian government dictated that the U.S. give the contract to Hutchison.

"It's their country, their port. The driver of the mobile carrier is the contractor selected by their government. We had no say or no choice," he said. "We are fortunate to have allies who are signing these agreements with us."

Some security experts said that is a weak explanation in the Bahamas, with its close reliance on the United States. The administration could insist that the Bahamas permit U.S. Customs agents to operate at the port, said Albert Santoli, an expert on national security issues in Asia and the Pacific.

"Why would they not accept that?" said Santoli, a former national security aide to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif. "There is an interest in the Bahamas and every other country in the region to make sure the U.S. stays safe and strong. That's how this should be negotiated."

Flynn, the former Coast Guard commander, agreed the Bahamas would readily accept such a proposal but said the U.S. is short of trained customs agents to send overseas.

Contract documents obtained by the AP show at least one other foreign company is involved in the U.S. radiation-detection program.

A separate, no-bid $4 million contract the Bush administration is negotiating would pay a Manila-based company, International Container Terminal Services Inc., to install radiation detectors at the Philippines' largest port.

The U.S. says the Manila company is not being paid to operate the radiation monitors once they are installed. But two International Container executives and a senior official at the government's Philippine Nuclear Research Institute said the company will run the detectors on behalf of the institute and the country's customs bureau. U.S. officials said they will investigate further how the Filipinos plan to use the equipment.

___

Associated Press writers Bill Foreman in Hong Kong and Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this story.

[carl in alaska]

Well that's a good point, but now you're talking about a hypothetical Chinese intelligence operation to test shielding methods to find out which methods get past our scanners. But as far as Chinese intelligence is concerned, does it make any difference who runs the scanners? I don't think so. They could use this method to test the scanners run by Americans at our own ports. I don't think the location or nationality of the scanner operators makes any difference to that kind of intelligence operation.

As you say, they just have to have people in place to see if goods reach their final end destination. That destination could be in the American heartland far from any ports, and if goods don't show up there they could assume the container was seized because of radiation at the port. But the location of the scanners makes no difference in this kind of intelligence operation. And that was the whole point of this AP article--that there's something dangerous about locating the scanners offshore.

[carl in alaska]

Very true. History has shown that we are in a kind of partnership with God and we have to fight our fight on earth against evil or else evil can triumph. But I believe God gives us some help at critical times. Just look at the way Israel always defeats enemies who have far more soldiers and tanks. The Israelis fight hard, but they seem to get a little help too.

[carl in alaska]

You are a very smart dude (dudette?). I'm glad you're on our side in the WOT.

[george wythe]

What a non-issue.

Foreign countries scan containers at their own ports. If the Bahamas government wants to hire professionals more capable than its own government employees, it should be applauded.

[DBrow]

This is a great idea. We must make friends with other countries rather than isolate ourselves, and sharing this sort of technology is a great way to do it.

I'm sure Bahamians don't want rouge radioactives in their country, and I doubt any country would like to receive a hot container they didn't order.

It's nice that Bahama is willing to be one of the places that a hot shipment will be stopped at.

It's a good deal for us, because once there is a nuclear IED in the Port of New York, we're in check. Stopping it in Nassau or at the Canal is better for us.

The media constantly screeching about these efforts to build an international community that looks out for their collective interests is telling. Aside for the opportunity to bash Bush and pretend to care about security, why the urge for isolationism and we-must-go-this-alone?

[Eighth Square]

If they let a nuke through they might just lose the contract! Wow, that should make 'em think!

[jec41]

I acknowledge that I know nothing about port security, but I am still concerned about contracting out important security operations that are supposed to protect the US to foreign countries, especially foreign countries that we do not have long-term, friendly relationships with. Also, do we really want China or the Philippines to have access to this "sophisticated U.S. radiation detector"?

That radiation detector is not a US invention. It is new of the US. It allows 140 container scans a hr. US port scanners allow only 20. DPW would have been the first to put these scanners in US ports. DPW has them in all their port operations. The union opposes the new scanners. Most all European ports already have the scanners.

[jec41]

What I do not understand is why we need Communist China scanning our ships. IT really does sound like having the fox guard the henhouse. Also, has America fallen so far with taxes, regulations, and just plain government bureaucracies that we have no American Company to do this? Who is looking our for American Jobs? Dell just reported that it will be hiring 3,000 employees IN INDIA. In the USA all we here are layoffs, jobs going overseas, and now who we are selling off security issues to our enemies. Why are these contract NO BID?

First it is not communist china scanning, its the largest port operator in the world and is a Hong Cong company. Second who is suppose to bid. Hutchinson owns 50% of that port. The cargo shipping 50%. The US contracted a service. There is no one else that can perform that service in Hutchinson's port. Dell opened a plant in India because the market for both India and China are 4 times larger than the US market and sales in the US are restricted by the size of the US market. If we made them here and tried to ship them how would we do it. 50% of the leased terminals in India's largest port is to DPW. Congress has just said they cannot do business in the US. Business just said we will build the plant there. The US stockholders that own Dell are happy.

[TChris]

[jec41]

"The fact that foreign workers would have access to how the United States screens various containers for nuclear material and how this technology scrutinizes the containers — all those things allow someone with a nefarious intention to thwart the screening."

This technology is already used by most of the port operators in the world the US is the exception. The union doesn't want these scanners in US ports, They scan 140 containers a hr. US equipment can only scan 20 a hr. Its the prime reason the union didn't want DPW in our port terminals. They install the new scanners in all their terminals.

[jec41]

What’s the deal with the no-bid contracts?

Who is their to bid. Hutchinson owns 50% of that port. The 50% that is for cargo shipping and where the scanners are located. They contracted a service to Hutchinson. Hutchinson is not going to sell their port to please the US.

[jec41]

Congress, if it wasn't too busy sending political messages to save it's sorry behind, could have passed a law a few weeks ago requiring a U.S. government employeee to be full-time at every US port terminal run by a foreign company, and at every foreign port terminal loading cargo bound for the U.S.

Bush already has that agreement with 43 countries but congress has to provide the money for new agents. Hutchinson has no problem with a agent there. they are in other foreign Hutchinson ports and were in DPW. We don't have any trained nor is there money to do so.

[jec41]

Particularly given the Pentagons's assessment of China in its last annual report, this is not a good move at all. China should be treated in the same manner that Reagan treated the Societ Union. They are the evil empire of our day, and given their economic position, they have the potential of being a much greater threat, IMHO, than the Soviets were.

How would that affect Hutchinson of Hong Cong.

[puppypusher]

Like What? How about the Dubai Ports deal that would have placed this countries National Security in the Hands of a nation that does not have our best interest in mind and that still deal with Known International Terrorist Groups.

[jec41]

Actually these scanners also check for density in case of any shielding. However you can't put shielding on a radiation device without having radiation on the outside of the shielding. Its in the air.. these scanners are so accurate that they pick up the small amount of radiation put off by marble and because of it's density containers with marble in them are checked further. I stoop shipping marble when I found out why they were tearing up my container shipments.

[cope85]

foreign company. tell me what we make anymore

[jec41]

foreign company. tell me what we make anymore


Find United States products and suppliers, or post a lead and let suppliers find you!
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
14" Hp
42" Plasma
Ac Adapter
Access Control
Access Point
Acer
Adapter
Adult Diapers
Adult Dvd
Aerosol
Agriculture
Air Compressor
Air Conditioning
Air Cylinder
Air Force One
Air Purifier
Airbags
Air-Conditioner
Aircraft
Akademiks
Alarm
Alcohol
Alienware
Alloy Wheel
Aloe Vera
Alpaca
Aluminium
Amd
Antenna
Anti-Aging
Antiques
Apartment
Apparel
Apparel Stock
Apple Ipod
Apron
Aromatherapy
Art
Artwork
Athletic Wear
Atv
Atx Case
Audiovox
Auto
Auto Accessory
Auto Parts
Automobile
Baby Clothes
Baby Diapers
Backpack
Badge
Bag
Balloons
Bamboo
Bamboo Flooring
Band
Bangle Watch
Banner Stand
Baseball
Baseball Caps
Basket
Basketball
Bath
Bath Salts
Bath Soap
Bath Towel
Bathrobes
Bathroom Vanity
Bathtub
Battery
Bead
Beans
Bed
Bedding
Beef
Beer Machine
Belt
Bench
Beverage
Bicycle
Bidet
Bike
Bike Engine
Billiards
Binding
Binoculars
Biometric
Birch
Blanket
Blouse
Blue Jeans
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Headset
Bmw
Boat
Body Lotion
Book
Boots
Bottle
Bottled Water
Bowl
Box
Boxers
Bra
Bracelet
Bread
Briefcase
Brochure Holders
Bulb
Bulk
Bulletproof
Burner
Buttons
Cabinet
Cable
Cake
Calculator
Camcorder
Camera
Camera Video
Camisole
Camping
Candle
Candle Holder
Candy
Canon
Canon Powershot
Cap
Car
Car Audio
Car Stereo
Carb
Card Reader
Caricature
Cartridge
Case
Cashmere
Casino
Casino Chip
Cast
Casual Wear
Catalyst
Ccd
Cctv
Cd
Cdma
Cdr
Cd-R
Cdrw
Celeron
Cell
Cell Phone
Cell Phone Accessory
Cellphone
Cellular
Cellular Phone
Cement
Ceramic
Ceramic Pot
Ceramic Tile
Chair
Chandelier
Charcoal
Chardonnay
Charger
Check Valve
Chemical
Chenille
Chess
Chest
Chicken
Chip Set
Chips
Chlorine
Chopper
Christmas Ornaments
Christmas Tree
Chrome Rim
Chrome Wheel
Chrome Wheels
Cigar
Cigarette
Cisco
Citizens
Classic & Luxury Automobiles
Clock
Cloth
Clothes
Clothing
Clove
Coal
Coat
Coating
Coca Cola
Cocoa
Coffee
Coke
Collectibles
Commodes
Compact Flash
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Compaq
Computer
Computer Case
Computer Desk
Conditioner
Condoms
Connector
Console
Container
Conveyor
Cookies
Cooking
Cookware
Coolant System
Copier
Copper
Coral Calcium
Corkscrew
Corn
Cosmetic
Costume Jewelry
Countertops
Couture
Cpu
Craft
Cranes
Cremation Urn
Crown
Crt
Crt Monitors
Crude Oil
Crystal
Crystal Fixtures
Cushion
Cutlery
Cycle Computer
Cylinder
Dc
Dc Motor
Decor
Decoration
Dell
Dell Computer
Dell Inspiron
Dell Laptop
Denim
Designer Handbag
Desk
Desktop
Detergent
Diamond
Diamond Earrings
Diamond Ring
Diaper
Diesel
Diesel Generator
Diet
Dietary Supplements
Digital
Digital Camcorder
Digital Camera
Digital Video Recorder
Dirt Bike
Dishes
Disk Drives
Display
Disposable Diapers
Dog
Dog Apparel
Dog Collars
Doll
Door
Drawing
Dress
Dresser
Drill
Drinks
Drive
Ducati
Dvd
Dvd Decoder
Dvd Movie
Dvd Player
Dvd Recorder
Dvd+R
Dvd-R
Dvr
Eagle
Earring
Ecg
Ecko
Electric
Electric Scooter
Embroidery Machine
Encyclopedia
Energy Drink
Engine
Engine Part
Enhancement
Ericsson
Eyewear
Fabric
Farm
Ferrari
Fertilizer
Fiber Optic Cable
Fiberglass
Figurine
Film
Filter
Fire Retardants
Fireplace
Fishing
Fishing Lure
Fishing Rods
Fitness
Flag
Flash Disk
Flash Drive
Flash Light
Flash Memory
Flashlight
Flat Panel
Flat Panel Monitor
Flat Panel Television
Flat Screen
Flatware
Fleece
Floor Mats
Flooring
Flowers
Fm Transmitter
Foam
Food
Football
Footwear
Forklift
Foundation
Fountain
Fragrance
Frame
Freshwater Fishing
Fruit
Fuel Oil
Fur
Fur Coat
Fur Pelts
Furniture
G4
Gameboy
Games
Garden
Garlic
Garment
Gas Scooter
Gateway
Gemstone
Generator
Gift
Gift Box
Gift Item
Gifts Box
Girdle
Girl Dress
Glass
Glass Beads
Glass Flower
Glassware
Glove
Glow Sticks
Glue
Glycerin Soap
Go Kart
Gold
Gold Ring
Golf
Graffiti
Grain
Grease
Grill
Grinder
Grip
Gsm
Gsm Phone
Hair
Hair Care
Hair Growth
Hair Loss
Halloween
Hand Bag
Hand Care
Hand Soap
Hand Tools
Handbag
Handsets
Hard Disk
Hard Drive
Hat
Hayabusa
Hdd
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Hdpe
Hdtv
Headband
Headset
Health
Health Food
Heart Rate Monitor
Heater
Helicopter
Hemorrhoids
Herb
Herbal
Hidden Cameras
High Blood Pressure
Home Decor
Home Furnishings
Home Theater
Home Theater Speaker
Home Theater System
Home Theatre System
Honda
Honey
Hp
Hygiene Bags
Hypertension
Ibm
Ibm Laptop
Ibm Thinkpad
Icumsa 45
Incense
Infant Garment
Inflatable
Ink
Ink Cartridges
Inspiron
Intel
Ipaq
Ipod
Iron
Iron Ore
Italian Charms
Jacket
Jade Ring
Jar
Jeans
Jersey
Jet
Jewellery
Jewelry
Jewelry Box
John Deere
Juicy
Jute Bags
Karaoke
Kernel
Key Chain
Keyboard
Keychain
Keychain Flashlight
Knife
Kyocera
Labeler
Labels
Lace
Ladies Shirt
Ladies Shoes
Lamp
Lanyard
Laptop
Laptop Sony
Laser Printer
Latex Gloves
Latitude
Lauren
Lcd
Lcd Display
Lcd Monitor
Lcd Panels
Lcd Tv
Learning
Leather
Leather Bag
Leather Belt
Leather Boots
Leather Handbag
Leather Jacket
Leather Purse
Leather Shoes
Leather Wallet
Lexmark
Light
Light Weight
Lighter
Lighting
Lip Gloss
Lipstick
Liquid
Liquid Oxygen
Lobster
Lock
Logs
Lollipop
Lotion
Lubricant
Luggage
Machinery
Machining
Magnets
Mainboard
Marble
Marble Tile
Marble Urn
Mardi Gras
Marker
Mask
Massage Table
Massager
Mattress
Maxtor
Medical
Medical Supplies
Medication
Medicine
Memory Card
Memory Stick
Men Shoes
Men's Wallet
Metal Mineral
Meter
Microphone
Microsoft
Mineral
Mineral Water
Mini Bike
Mini Bikes
Mini Chopper
Minolta
Mirrored Furniture
Mmc
Mobile
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone Headset
Modem
Moisturizes
Monitor
Motherboard
Motor
Motorcycle
Motorcycle Part
Motorola
Motorola V3
Motorola V600
Mouse
Movie
Mp3
Mp3 Player
Msm
Muffler
Multimedia Card
Mushroom
Music
Music Cd
Music Player
Natural Soap
Navigation
Nec
Necklace
Neon
Network Card
Night Light
Nintendo
Nokia
Nokia 3310
Nokia 6230
Nokia 6260
Nokia 6600
Nokia 6610
Nokia 6630
Nokia 6800
Nokia 7200
Nokia 7250I
Nokia 7610
Nokia 7650
Nokia 8910I
Nokia 9210I
Nokia 9300
Nokia 9500
Nokia 9500 Communicator
Nokia Mobile Phone
Nokia Phone
Notebook
Notebook Computer
Notebook Laptop
Nut
Nutrition
OEM
OEM Software
Oil
Oil Painting
Olive Oil Soap
Optical Mouse
Optiplex
Organic
O-Ring
Ornaments
Outerwear
Oven
P800
P900
P910
Packaging
Packing
Pagers
Paint
Paintings
Pallets
Palm
Panel
Panties
Pants
Panty
Paper
Pashmina
Pasta
Patient Monitor
Pavilion
Pc
Pc Camera
Pcb
Pda
Pearl
Pearl Necklace
Pelt
Pen
Pen Drive
Pencil
Pendant
Pepper
Perfumes
Personal Care
Pet
Pet Bed
Pet Product
Petroleum
Pharmaceutical
Phone
Photo Album
Photo Frame
Picture Frame
Piii
Pill
Pillow
Pillow Case
Pineapple
Pink Pony
Pins
Pioneer
Placemats
Planter
Plasma
Plasma Display
Plasma Monitor
Plasma Television
Plasma Tv
Plastic
Plastic Scrap
Plate
Playing Cards
Playstation
Playstation 2
Plush
Plywood
Pocket Bike
Poker
Poker Chip
Poker Chip Case
Poker Chip Set
Poker Table
Police
Polo
Polo Shirt
Polyester
Polypropylene
Pool
Porcelain Doll
Porsche
Portable Dvd
Portable Dvd Player
Portland Cement
Pot
Pottery
Poultry
Power
Power Sport
Power Supply
Powerbook
Pressure Sensor
Pressure Washers
Printer
Printing
Printing Machinery
Printing Press
Projection Tv
Projector
Promotion
Protection
Ps2
Pump
Purse
Radiator
Ralph
Razors
Rebco
Recessed Lights
Recognition System
Recycling
Refrigerator
Remote Control
Resin
Rice
Ricoh
Rims
Ring
Robot
Rocawear
Router
Royal Flush
Rubber
Rug
Safes
Safety
Salt
Samsung
Samsung D500
Samsung E700
Samsung E715
Samsung E800
Sandals
Sandisk
Sanyo
Satellite Receiver
Saw
Scanner
Scarves
Scented Candles
Scissors
Scooter
Scrap
Scrap Metal
Scrap Steel
Scrubs
Scsi
Sculpture
Sd Card
Sea Cucumber
Sea Salt
Seafood
Seagate
Sean John
Seating
Security
Security Software
Sequins
Server
Seven Jeans
Sewing Machine
Sex Toy
Sexual Enhancement
Shampoo
Shawl
Shipping
Shirt
Shoe
Shopping Bag
Shorts
Shower
Shower Room
Shrimp
Shutters
Siemens
Sifter Jars
Silica Sand
Silicon
Silicone
Silicone Bracelet
Silicone Wristband
Silk
Silk Flower
Silver Bracelet
Silver Earring
Silver Jewelry
Silver Pendant
Sink
Skateboard
Skiing
Skin Care
Skin Care Product
Skincare
Skirt
Slabs
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Slide Phone
Slippers
Smartphone
Snack
Snowboard
Soap
Sock
Socket
Sodas
Sofa
Software
Solar Panels
Solenoid
Sony Ericsson P800
Sony Ericsson P900
Sony Ericsson P910
Sony Ericsson P910I
Sony Notebook
Sony Plasma
Sony Vaio Laptop
Sony Vaio Notebook
Sonyericsson
Sony-Ericsson
Soy
Soya
Soybean
Speaker
Spirits
Splitter
Sport Shoes
Sports
Sports Shoes
Sportswear
Spring
Spring Water
Squid
Stainless Steel
Stationery
Statue
Steel
Sterling Silver
Storage
Strap
Stun Gun
Subwoofer
Sugar
Sugar Cane
Sunscreen
Surveillance
Suzuki
Sweat Shirt
Sweater
Sweatshirts
Sweeteners
Swimming
Swimwear
Switch
Switching Power Supply
T Shirt
T300
T68I
Table
Table Cloth
Tablet Pc
Tape
T-Back Lace Panty
Tea
Tea Bag
Tea Pot
Tea Sets
Tees
Telephone
Telescope
Television
Tent
Terminator
Terry
Tester
Texas Holdem
Textile
Tft
Tft Lcd Monitor
Tft Monitor
Tft-Lcd
Thinkpad
Tile
Timer
Toilet
Toner
Tools
Toothpaste
Torch
Toshiba
Toshiba Laptops
Toshiba Notebook
Toshiba Satellite
Tote
Tote Bag
Totebag
Touch Screen
Towel
Toy
Tractor
Travel
Travel Bag
Travel Charger
Treats
Trophies
Truck
T-Shirt
Tuna
Turbine
Tv
Tv Monitor
Tweeter
Tyres
Ultrasound
Umbrella
Underwear
Uniform
Urban Wear
Urea
Urn
Usb
Usb Drive
Usb Flash Drive
Usb Mouse
Used Copier
Used Tire
V600
Vaio
Valve
Vanity
Vase
Vest
Video
Video Cable
Video Camera
Video Game
Vitamin
Vitamin C
Vodka
Voip
Wall Clock
Wall Hanging
Wallet
Warehouse
Watch
Water
Water Fountain
Water Pump
Water Purifier
Water Treatment
Web Design
Wedding Rings
Weight Loss
Welding
Western Digital
Wheat
Wheel
Wheel Loader
Wheels Rim
Wig
Windows
Wine
Wine Cabinet
Wine Cooler
Wiper
Wipes
Wireless
Wireless Network
Wood
Wood Chess
Workout
Workstation
Wreath
Wristband
Xbox
Xp
Yamaha
Yellow Corn

[Lancey Howard]

Like What? How about the Dubai Ports deal that would have placed this countries National Security in the Hands of a nation....

You're clueless.
I recommend searching the FR archives for a few of the Dubai threads that ran a couple of weeks ago. It's a great way to educate yourself about current events. Good luck.

[defenderSD]

"Actually these scanners also check for density in case of any shielding. However you can't put shielding on a radiation device without having radiation on the outside of the shielding. Its in the air.. these scanners are so accurate that they pick up the small amount of radiation put off by marble and because of it's density containers with marble in them are checked further. I stoop shipping marble when I found out why they were tearing up my container shipments."

Shhhhhhh, keep this quiet. Don't let those diabolical nuclear terrorists know what we're doing.

[AnimalLover]

Look what I found in my files!

Li Ka-Shing Seeks U.S. Contract

Charles R. Smith
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002

Hutchison Whampoa Teams With U.S. Defense Firm for Port Security

Hutchison Whampoa, the firm that currently runs both ends of the Panama Canal, is teaming up with an American technology company in a bid to win tens of millions of dollars in U.S. port security funding.

Three companies – Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., PSA Corp. Ltd. of Singapore, and London-based P&O Ports – will test an advanced electronic system manufactured by California-based Savi Technology to ensure the security of cargo entering U.S. ports. Hutchison Whampoa's effort to obtain a U.S. government contract has been confirmed by Savi Technology, the American partner in the joint venture.

"We are working with Hutchison and the port of Seattle on a pilot project," stated Savi's Senior Vice President for the Public Sector Ken Wykle.

"The pilot with Hutchison is intended to track cargo from Hong Kong to Seattle. Once the pilot project is complete, we will seek federal funding.

"We also have two other pilot projects – one with PSA, which will track cargo from Singapore to Seattle, and a follow-on with P&O, which will track cargo from Rotterdam to the New York and New Jersey ports," stated Wykle.

The three shipping companies are putting up seed money for the pilot phase of the project. However, there is a great potential for U.S. government contract funding, including $28 million in emergency funds already appropriated by Congress for port security and an additional $83 million in annual port security grants being considered in Congress.

RFID Tracking Technology

Savi already produces an electronic system called RFID, or "radio frequency ID," that transmits the exact location of any tagged cargo. The RFID system has been purchased by the U.S. Defense Department to track critical cargo shipments around the world.

Yet intelligence sources have confirmed that the Chinese army is also very interested in the RFID technology. The sources confirmed that the same technology has been examined by the PLA for use as a "poor man's smart bomb." The tracking devices can be rigged to detonate a hidden explosive device or release chemical weapons only when they have arrived at their intended destination.

Li Ka-Shing & Communist Chinese in Business

The bid by Hutchison Whampoa to acquire U.S. government funding is also expected to run into heavy opposition inside Congress. The owner of Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing, is well known to be very close to the Chinese communist government. Li is reportedly in business with Chinese President Jiang Zemin's son, developing properties in Tiananmen Square.

For example, Li Ka-Shing is so close to the Chinese government that the Clinton White House gave his bio, along with the bio of the entire top communist Chinese leadership, to the CEO of Loral Aerospace, Bernard Schwartz, just prior to the 1994 Ron Brown trade trip to Beijing. Li was the only civilian in the bios given to the million-dollar DNC donor.

Li apparently did have a great deal of interest in U.S. space technology. He has served as a middleman for PLA satellite purchases. For example, Li financed several satellite deals between the U.S. Hughes Corporation and China Hong Kong Satellite (CHINASAT), a company owned by the People's Liberation Army unit COSTIND.

Besides buying satellites for the PLA, in 1997 Li Ka-Shing and the Chinese navy nearly obtained four huge roll-on/roll-off container ships from America. These ships were intended to transport PLA military cargo. The ships were part of a multimillion-dollar deal that would have been financed by U.S. taxpayers.

In an exclusive deal with the People's Republic of China's communist government, Li has the right of first refusal over all PRC ports south of the Yangtze River. Li Ka-Shing has invested more than a billion dollars in China and owns most of the dock space in Hong Kong.

Red Chinese Panama Canal Deal

Li Ka-Shing currently owns both the Pacific and Atlantic ports on the Panama Canal. A Senate Committee on Foreign Relations staff report on the privatization of the Panamanian ports dated May 14, 1997, identified Hutchison's subsidiary HIT, or Panama Ports Company, as being 10 percent owned by China Resources Enterprise (CRE), which is the commercial arm of China's "Ministry of Trade and Economic Co-operation."

During the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearings, the South China Morning Post on July 16, 1997, quoted Sen. Fred Thompson as saying China Resources was "an agent of espionage – economic, military, and political – for China."

COSCO and Li Ka-Shing

Li Ka-Shing's official business partner is the national flag carrier of Beijing, the Chinese Ocean Shipping Company, also known as COSCO. According to a 1998 congressional report on Chinese espionage, there is "information" that then-President Clinton did not allow to be made public on COSCO.

"Although presented as a commercial entity, COSCO is actually an arm of the Chinese military establishment. The Clinton administration has determined that additional information concerning COSCO that appears in the Select Committee's classified Final Report cannot be made public," stated the report that was written by the House Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare.

Li Ka-Shing attempted to purchase the military port of Long Beach, Calif., for COSCO but failed after the U.S. Department of Defense raised national security concerns over the proposed sale.

A June 1997 Rand report, "Chinese Military Commerce and U.S. National Security," stated, "Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong, controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka Shing, is also negotiating for PLA wireless system contracts, which would build upon his equity interest in PLA arms company Poly Tech-owned Yangpu Land Development Company, which is building infrastructure on China's Hainan Island."

$35 Million Into U.S. Firm From Offshore

It is not known if the U.S. partner of Li Ka-Shing, Savi Technology, is aware of the billionaire's close working relationship with the Chinese government or the joint ventures that Hutchison Whampoa has with the Chinese army.

However, Savi received a $35 million investment in June 2002 from a Singapore-based firm just prior to announcing the joint effort with Hutchison. How the sudden influx of offshore monies will affect Savi's U.S. Defense contract status is also not known.

Li Ka-Shing Testifies Before Congress

According to the former prosecutor and executive director of the Canadian Police Association, Li Ka-Shing's Hutchison Whampoa seeking U.S. government funding for port security raises serious national security and law enforcement questions.

"I'd like to suggest that the appropriate congressional committee hold hearings into this important issue and that they call Li Ka-Shing as the first witness," stated Scott Newark, who is currently a special security adviser to the government of Ontario.

"I volunteer to be second, but frankly, there are people far more knowledgeable than me in this regard, including, for example, the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police, which just held their conference in NYC. As a speaker at that conference, I urged ridding ports of such crime and rogue government-connected companies not making them the local constabulary.

"There is no question that Hutchison Whampoa is a commercial maritime interest with great experience in port operations matters. Given the seriousness of what's at stake, it is obvious that this request should be considered seriously and result in full scrutiny of the current holdings and business relationships of Hutchison Whampoa and any history of activity that would raise concerns in relation to any or all of the above issues," said Newark.

According to Newark, there are five critical issues at stake: preventing smuggling of drugs, guns and people; preventing export of stolen products; providing site security as a result of 9-11; preventing terrorism-related smuggling; and preventing terrorist attacks on ships leaving ports.

Full Scrutiny of Hutchison Whampoa

"We need full scrutiny of the principals of Hutchison Whampoa and all of their business- or government-related associations and any history of any activity of them or their associates – including links to organized crime and terrorist groups, activities or states supporting the same – that would raise concerns to any of the above," stated Newark.

"We should give full scrutiny to any relationship of Hutchison Whampoa, its partners, directors or officers with any foreign government that would raise concerns to any or all of the above issues," noted Newark.

"Further, our Parliament is currently considering a bill that, among other things, provides a framework for port security requirements. I have already been approached to testify, and in light of this alarming development I will now specifically raise this issue and urge our government to ensure the same careful and public scrutiny of this company, its principals and their murky connections as I have here," concluded Newark.

And remember the huge facility COSCO has at the Port of
Long Beach!