[Darkwolf377]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaay down in the story:

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.

Not exactly what the headline claims.

[wyattearp]

Not exactly what the headline claims.

Not even CLOSE to what the headline claims.

[LibLieSlayer]

Easy solution... ship no freight through the bahamian ports. I've been there many times... it's a sh!t hole!

LLS

[Alter Kaker]

Not exactly what the headline claims.

I think you grossly underestimate the influence the United States Government holds over the Bahamas. Do you know what percentage of the Bahamas' economy is directly dependent on the United States? 95%? 98%? If the US asked the Bahamas not to sign a Chinese company, do you really think they'd say no?

[Mike Darancette]

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.

I don't see what choice we have in the matter if the port is in a foreign country.

[COEXERJ145]

And yet people here are reading the headline and going nuts.

[TXBSAFH]

Then do not allow any cargo from that port in until they find someone mutually acceptable.

[cgk]

And WAYYYY up at the top of the thread - your post showing and stating the facts. Noone's going to read it though. It's headline to hysterics 'round here! :)

[JasonC]

Of course they have a say. They say "no ship will enter the US after a port call in the Bahamas if you do this". And the Bahamas say "how high, sir?"

It is stark raving mad to give a Chinese company that kind of access. Checking again later is barely relevant and does not remove the problem - you are showing them exactly how it is done and thereby exactly how to slip through.

The people in charge of all of this need to remove their heads and get bloody serious yesterday, or they need to be fired.

[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?