Posted on 03/15/2006 9:01:09 AM PST by Reagan Man
(CNSNews.com) -- The controversy over a proposal to allow Dubai Ports World to operate terminals at some major U.S. ports may have hurt President Bush's approval rating, but it could be helping some members of Congress move legislation they believe is needed to better protect U.S. seaports from terrorist threats.
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity, believes most Americans are now more aware of port security deficiencies than they were even a month ago.
"If there's anything we learned in the last couple of weeks with the Dubai incident, it was the importance of this issue," Lungren said. "There was a lot of give-and-take on that. There was a lot of political fallout from that but, if there was any silver lining, it was the focus that that incident placed on the need for security of our ports."
Rep. Jane Harman, who returned from New York after the birth of her first grandchild Tuesday to announce the proposal with Lungren, agreed.
"As Dan said, this is the silver lining in the Dubai issue," Harman said. "We've known for a long time that port security is the Achilles' heel of our national security and we have been shouting from the rooftops or, maybe, the container tops to do something about it."
Harman's district includes the Port of Los Angeles, which along with the Port of Long Beach is the largest shipping container complex in the U.S. More than 14 million containers are moved through those two facilities each year, totaling approximately 42 percent of the country's shipped goods.
"The idea of a dirty bomb or a group of terrorists smuggled into one of our big ports in a container keeps me up at night," Harman said.
Harman recalled a recent labor dispute at the Port of Long Beach, which cost the country as much as $2 billion per day in lost commerce. She believes the results would be similar, if not worse, from a successful terrorist attack on any major U.S. port.
"We know the economic consequences of this and we know that al Qaeda is looking to do some sort of harm that would cause grave economic consequences," Harman said. "Unfortunately, this vulnerability that we have is a 'logical' al Qaeda opportunity."
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) warned that the current port security system makes it unlikely that officials would discover a terrorist plot to exploit weaknesses prior to a ship docking in the U.S.
"I think most Americans would be shocked to learn that, this long after 9/11, we still have an honor system for cargo and ships coming into the United States of America. We really don't know what's in those containers" DeFazio said. "Not only do we not know what was actually loaded in the containers, but we [also] aren't safeguarding the containers after that loading point in a way that we can be certain that nothing else was inserted."
The "Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act," which was introduced late Tuesday, seeks to address those concerns. The bill proposes a three-tiered program to defend U.S. ports and foreign shipping facilities, from which goods depart en route to the U.S.
Stateside requirements would include monitoring all seaports for incoming containers bearing radioactive material and comparing the names of all port workers with access to secure areas with the all terrorist watch-lists and resolving any potential conflicts within 90 days. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would also be responsible for developing a plan to resume port operations as quickly as possible after any major disruption.
Overseas, the bill would encourage U.S. officials to work with governments in cooperating countries to help prevent hazardous materials from being secretly introduced into cargo containers. It includes funding to lend detection equipment to those countries that need it and to provide necessary training on its use.
From origin to destination, the proposal would fund efforts to track containers bound for the U.S., to deter the introduction of contraband into previously checked containers after they leave foreign ports. Additional money would be provided to develop new technology to securely seal and track cargo containers.
"We all agree, Democrat, Republican, members of the committee and others in this Congress, that it's essential that our nation take a global approach to the way that we thwart terrorist attacks and protect U.S. ports," Lungren said. "This legislation -- by taking a layered approach to maritime and cargo security -- will help to insure that our country's ports are the last line of defense."
Lungren said the fact that Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, supports the bill, and that similar legislation is also moving through the Senate make passage of some form of the bill likely. Lungren's subcommittee will hold a hearing on the SAFE Ports Act Thursday.
Understood. :-)
I can understand you denouncing liberals and liberalism. But when you attack conservatives and conservatism, you are attacking Free Republic. FR is all about advancing the conservative political agenda for America. Conservatives want to see America protected better then its being guarded today. That is part of our elected officials Constitutional duties.
Once again, you show exactly why you're nothing but a status quo centrist. Not to mention a bullcrapper of the first order. You don't ever offer anything that would resolve the problems we face today in America. You just bitch and complain, moan and groan. Then when someone dares to criticize Bush, you call them "whiners". Most FReepers are on to you. If they aren't, they soon will be.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1594261/posts?page=12#12
There is Dubai's Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
Al-Maktoum, Defense Minister of the United Arab Emirates, is also Crown Prince of Dubai-an Arab Muslim country that strongly supported and recognized Afghanistan's Taliban, one of only three countries to do so. According to "From the Desert to the Derby," by Jason Levin, 10 of the 19 September 11th hijackers carried documents and identification from Dubai, a country which also has no laws against money-laundering. Why? Maybe, because money to fund September 11th's terrorism was laundered to ringleader Mohammed Atta, directly from Dubai's banks.
United Arab Emirates actively participated in the following events:
1995-2001: Persian Gulf Elite Go Hunting with bin Laden in Afghanistan Complete 911 Timeline
After the Taliban takes control of the area around Kandahar, Afghanistan, in September 1994, prominent Persian Gulf state officials and businessmen, including high-ranking United Arab Emirates and Saudi government ministers, such as Saudi intelligence minister Prince Turki al-Faisal, frequently secretly fly into Kandahar on state and private jets for hunting expeditions. [Los Angeles Times, 11/18/01] General Wayne Downing, Bush's former national director for combating terrorism, says: “They would go out and see Osama, spend some time with him, talk with him, you know, live out in the tents, eat the simple food, engage in falconing, some other pursuits, ride horses. One noted visitor is Sheik Mohammed ibn Rashid al Maktum, United Arab Emirates Defense Minister and Crown Prince for the emirate of Dubai.” [MSNBC, 9/5/03] While there, some develop ties to the Taliban and al-Qaeda and give them money. Both bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar sometimes participate in these hunting trips. Former US and Afghan officials suspect that the dignitaries' outbound jets may also have smuggled out al-Qaeda and Taliban personnel. [Los Angeles Times, 11/18/01] On one occasion, the US will decide not to attack bin Laden with a missile because he's falconing with important members of the United Arab Emirates' royal family (see February 1999).
Just make the TSA bigger to include ports!
That's the ticket!
LOL
Yeah, let's eliminate 'Homeland Security', the CIA and the FBI while we're at it, eh?
Let's not waste a dime on U.S. Security -- especially the Ports.
Ain't that the truth!
I wonder what it's going to take to get something done about border security and the mess of jihadist cells they have allowed to be established all over the country.
The free traitors are still putting up a fight against the best interests of the American people. We just have to keep the pressure on the Congress and let them know that we are tired of the southern border invasion of American aided and abetted by President Bush, the rat party and others. The Congress critters are running sacred in this election year, we need to put the screws to them and never let up. I believe they fear the wrath of the American voter now after the Dubai Dubya defeat more than fear of crossing the globalists that control the repub party.
How many al-quida cells have come across the border with Mexico along with cheap, illegal labor?
I fear we will find out the hard way one day.
I think you're engaging in 20/20 hindsight. At least up until the first WTC attack in 1993, terrorism wasn't an issue that preoccupied the POTUS, or should have. Once the WTC was hit in `93, things should have changed drastically. They didn't. Before 1993, the Cold War was the biggest problem facing Presidents from Truman to Reagan. I rank the Cold War second to only WWII, as the greatest historic challenges mankind faced in the 20th century. The Cold War is behind us.
>>>>As far as the US, waiting for an election to kick the political nuts out is naive.
I don't see how adhereing to Constitutional law, is a product of naivety. Our Founding Fathers created a political process that is the envy of the world. Elections may not end up the way I want, but its what works best.
>>>>I've lived for 74 years and maybe that is why I see things differently.
I'm 53 years old. My viewpoint appears to be a lot more optimistic then yours. Having said that, I do respect your opinion and thanks for it.
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