Updated 2.37 pm Pacific
In the wake of media attention on the sale of the "largest independent stevedore and terminal operator on the US East and Gulf coasts, with operations in most ports from Maine to Texas," the Seattle PI reminds us that the budget President Bush released earlier this month "seeks to eliminate federal grants to improve cargo security at Seattle and other vulnerable ports."
The op-ed goes on: "In a perfect world, members of Congress might well want to look closely at whether Dubai Port World should control terminals at six Eastern and Gulf Coast ports." Unfortunately, "Congress has done little to advance agreement on better security plans for ports, decide how to reopen ports if an attack occurs or spend more than a fraction of what's needed to reduce threats from conventional, biological or nuclear attacks using cargo." (tip)
In November, Sen. Pat Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) [current co-sponsors include Norm Coleman (R-MN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)] introduced the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act (S 2008), a bill to improve cargo security. Among its provisions: it sets minimum standards for securing containers in transit to an importer in the United States, including international standards for the security of containers moving through the international supply chain, and requires all containers entering the United States to be examined for radiation.
In an official statement, Murray said: "An attack launched on, or through, America's seaports could result in significant loss of life and the crippling of our economy. Consequently, since 9/11, experts have been calling for an upgraded security system for shipping containers. The Murray-Collins bill builds on the lessons from the 9/11 Commission, GAO investigations, and other reports to protect against the human and economic costs of a terrorist attack through our ports."
The conservative Heritage Foundation calls it a "good first attempt at securing the international supply chain... Congress must continue to grapple with this issue and create a bill that promotes a sound approach to trade security."
In the wake of media attention on the sale of the "largest independent stevedore and terminal operator on the US East and Gulf coasts, with operations in most ports from Maine to Texas," the Seattle PI reminds us that the budget President Bush released earlier this month "seeks to eliminate federal grants to improve cargo security at Seattle and other vulnerable ports."
The op-ed goes on: "In a perfect world, members of Congress might well want to look closely at whether Dubai Port World should control terminals at six Eastern and Gulf Coast ports." Unfortunately, "Congress has done little to advance agreement on better security plans for ports, decide how to reopen ports if an attack occurs or spend more than a fraction of what's needed to reduce threats from conventional, biological or nuclear attacks using cargo." (tip)
In November, Sen. Pat Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) [current co-sponsors include Norm Coleman (R-MN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)] introduced the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act (S 2008), a bill to improve cargo security. Among its provisions: it sets minimum standards for securing containers in transit to an importer in the United States, including international standards for the security of containers moving through the international supply chain, and requires all containers entering the United States to be examined for radiation.
In an official statement, Murray said: "An attack launched on, or through, America's seaports could result in significant loss of life and the crippling of our economy. Consequently, since 9/11, experts have been calling for an upgraded security system for shipping containers. The Murray-Collins bill builds on the lessons from the 9/11 Commission, GAO investigations, and other reports to protect against the human and economic costs of a terrorist attack through our ports."
The conservative Heritage Foundation calls it a "good first attempt at securing the international supply chain... Congress must continue to grapple with this issue and create a bill that promotes a sound approach to trade security."
If the hoopla over the Dubai Ports purchase of UK company P&O does nothing more than raise awareness of security issues associated with the US border, it will have served a useful purpose. Port security is a major issue: the Pentagon, post 9/11, identified how easy it would be to "store" a surface-to-air missle in a container and ship it, no one the wiser, anywhere in the world.
One has to ask if the millions spent requiring airplane passengers to remove their shoes for "security" might have been better spent looking at how global commerce makes its way to the local Wal-Mart.
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Comments
WHY ARE THE STATES NOT BETTER INFORCING THE SECURITY ISSUES. DO WE AS CITIZENS NOT ELECT THOSE SENATORS AND REPS. TO MAKE SURE THESE ISSUES ARE WELL LOOKED INTO.
THE GUIDELINES AND MANDATES SHOULD NOT HAVE ESCAPED THE EYE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS , WHO’S JOB IT IS AS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL OF SAID STATES TO BE WELL INFORMED FROM WITH-IN THEIR STATES.
DO WE PRESUME THAT IT MAY BE THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP AT STATE LEVELS TO SECURE,MAINTAIN, AND FOLLOW GUIDELINES, AS WELL AS BUDGET IN THE MEASURES THAT WOULD EFFECT THEM. EACH STATE HAVE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS ON THE PART OF DOING WHAT IT TAKES AS PART OF THIS COUNTRY, AND NOT JUST WARM SENATE SEATS/AND REPS. SEATS.
TRY USING GRANT MONEYS TO BENEFIT SOCIETY, AND NOT FOR BROCHURES ON HOW TO SAY JOHN HAS TWO DADS.