Posted on 02/28/2006 3:34:51 PM PST by Carl/NewsMax
News reports over the last two weeks have repeatedly claimed that a Dubai company was taking control of six major U.S. ports as part of a deal approved by the Bush administration.
But according to one port security expert, Dubai Ports World will run just a tiny fraction of the terminals at the U.S. ports involved if the deal goes through.
Defending the transaction on MSNBC's "Scarborough Company" Monday night, Kim Petersen, president of Seasecure, noted: "There are 300 terminals at those ports. Dubai Ports World is going to handle nine of them."
SeaSecure is the largest provider of maritime security in America.
That's a far cry from the impression left by the press, which reported over 50 times in the last two weeks that DPW would be "taking control of six major U.S. ports," according to a Nexis Lexis search.
Variations on the same phrase likely appeared in hundreds of additional reports.
Only in the American press does a 3 percent share of operations constitute "taking control."
Oh look! They told us so themselves! I'm SOOO reassured...
I have been to the port at NJ. I have called on P&O and know their facility. It is large, but NOT the largest at Newark. I believe Marsk is the largest there, but there are about 1/2 dozen companies that unload freighters there.
Now I don't have a dog in this fight, but all those guys on the docks are Union longshoremen. I doubt you could get rid of them and start hiring immigrants from the MiddleEast. I was more concerned when the Chinese took over the Panama canal and the port of Long Beach and so far that has been rather unfounded.
Since World Ports has agreed to set up a US division with an American in charge to run the ports I am less concerned.
Last...if you don't want foreign companies to run these ports, pass a law and list everything you don't want foreigners to own. I think you'll find America with a lot of for sale businesses and that big sucking sound will be foreign monies leaving our shores.
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council
HE Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council
HE Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ra's al-Khaimah
HE Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm al-Qaiwain
HE Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman
Which royal family laundered his money?
As for the 2 terrorists coming from the UAE, can you point out to me which emirate they came from?
Abu Dhabe, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah?
Did you read far enough into the "lengthy paper" to see who handles our port security in Houston?
Don't get in the way of a good rant with pesky facts.
Well, thanks for proving the point that you don't know the facts and don't care to know them.
Oh sure, companies won't want to ship here if their cargo is subjected to AMERICAN security and handling at AMERICAN ports....
In this particular case, it isn't that the port security have foreigners in the chain of cargo entry, it's a company from THIS country:
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/688591.html
The deal went down with little apparent concern from our government, so I'm wondering if we're getting soft on the war on terror..do we need yet another 911-level wakeup call?
Careful! I said that on another thread and was "asked" to not post by the person who put the thread up...........LOL.
You really need to go back and read the "lengthy paper" you poo-poo'd. It addresses exactly who is responsible for security.
Here, where you don't have to strain your eyes, I've c/p'd the portion addressing port security:
"The federal government takes the lead in protecting America's ports. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, primarily through the activities of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard, runs many programs to secure U.S. ports. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for maritime security and reviewing and approving security plans for vessels, port facilities and port areas which are required by the MTSA. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for cargo security, and screens and inspects cargo entering the U.S. through every U.S. port.
Other cargo security programs include:
-- Container Security Initiative (inspection of U.S. import cargo
by CBP prior to leaving the outbound foreign port)
-- Use of radiation detection equipment to screen for weapons of
mass destruction
-- Use of other non-intrusive inspection devices
-- Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), which
encourages maritime stakeholders to verify their security
measures.
The Port Security Grant program and the pending implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) are also important parts of America's port security portfolio to provide layered security.
While the federal government takes the lead on waterside and cargo security, overall security is a shared responsibility with port authorities, facility and vessel operators, and state and local law enforcement agencies providing additional security. The Maritime Transportation Security Act also establishes local security committees to evaluate and make improvements in each port."
I would suggest before you start calling the UAE a dictatorship you might want to consider going to their website and reading about their system of governance.
I believe the Saudi's have docks in several ports on the east coast, New York is one of them. Anyway, they wouldn't need to put a bomb in a shipping container, just inside any ship that ties up at a dock. How you gonna' stop that? You can't.
Didn't you know that the original poster "owns" the thread???
So I was told today; good to know, huh? :-)
P&O is involved in port operations throught the Gulf of Mexico along Texas and the northern Atlantic states. I believe they mentioned the 6 major ports involved.
Maybe the only thing that gives certain countries the incentive to keep their cargo clean is the knowledge that they will cease to exist if any catastrophic event can be pinned on them
P&O has operations in Houston, along with quite a few other Gulf of Mexico ports, Corpus, Port Arthur, Galveston...
http://portal.pohub.com/portal/page?_pageid=36,1,36_31159:36_34057&_dad=pogprtl&_schema=POGPRTL
Click on North America for info about each port and number of berths
"I would suggest before you start calling the UAE a dictatorship you might want to consider going to their website and reading about their system of governance."
You're not suggesting, I hope, that the UAE is a democracy.
And the UAE's home page is probably not the best source for an objective view. For a slightly better perspective (patriarchal and tribal rule, human trafficking, Shari'a law and courts, criminal sanctions for proselytizing muslims, etc.):
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41734.htm
Sorta like when my kids start to fight over a toy one of them picks up, each claiming it's theirs. Of course, I'm not like that - unless someone tries to take the TV controller away from me . . . . :-)
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