Posted on 03/05/2006 2:42:43 PM PST by FairOpinion
Myth: Only a small number of the containers that come into the seaports are inspected.
Summary of Reality:
CBP uses intelligence to screen information on 100% of cargo entering our seaports, and all cargo that presents a risk to our country is inspected using large x-ray and radiation detection equipment.
Following 9/11, the Administration developed and implemented a smarter strategy to identify, target, and inspect cargo containers before they reach U.S. ports. Anyone can secure a nation by closing its borders and inspect everything and everybody that enters. Closing the borders is not an option.
None of the security measures implemented as a result of this strategy existed before 9/11.
The CBP strategy is to rule out potential threats before arrival at our borders and ports. In fact, the security measures now in place allowed us to rule out 94% of the cargo as potential threats prior to arrival. This year, six percent (6 %) of total cargo containers were identified as potential threats and were physically inspected immediately upon arrival. (The percentage will change annually because the inspections are based upon identified risk following intensive screening.) Dramatically increasing physical inspections after arrival is not necessary. It will not appreciably increase our national security. In fact, the type of increase in physical inspections implied by this allegation would cost billions of dollars in resources and cripple not only our economy, but the global economy as well.
Key Facts That Did Not Exist Before 9-11:
CBP uses intelligence to review information on 100% of all cargo information entering U.S. ports, and all cargo that presents a risk to our country is inspected using large x-ray and radiation detection equipment.
Following 9/11, under the leadership of President Bush we developed and implemented a smart cargo container security strategy to identify, target, and inspect cargo containers before they reach U.S. ports. Under this strategy:
All containers, 100%, identified as posing a terrorist risk are inspected using x-ray scans and radiation detection equipment. (i.e. Potential for concealment of terrorist weapons or terrorists.)
The Administration requires that advance information be given to our border agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, about all containers well before they arrive. In fact, the information is required 24 hours before cargo is loaded on to vessels at foreign seaports (24-Hour Rule).
Containers posing a potential terrorist threat are identified and targeted before they arrive at U.S. seaports by the National Targeting Center (NTC). The NTC was established as the centralized coordination point for all of CBP’s anti-terrorism efforts. Prior to 9/11, no national level targeting of people or goods crossing our borders existed.
NTC uses intelligence and terrorist indicators to review advance information for all cargo, passengers, and imported food shipments before arrival into the U.S.
NTC coordinates with other federal agencies such as U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Air Marshals, FBI, Transportation Security Administration, and the Departments of Energy and Agriculture, as well as the intelligence community.
CBP works with our foreign partners to allow U.S. officers working at major international seaports, currently 26, to identify and inspect containers prior to being loaded onto ships destined for the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI)
Under the Administration’s leadership, CBP created a public-private and international partnership with over 7,000 businesses, including most of the largest U.S. importers -- the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Under this program, legitimate companies that do regular business with the U.S. have increased their own security to prevent terrorists from infiltrating their shipments. (We check not only the company shipping the goods, but also the companies that provided them with any services.)
Approximately 40% of all cargo headed for the U.S. is transported by C-TPAT partners and is therefore better secured.
Additional technology has been added, including Radiation Portal Monitors, Isotope Identifiers, and Personal Radiation Monitors. For the first time CBP has added chemical and explosive detector dogs.
Thanks for MNJohnnie for finding both of the DHS documents: the one on this thread, and the other one referenced in my post 1.
A lot of very good info there, countering the myths.
Another good one:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/2004/08202004.xml
Fact Sheet: U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Protecting Our Southern Border Against the Terrorist Threat
(Friday, August 20, 2004)
Washington, DC — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CBP combined the inspectional workforces and broad border authorities of U.S. Customs, U.S. Immigration, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the entire U.S. Border Patrol.
CBP includes more than 41,000 employees to manage, control and protect the Nation’s borders, at and between the official ports of entry. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection is addressing the terrorist threat nationwide,” stated Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. “There have been concerns that terrorists will try to enter our country across our Southern Border. These reports are not new to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and we have been preparing for the possibility and are taking appropriate actions to better secure our borders against the terrorist threat.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has taken a number of steps to increase security across our borders during the “period of increased risk” leading up to the presidential election. These actions and initiatives include a broad range of strategies and defenses that CBP deploys in its anti-terror mission. CBP’s protective measures include intensified activities in the areas of passenger processing, cargo targeting and inspection, non-intrusive technology inspections, as well as a number of initiatives to increase security along the U.S. – Mexico Border.
In addition to the above critical actions:
CBP works with national intelligence agencies to share data on suspicious activity, and shares information with CBP personnel on the front lines. We are providing extensive anti-terrorism training to uniformed personnel, including specific mention of U.S. – Mexico Border threats. CBP has also increased coordination and intelligence sharing with Mexican contacts through the Mexican Liaison Units on the Southern Borders. CBP’s Office of Border Patrol is currently working closely with these units in response to information received and ongoing joint operations.
In conjunction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) Anti-Smuggling Units and CBP's Office of Intelligence, CBP’s Office of Border Patrol focuses its intelligence and surveillance operations on known smuggling operations that have previously trafficked aliens from significant interest countries, and develop operations to target and disrupt these especially high-interest smuggling activities.
CBP provides referrals for criminal prosecutions for aliens possessing fraudulent documents, making false statements, or committing other immigration violations, where there is a suspicion of a connection of terrorism or other national security interest.
Works with the FBI and ICE to improve response and feedback to border interdictions that involve individuals that potentially pose a risk for terrorism.
CBP uses 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to support the Arizona Border Control Initiative.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reassigned 200 CBP Border Patrol Agents to the high-threat smuggling corridors of the Arizona – Mexico border. CBP is continuing deployments of special units including the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, Special Response Teams, and the Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team in these areas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will maintain and expand coordinated, heightened security efforts under the Arizona Border Control Initiative (ABCI) to establish operational control over the weakest and most vulnerable area of our Southwest Border where more than 40 percent of illegal aliens are apprehended.
Conducts increased inspections of rail, truck and air cargo identified through CBP’s Automated Targeting System to ensure that all high-risk cargo is subject to further examination. In addition, CBP is increasing the number of examinations utilizing large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is addressing the terrorist threat 24-hours a day. We have a multi-layered approach that encompasses working with our foreign counterparts, employing intelligence, technology, advanced information in the field and the most professional and dedicated law enforcement workforce worldwide,” Commissioner Bonner said. “We are aware of the terrorist threat and are evolving hourly to face it and keep America safe.”
You're right, our borders being wide open is merely a myth. And the UAE is our friend. Got it now.
The DHS is using Clintons "depends what your definition od "is" is" game. It's pretty pathetic if you ask me.
Nothing is perfect and there is always much more to be done, BUT things are NOT as dire and unprotected, as some claim.
And it's impossible for Congress (I include both GOP and Dems), or the MSM to find any of this info. If I hear one more Congressperson complaining that the Bush admin. "only checks 5% of the containers", I will probably do severe damage to the radio or tv (I hope it's not my computer) that the sounds emanate from.
I think you got it. The Dems are trying to use this issue to show that they are better at Homeland Security, than President Bush is.
And as someone pointed out on the thread I referenced, the real defense is an offense, taking the fight to the terrorists and kill and capture them on their home turf, before they can plan and implement attacks on us. We need to do both.
The Dems wouldn't even do this much, they are just all talk, no action and use anything, regardless, whether it's true or not, to attack President Bush and mislead the American people.
I was hoping they kept it quiet on purpose so some ding dong would have tried something and we would have been rid of one more idiot bomb maker.
All containers leaving Dubai to the US or other countries are inspected during loading. Every single container coming to the US is observed by a US Federal security agent. He then places a seal on the container and it is shipped. We then reinspect them when they arrive in the US.
"The main reason that the unions are against any new foreign terminal leases is that the X-ray and radiation equipment in our terminals is outdated. At present you can run about 20 containers a hr. through our X-ray equipment. Europe and Dubai are using the latest technology and can run 140 container a hr. though their X-ray machines. DPW has said they would install the new equipment. That a lot of lost a$$ time. Democrats simply protect their own and some republicans of congress are idiots."
===
Thanks for that info and the new perspective. I can believe it, it makes a lot of sense. The Dems want to protect the unions and make Bush look bad at the same time.
Dead on BUMP. "We inspect 100% of all the containers we think are dangerous" is bureaucratese for "We check the 6% we suspect, everything else gets a free pass." So much for the "100% is checked" claim.
Dubai Port World Company Reveals its Relationship With Israeli Firms in Order Get Approval of US Congress
Dubai Company Works With Israeli Firms
By TAREK AL-ISSAWI Associated Press Writer
Mar 2, 2006, 3:15 PM EST
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Dubai's government may formally subscribe to the Arab boycott of Israel, but a state-owned company at the center of a controversy over its bid to take over some U.S. port operations says it routinely works with Israeli firms.
It's a contradiction increasingly apparent in the region: Several Arab Gulf states, especially ones entering international markets, mostly ignore the boycott even though they haven't formally ended it and don't recognize Israel.
Countries like the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a part, have also ended secondary boycotts, meaning Israeli products not shipped directly from Israel are allowed to enter their markets.
Several U.S. senators raised the question of the boycott this week as a new twist in the uproar over whether allowing Dubai Ports World to run port facilities in several American cities posed a security risk. U.S. law prohibits companies from cooperating with the boycott.
DP World is owned by the government of Dubai, which on its books supports the decades-old boycott. But the boycott has crumbled over the decades, and the UAE does not force DP World to bar Israeli goods and companies from the European, Asian and Mideast ports it manages.
CNN reported Thursday that a prominent Israeli shipping company, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., wrote to a U.S. senator noting it does business with DP World and supports the U.S. deal.
"As an Israeli company, security is of the utmost importance to us and we require rigorous security measures from terminal operators in every country in which we operate, but especially in Arab countries. And we are very comfortable calling at DP World's Dubai ports," ZIM chairman Idan Ofer wrote, CNN said.
The letter said ZIM is allowed to operate at Dubai ports despite the formal boycott and that DP World handles ZIM operations in Dubai, according to CNN. Ofer did not specify if those ZIM operations were subsidiaries or directly owned.
Under UAE law, trade between its seven emirates and Israel is banned, and Israeli passport holders are not allowed into the UAE. Any company owned by the governments of the emirates also is supposed to abide by the boycott, although that clearly is not enforced.
DP World now runs 15 port facilities outside the Arab world - in Asia, Europe and Latin America - and no reports have surfaced of its preventing Israeli-owned ships, goods or firms from operating there.
"Our company has long-standing business relationships with Israeli companies among our diverse international clients," DP World Senior Vice President Michael Moore said in a statement Tuesday.
"DP World does not discriminate and has not been charged with violating any anti-boycott statutes. DP World, as a global port management company, facilitates trade with many nations," he said.
Moore's office did not immediately reply to a request Thursday for more information on which Israeli companies work with DP World.
DP World's office in Dubai refused to comment on the boycott issue Thursday, as did a senior UAE government official in the capital, Abu Dhabi.
Moore released the statement after Senate Democrats grilled DP World's chief operating officer, Edward Bilkey, about the firm's adherence to the Israeli boycott. Bilkey acknowledged that the Dubai government formally respects the boycott.
"We should not be rewarding companies that support discrimination against our key strategic ally," Sen. John Kerry said during the Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
The Arab League launched the boycott of Israel in 1951, setting up an office in Damascus, Syria, to identify foreigners doing business with the Jewish state and ban them from operating in the Arab world.
At one time, more than 8,500 companies and people, such as Coca-Cola and Ford, were blacklisted. But the boycott frayed as first Egypt and then Jordan made peace with Israel and the Palestinians embarked on the still faltering peace process. All three now trade with Israel.
The UAE, Qatar, Tunisia and Morocco are among other Arab nations that have flirted with relations and trade with Israel in recent years - although they do not formally recognize Israel.
Syria and Lebanon still stick strictly to the boycott, and the Damascus boycott office regularly issues blacklist statements.
"The importance of (the boycott) is more political and diplomatic than it is financial today," said Michael Oren, visiting professor of Jewish and Middle Eastern studies at Harvard and a senior fellow at the Shalem Center, a Jerusalem-based research institute.
---
Associated Press writers Sam F. Ghattas in Beirut, Lebanon, and Mark Lavie in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
"Dubai Port World Company Reveals its Relationship With Israeli Firms in Order Get Approval of US Congress "
==
Thanks for posting this!
Do you have a link? In that case, I think it's worth posting as its own thread. Could you please do that, or if you don't want to, I'll be happy to post it, if I can get a link.
I can't get the link to work. Goggle up DP World. Click the first item on the page (DP World News) scroll down the page until you see a pictue of a women with moroco written underneath. Its to the right of the picture. Let me know if you find it.
And this is a good reason to compromise Port security why?
Fact: All Arabs are not terrorists but the vast majority of terrorists are Arabs.
Fact: Putting Arabs in charge of strategic shipping ports in any way increases the chance of infiltration and attack and compromises security.
Fact: Free trade and free markets are not excuses to compromise national security. National security should not be for sale in the name of free trade
Fact: Giving money to Katrina victims is not an excuse to compromise national security. National security should not be for sale in the name of Charity.
Fact: Current or past mistakes in allowing Arabs, Chinese or any foreign entity to be in charge of Air port terminals, shipping terminals or any ports of US entry is not an excuse to compromise national security.
Fact: UAE allowing the US to doc in it ports for the UAE’s own protection against Iran is not an excuse to compromise US national security.
Fact: Saying those who oppose the deal are racist, cowards, xenophobes etc.is so ridiculous it doesn’t even warrant a response.
Fact: UAE has ties to terrorism, Bin Laden, reprehensible track record on civil rights and women’s rights, prostitution, child slavery, etc.
Fact: the UAE has only been cooperating with us to some degree for two years and only 3 years ago recognized the Taliban and hunted with Bin laden etc.
Fact UAE does not recognize Israel.
Fact: UAE Banks have been used to launder and funnel terrorist money along with 911 hijackers money etc.
Fact: UAE is still playing games with the US treasury in tracking down terrorist monies
Fact: Claims of WH DOD DHS CG etc. vetting have not put forth s single piece of evidence to substantiate those claims. Who what where and how was this all vetted?
Fact. A weeks ago Bush said he did not even know about the deal.
Fact: A week ago a Coast Guard memo said there were serious gaps in intelligence vetting the UAE and DPW etc.. All of a sudden when the firestorm hits and Bush the CG’s Commander and Chief digs in his heels they now are backpedaling big time and approve of the deal along with all the other agencies whose ultimate Boss is Bush.
The list could go on but I think this is sufficient reason to prove this is a bad deal all around.
Thanks. In the meantime I searched for it, found it, posted it and pinged you to it, with credit to you for finding it in the first place.
Dubai Company Works With Israeli Firms
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1590623/posts
(See post 4 -- by the time I wrote the post, others got in ahead)
What about all the other containers that are not destined for an American port which are loaded on the same ship? How are they inspected.
They are not inspected because they are of no concern to us. (unless they happen to have a nuclear or bio bomb in them)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.