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Fact Sheet: Securing U.S. Ports The Administration has dramatically strengthened port security since 9/11. Funding has increased by more than 700% since September 11, 2001. Funding for port security was approximately $259 million in FY 2001. DHS spent approximately $1.6 billion on port security in FY 2005. Following 9/11, the federal government has implemented a multi-layered defense strategy to keep our ports safe and secure. New technologies have been deployed with additional technologies being developed and $630 million has been provided in grants to our largest ports, including $16.2 million to Baltimore; $32.7 million to Miami; $27.4 million to New...

On the off chance that you missed C-Span's "Washington Journal," here are excerpts from an appearance by Jayson Ahern, Assistant Commissioner for Customs and Border Protection, and Coast Guard Rear Admiral Thomas Gilmour on that program, which were helpfully forwarded by the White House: HOST: Jayson Ahern, ... There are more than 300 ports of entry in the U.S., are they safe? CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER JAYSON AHERN: I believe they are. Certainly, we're on a path of continuous improvement, but the many layers we've put in place since the 9/11 tragedy I think has strengthened our port...

The strengthening of physical security measures to prevent possible terrorist strikes, particularly by Al Qaeda and the International Islamic Front (IIF), against means of public transport such as civil aviation, ports and shipping services and underground and other railway stations has been one of the important homeland security measures taken by the US and other countries in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist strikes by Al Qaeda in the US homeland. The successful terrorist strikes by suspected Al Qaeda elements in Madrid in March 2004, and in London in July last year underlined the importance of such measures and the...

Forget Dubai-based DP World poised to run commercial operations in six leading American ports, it’s the players in the chess game called Port Security that Congress members should be losing the most sleep over. While it’s true that port security falls under the jurisdiction of Coast Guard and U.S. customs officials, agents of both entities will need a program just to recognize all the players. Port Security International (PSI) is an international partner’s network composed of an array of financial, strategic, technological and in-country port industry related companies.

My friends, there is an organized disinformation campaign going on in the discussion of the Dubai Ports World deal. Draw whatever conclusions you wish about whether the deal is worthwhile, but please do not buy into these blatant misrepresentations, and please don’t spread them in your discussions.

Ports in a Storm By ZACHARY KARABELL February 23, 2006; Page A16 The current dust-up over the proposed purchase of the British port company Peninsular & Oriental Steam by Dubai World Ports is like a fun-house mirror -- distorting our national politics, and our understanding of and engagement with the global economy. [SNIP] There are at least three issues here. One is the specific concern about the deal itself; another is disquiet over the administration's approach to homeland security; and the last is a larger pattern of American unease about the changing global economy. What the potential deal highlights most...

Grant the President this: There is more than a little anti-Arab sentiment in the uproar over a Dubai firm purchasing the British operating company running terminals at six major American seaports. Otherwise, how do you explain the LACK of concern over Chinese companies running terminals at two major West Coast ports and New Orleans, the locus of much of our energy imports? Or about the original British company when there are probably as many jihadists in Britain today as there are in Dubai? Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security was still trying to figure out the ownership of terminal management...

For the past several years, I've been condemned as an "extremist" for advocating nationality profiling -- unapologetically applying stricter scrutiny to terror-sponsoring and terror-sympathizing countries in our entrance, immigration and security policies.

George W. Bush can't understand why so many people don't take the war against Islamist terrorism as seriously as they should. Nobody quibbled with FDR when he took us to war against the Nazis and the gentlemen of Japan. The president's frustration with the Nervous Nellies is grounded in reality. The threat from the Islamic nutcakes eager to bomb and behead in the name of Allah, and soon to be armed with nuclear weapons, is a real and present danger. But what George W. does speaks so loud sometimes we can't hear what he says. The border with Mexico leaks...

Now, mirabile dictu, some of the same Democrats who have routinely lambasted such profiling are rushing to the floors of Congress and in front of TV cameras espousing these very same policies. The impetus: the White House's boneheaded insistence on ramming through a $7 billion deal giving United Arab Emirates-owned Dubai Ports World control over significant operations at six major American ports in New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Miami....

 Little noticed in the kerfuffle over the takeover of major US ports by Dubai Ports is the key role being played by former Democratic Party leaders. Lobbying firms associated with ex-Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Madeleine Albright (Clinton’s Secretary of State) have been working (paid subscription only link) to secure approval of the purchase by Dubai. One would think that our leaders, even when out of office, would care more about their nation than their bank accounts.This hopefully will give impetus to a bill (drafted by Republican Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan) working its slow way through Congress that would bar...

Commandant United States Coast Guard 2100 Second Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20593-0001 Staff Symbol: G-ICA Phone: (202) 366-4280 FAX: (202) 366-7124 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U. S. COAST GUARD STATEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL CRAIG BONE ON THE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT IMPLEMENTATION BEFORE THE COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 29, 2005 Introduction Good morning Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee. It is a pleasure to be here today to discuss the Coast Guard's role in securing our ports in order to facilitate the safe and efficient flow of commerce. On...

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, is once again attempting to do an end run to the right of any and all potential Republican opponents she might face for the presidency in 2008. Of course, when you are vying to be the first female president, it never hurts to appear as tough as possible on national security issues, either.

MARITIME SECURITY: Substantial Work Remains to Translate New Planning Requirements into Effective Port Security Highlights of GAO-04-838, a report to congressional requesters Why GAO Did This Study The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, as implemented by the Coast Guard, calls for owners and operators of about 3,150 port facilities (such as shipping terminals or factories with hazardous materials) and about 9,200 vessels (such as cargo ships, ferries, and tugs and barges) to develop and implement security plans by July 1, 2004. The Coast Guard intends to conduct on-site compliance inspections of all facilities by January 1, 2005, and all...

Dubai: State-owned Dubai Ports World will enter the market this week to borrow $6.5 billion to fund its takeover of the UK's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co, the biggest term loan to come out of the Middle East, a banker said yesterday. Faisal Mikou, a director at joint lead arrangers Barclays Capital, told Gulf News, the borrowing would include a $6.3 billion five year syndicated term loan and a $200 million revolving credit facility and was the largest loan from the Middle East.

Terrorists are threatening to blow up Alaska oil pipelines. Via Foxnews Alert. Fox said they were going to take guns and shoot them?

27 militants held in raid  BAQUBA: Iraqi forces seized 27 Islamic militants in Baquba, 60km north of Baghdad, yesterday along with weapons and leaflets linked to the Al Qaeda network, the army said. "Sixteen of the arrested, including two Egyptians, are wanted by authorities for crimes they are believed to have been committed," said Colonel Ismael Ibrahim. "Large quantities of weapons were seized ... and leaflets of the Jordanian Islamist Abu Musab Al Zarqawi urging militants to carry out attacks against US and Iraq forces were found too." The defence ministry said it had also arrested 49 suspects in raids...

Wed 13 Apr 2005 9:47am (UK) Naval Security Reviewed over Ship Intruder By Ben Mitchell, PA A review of security at a major UK naval base has been carried out after an alleged intruder was found on board a visiting US aircraft carrier, the Royal Navy said today. The alleged trespasser was discovered on board the USS Harry S Truman, anchored off Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hants, on Saturday night during a week-long visit to Portsmouth Naval Base. A navy spokesman said the man had allegedly passed through both Royal Navy security and US Navy security to get on board passenger...

WASHINGTON, May 7 - After spending more than $4.5 billion on screening devices to monitor the nation's ports, borders, airports, mail and air, the federal government is moving to replace or alter much of the antiterrorism equipment, concluding that it is ineffective, unreliable or too expensive to operate. Many of the monitoring tools - intended to detect guns, explosives, and nuclear and biological weapons - were bought during the blitz in security spending after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In its effort to create a virtual shield around America, the Department of Homeland Security now plans to spend billions...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers cut nearly a half-billion dollars from the Homeland Security Department's 2006 budget proposal on Wednesday for what they called repeated failures to update Congress on counterterror spending. Another $310 million was ordered withheld until the department submits reports lawmakers have requested.