The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #88972 Message #1675901
Posted By: Teribus
22-Feb-06 - 10:57 AM
Thread Name: BS: Bush Gives US Port Security to Arabs!
Subject: RE: BS: Bush Gives US Port Security to Arabs!
Don Firth - 21 Feb 06 - 07:25 PM
"Sorry, Teribus, but you're full of it."
How nice of you to say so - now go and read my post one more time - better still go and acquaint yourself with IMO ISPS.
"Living in a port city as I do (containers are off-loaded at docks directly adjacent to the downtown area), I have heard a fair number of discussions on both radio and local television about port security."
Means absolutely nothing if, like you, those doing the talking know nothing about the subject.
"One of the worrisome things that many city officials invariably mention is the fact that only about 4% of containers coming into American ports are actually inspected."
Well I actually heard that it was 5% inspected on arrival in a US Port. Now go back and read my post and read up on ISPS Code.
"You ship only from ports registered under the ISPS system, all cargoes, containers, etc, are inspected and sealed at point of departure, the port areas themselves are sealed off and patrolled."
The commonsense approach, you see Don is to stop your bomb, or whatever, before it gets onboard the ship. Taking your advice just as your work-weary customs/security staff in Baltimore Docks opens the container what they are about to inspect goes "BOOM" - Too late game over - TRUE?
Barry Finn - 06 - 10:00 PM
"We're out-sourcing matters of national security to a business owned by a foreign government."
No you most definitely are not. The US Coast Guard and the State and Federal Security Agencies have not delegated their responsibilities with regard to security to Dubai World Ports Ltd in any way, shape or form. Dubai World Ports has negotiated a take over of the British Company P&O Ports to MANAGE the ports, they do not own them, they are not in sole charge or custody of those Ports. In terms of security NOTHING will change.
"So that business & its representatives are technically agents representing a foreign nation"
No they are not, that business is a seperate entity under law and it's employees work for and are responsible for the efficient running of that entity. They do not in any way, shape or form represent any 'foreign nation'. Question Barry, who do you think DWP will employ to manage the six US Ports? I'll give you a little prediction - the same people that are doing so now, today, the same people as have been running them for years. Do you know why, because that is what makes most sense, they know the place, they know how it works and what makes it work.
One point you did mention though Barry, if - "DC international & some of our other international airports are to be managed by an Israeli government owned security force" - 911 would not have even been attempted.