Port security — as bad as you think

We’ve noted before that there are much bigger concerns about our nation’s ports than the Dubai fiasco. And a $75 million, three-year study by the Homeland Security Department is uncovering how bad those problems really are. The study, which is expected to be completed by this fall, has already found lapses by private port operators, shipping lines and truck drivers that could allow terrorists to smuggle weapons of mass destruction into the United States, the Associated Press reported. This is inexcusable. It’s been 4½ years since Sept. 11; these security lapses shouldn’t still exist.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

12 Comments

  1. writerdog
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 2:20 am | Permalink

    Bush’s response to the report of the sorry state of our nations port during a time of war was “I am sorry, what war? Oh the war on terror, there is not problem with the port in Iraq. I have the eighth Marine guarding it, nothing gets by those guys!” Oh you mean OUR ports….Karl do we have port in the United States? Ok, Karl said we do have ports in the United States. I am sorry what was your question?

  2. steve
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 8:39 am | Permalink

    Our Republican defenders of security just voted down 1.25 bil. to beef up port security. Guess it’ll have to wait until after the fact, we have a reactive govt., and nothing gets done until it’s too late.

  3. Joe Williams
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 8:53 am | Permalink

    Our Airports are still not safe too. DOHS has done many dunny test of bombs, guns, and etc. and the airport screeners fail every time.

  4. A guy from up north
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 10:09 am | Permalink

    Get the Mafia back in charge of the ports. They’l make some changes.

  5. RustyFord
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 12:00 pm | Permalink

    To quote, “The study, which is expected to be completed by this fall”….How much does anyone want to bet that it will be AFTER the election?It seems that the description of “hindsight” is looking out with head up backside.

  6. Ed Friedemann
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    I’s time to make peace with the Arabs.

  7. Ed Friedemann
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 12:36 pm | Permalink

    What would we lose by making peace with the Arabs? The right-wing Likuds? { the troublemakers }

    Billions in wasted foreign aid?

    Living under a constant threat of retaliation?

    Trying to defend our indefensible borders?

    Gasoline we can’t afford?

    One billion Muslims helping us keep the peace?

    And making Israel a safe place to live?

  8. Ed Friedemann
    Posted March 20, 2006 at 12:46 pm | Permalink

    Peace is a good plan.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1734816,00.html

  9. A guy from up north
    Posted March 21, 2006 at 2:24 pm | Permalink

    EDYou keep saying “make peace with yhr Arabs”

    That sounds great but how in the world can you make peace with any group of people that hasn’t been able to make peace amoung themselves for centuries.

    Besides that they hate our guts and will as long as we support the Jews.

  10. steve
    Posted March 23, 2006 at 11:04 pm | Permalink

    Now Bush is awarding a no-bid contract to a Hong Kong co. to scan U.S. bound ships for nukes, whose billionaire owner has close ties to China, and who intelligence cited a few yrs. ago as a security risk of import/export weapons to China. Looks like another no-brainer loser for Bush and Repubs.

  11. steve
    Posted March 23, 2006 at 11:05 pm | Permalink

    link for above http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/port_security_bahamas

  12. CrusaderX
    Posted March 26, 2006 at 2:48 pm | Permalink

    I’s time to make peace with the Arabs.

    Ed,You work for Al Qaeda don’t you? Tryin to convince the ignorant heartlanders with accepting the “truce” with OBL recently?