You knew it was happening: Commercial ships tipped off by coast guard.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Coast Guard tipping off some large commercial ships about surprise security searches


The Coast Guard has been warning some large commercial ships to look out for surprise security searches, according to an article set for Saturday's New York Times, RAW STORY has found.

Excerpts from the article:

#
Under intense pressure from shipping companies concerned about costly delays, the Coast Guard is tipping off some large commercial ships about security searches that had been a surprise, high-ranking Coast Guard officials have said.

The searches began after the Sept. 11 attacks as part of a major revamping of the Coast Guard and its new anti-terrorism mission. But shipping companies say the surprise boardings at sea cause unnecessary delays, costing up to $40,000 an hour.

"We're trying to facilitate commerce and keep the port secure -- and sometimes the two conflict," said Capt. Paul E. Wiedenhoeft, who is in charge of the port complex here at Los Angeles and Long Beach. "When possible, we're trying to give shippers as much notice as we can."

The practice has caused considerable confusion and debate within the Coast Guard. Commanders in some ports acknowledged in interviews that they provided up to 24-hour notice. Others said the practice undermined the inspections.


http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Coast_Guard_tipping_off_large_commercial_0519.html

Full Story:http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/us/20ships.html?ex=1305777600&en=42d30e728a7061bf&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[spanone]

1. Just read that story, Homeland Security is a major Fraud.

[acmavm]

2. Homeland Security is an invention intended to keep you and me in

line.

[acmejack]

3. You are exactly right, can you say national police force.

Stasi.

[Astrad]

5. Dems called for the creation of homeland security.

They should now call for its abolishment.

[izzie]

4. I wonder if they check for Osama before they come in?

What a mess this country is getting to be.

[Canuckistanian]

6. I thought freedom wasn't free

If costs have to go up because of delays in unloading ships, that's a sacrifice the companies have to accept for doing business in a free country, right? Right?

Why do these people hate America?

[Golden Raisin]

7. I work for a very large international company.

We have to be in compliance with both external (government regulatory) and internal regulation. Several times a year we have what are known as "Clean Desk Sweeps" --- over a weekend a supervisory team comes in and examines every desk, every cubicle, every office, every garbage pail, to make sure that no confidential papers are left out, that everything is locked up, secured, shredded, etc. The problem is they always give us ample advance warning so the entire exercise is a farce and utterly toothless. When I suggested that perhaps a real surprise check would be more effective/productive, even if more painful, the answer I received was that the one time they did a real check, "it took them too long" to search through everyone's desks, etc.