AP: Port Security Study Urges Economic Focus

[Eugene]

June 28, 2006, 12:18AM
Port Security Study Urges Economic Focus

By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — There is no foolproof way to secure America's seaports against terrorism,
so the government should focus more time and money on plans to revive the economy
in the aftermath of an attack, a report released Tuesday said.

The recommendation by the nonprofit Public Policy Institute of California was based partly
on its finding that, almost five years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, many of the
nation's 361 ports are still highly vulnerable.

Cargo containers pose the biggest threat, yet only a fraction of the 10 million shipped
to the country every year get fully inspected, according to the San Francisco-based
institute's report. Limited staffing and funding have led to unclear priorities and
uncoordinated strategies among port security authorities. And programs to credential port
workers, buy new Coast Guard ships, planes and helicopters, and protect international cargo
have lagged.

As such, the study's authors suggest this: make ports less attractive targets to begin with.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4008386.html

[fasttense]

1. Sounds stupid to me.

That's like saying there is no way to stop another 9/11 so we should just plan on recovery instead of fighting terrorists.

Most ports in the US are currently owned and operated by the United Arab Emirates anyway. The King of the UAE has not sold the ports yet. He think if they wait long enough we stupid Americans will forget. Congress doesn't seem concerned about it. You know it is more important to fight against flag burning and pretend criminals in Miami then to actually do something. The UAE royal family helped the 9/11 terrorists and now they own and operate the largest ports in the US. Makes me feel secure.