Feds To Scan U.S.-Bound Cargo Overseas

Containers To Be Screened For Nukes And Radiation In Expanded Effort To Prevent Terrorist Bombings

(AP)  U.S.-bound cargo at six overseas ports will be screened for nuclear and radiological material in an expanded effort to prevent terrorist bombs from entering American waters, federal officials said Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security said it would scan all containers bound for the United States in the ports of Qasim, Pakistan; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; and Southampton, England.

Radiological scanning will also be done at Port Salaleh in Oman, the Port of Singapore, and the Gamman Terminal at Port Busan in Korea, though not every container will be screened, officials said. Officials said the examinations would begin early next year at all six ports.

The Southampton facility is operated by Dubai Ports World, the same company whose planned purchase of U.S. port operations caused an uproar earlier this year. One of the chief opponents of that deal said the company had undergone closer scrutiny this time.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called the effort part of a strategy to "secure the global supply chain and cut off any possibility of exploitation by terrorists."

The program was created by Congress in September, but the agency said it was going beyond the legislation's requirement of screening in three foreign ports.

The departments of Homeland Security and Energy will split the nearly $60 million cost of the detection equipment, ranging from large portals to handheld scanners.

The screening will be done by local port officials, but data from the sensors will be given instantly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working in the overseas ports.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., whose amendment to ports legislation created the program, said he wants the program to grow to further ports.

"It makes sense to focus this program on the ports that present the greatest risks, and we'll continue to fight to expand this program to ports around the world," Schumer said.

As for the agreement with Dubai Ports World, Schumer said "they have undergone significant scrutiny to join this program, unlike what we experienced in the first episode."

Our ports at home should be scanned in addition to all the others, a lot can happen between two ports, that's a lot of ocean between here and there, and if a terrorist was going to bring anything into our country do honestly think that he/they would allow it to be scanned? No, it would be transferred from one ship to another in the middle of the ocean that was bound for the U.S. Wake Up!!

[grumpas]

After the 5th anniversary of 9/11 these clowns are finally getting around to scanning cargo coming into this country??????? What's the rush guys??? Why don't you wait another 10 years before you impliment the program??? Why anyone in their right mind believes Bush is defending us from terrorism boggles the mind? Just watching him give his daily excuses why we should be in Iraq (they will follow us home if we leave) is no task for the faint hearted! It takes a strong stomach to even look at him these days!

[flolake]

Intentional roundabout ways would be a mild description of Arab countries participating in the events leading up to 9/11/01. Osama hailed from Saudi and his kissing kin are still there. Many forget the Bin Laden/Bush connection. Many planeloads of Bin Laden family members were allowed/ordered to leave the U.S. in that period of time when Commercial Airlines were grounded, post 9/11. There were other names besides members of the Bin Laden family and the majority were flown back to the United Arab Emirates. The complete list of names of those flown out, has never been made public.

It is curious that we are announcing our security intentions now as well as when and the fact that instead of searching every container, we'll be playing Arabian Roulette...

I can't help but think that in light of the growing pressure (from everywhere) on Gdub, now is the time to issue news that is hoped to cast a favorable light on what is still an extremely dark situation.

[frankly6]

Didn't Dubai help finace 9/11?