February 21, 2006
Republican Governors, Frist Join Democrats in Rejecting Bush "Trust Us" Attitude on Port Security
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
From the DNC:
Washington, DC- Republican Governors George Pataki, Robert Ehrlich, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist today joined the chorus of Democrats and Republicans who've voiced concerns about the Bush administration's plan to allow Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates, to operate major U.S. Ports.
Last week, Democratic Senators Robert Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Governor Ed Rendell, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, County Executive Doug Duncan, and others raised concerns over the plan. This week, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and Senator Hillary Clinton are introducing legislation to ban companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from acquiring U.S. port operations. [AP, 2/21/06; Baltimore Sun, 2/21/06; Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/21/06]
Despite Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's secret assurances that the takeover was "appropriate from a national security standpoint," Republican Senator Lindsay Graham this weekend also expressed doubt, calling the move "unbelievably tone deaf politically." [ABC This Week, FOX News Sunday, 2/19/06]
"Time and again, the Bush Administration said just 'trust us.' But with President Bush's growing credibility gap, it is no wonder that a growing chorus of Democrats and Republicans have expressed serious concern over this deal," said Democratic Communications Director Karen Finney. "The truth is President Bush's policies reflect a pre-9/11 worldview and fail to adequately prepare for future threats. Democrats believe we should not turn our port security over to any foreign government, especially after 9/11. Democrats are leading the way to close the gaps in our nation's security."
Democrats Take Lead on Port Security
Democrats Fought to Protect Our Borders From Terrorists. Democrats
fought to invest $284 million to help ensure the security of the nation’s
borders by hiring 550 additional border patrol agents and 200 additional
immigration investigators. The 9-11 Commission highlighted that the United
States lacked a true border security system, and that illegal entry across
our borders was far too easy.
- But Republicans Defeated It On A Party Line Vote. Every single Democrat voted for this bill, but Republicans rejected this proposal on a party line vote, 225 to 201. [HR 1268, Vote #160, 5/5/05; R 2-225; D 198-0; I 1-0]
Rep. Jane Harman Introduced Port Security Legislation. H.R. 1731 provides Federal Grants to support Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and to address vulnerabilities in port areas identified in approved vulnerability assessments or by the Secretary of Homeland Security. [HR 1731, 4/20/05]
Democratic Lawmakers Urged Improvements In Inspection Process For International Cargo Entering the United States. In response to a GAO report that underscored the need for major reforms to the Custons-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (CTPAT), Rep. Bennie Thomson (D-MS) called on the Department to shore up its security gap. Prior to the Report, Rep.Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) introduced an amendment that would have strengthened the validation process of C-TPAT. [Press Release from Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), 5/26/05]
Republicans Joining Democrats on Port Security:
King Urged The President To Freeze the Sale of Ports To Dubai Company Until There Was An Investigation. Rep. Peter King heavily criticized the sale of ports, saying, "I'm strongly urging the president to intervene to stop this, to freeze it, to put it on hold. This contract should not be allowed to go forward until there is a full and complete investigation. And there has not been a full investigation of this company, nor of its roots in UAE or Dubai." King also said, "The United Arab Emirates, they are one of only three countries in the world that prides September 11th and recognizes the Taliban. In the days after 9/11, they were not overly supportive as we were trying to track down terrorist financial transactions." [Fox Special Report With Brit Hume, 2/20/06; CNN, 2/20/06]
Graham Called For An Investigation Into Sale Of Ports, Said U.S. Should Not "Outsource Major Port Security To A Foreign-Based Company." Asked about the sale of ports to a Dubai company, Senator Lindsey Graham said, "We certainly should investigate it. I don't know if we should block it. But it's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history, four years after 9/11, to entertain the idea of turning port security over to a company based in the UAE, who avows to destroy Israel. So I'm not so sure it's the wisest political move we could have made. Most Americans are scratching their head wondering why this company, from this region, now. . . Just on its face, it sounds like the wrong direction to go. We did this a few months ago with a Chinese company trying to buy some energy resources in the country. Americans right now want free trade, but when it comes to national security issues, we want to maintain the infrastructure ourselves. We believe we're under siege. We are. I don't think now is the time to outsource major port security to a foreign-based company." [Fox News Sunday, 2/19/06]
Pataki Said He Was "Very Concerned" About the Sale of the Ports, And Instructed The Port Authority To Explore All Legal Options. "Ensuring the security of New York's port operations is paramount and I am very concerned with the purchase of Peninsular & Oriental Steam by Dubai Ports World," Pataki said in a news release. "I have directed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to explore all legal options that may be available to them in regards to this transaction," said Pataki. Pataki is also asking the federal government to "share all critical relevant information made available to the Council on Foreign Investment during the course of the review of the purchase," a reference to the federal panel that approved the deal. [AP, 2/21/06]
Ehrlich Complained That Maryland Officials Were Not Told Of Port Sale. Ehrlich said he is "very troubled" that Maryland officials got no advance notice before the Bush administration approved an Arab company's takeover of the operations at the six ports. "We needed to know before this was a done deal, given the state of where we are concerning security," Ehrlich said. The state of Maryland is considering its options, up to and including voiding the contract for the Port of Baltimore, Ehrlich said, adding: "We have a lot of discretion in the contract." [AP, 2/21/06]
Foley Said He Wouldn't "Blindly Follow the President" On An Issue That Created A Homeland Security Concern. Criticizing the sale of the ports, Rep. Mark Foley, a Palm Beach County Republican, said, "After Sept. 11 we can't blindly follow the president in a way that seems to create a homeland security concern." Foley said he's working on legislation to give Congress the authority to approve or reject all applications made through the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, the top-secret group that OK'd the transaction. [Miami Herald, 2/21/06]
Ros-Lehtinen Said The White House's Decision To Allow The Sale Showed They Didn't Have A Pulse On What People Were Thinking About Security. "I don't know if they were tone deaf, but they certainly didn't have a pulse on what people were thinking in terms of security,'' said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami Republican. "We haven't forgotten Sept. 11. I know the president hasn't either, but that has to extend to more than just speeches." [Miami Herald, 2/21/06]
Bush Administration Record on Homeland Security:
New York Times: Bush Administration Has "Done Far Too Little" To Protect Our Nation's Ports. "The Bush administration has done far too little to protect the nation's ports against terrorists. But it has taken that laxness to a new level by allowing a company from the United Arab Emirates to run significant operations at six American ports, including the Port of New York. ...Much remains to be done to protect the nation's ports against terrorism. Putting port management in the hands of a country with such a mixed record in the war on terror is a step in the wrong direction." [New York Times, Editorial, 2/16/06]
Washington Times: U.S. Should Not Be "Outsourcing" Port Security. "We should be improving port security in an age of terrorism, not outsourcing decisions to the highest bidder. The ports are thought to be the country's weakest homeland-security link, with good reason. Only a fraction of the nation's maritime cargoes are inspected." [Washington Times, Editorial, 2/15/06]
Bush Received Failing Grades for his Efforts to Improve Homeland Security. The 9/11 Public Discourse Project (formerly the 9/11 Commission) has given the Administration failing grades on its efforts to improve homeland security. Thomas H. Kean, former chair of the 9/11 Commission, said that homeland security is "not a priority for the government right now." [9/11 Public Discourse Project, 12/05]
- Former 9/11 Commission Criticized Bush Policies. In December 2005, the 9/11 Commission issued a tough report "criticizing the Bush administration and Congress for failing to implement key counterterror reforms." The report highlighted the "administration's woeful record in strengthening global counterproliferation efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists" as well as their negligence on issues related to homeland security. [Newsweek, 12/12/05]
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT