Safe Ports Legislation Preview, Lou Dobbs Tonight CNN
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Lou Dobbs: Top Democrats today blasting the Bush Administration for its failure to secure or ports against possible terrorism. This as the House homeland security committee prepares to take up the safe ports legislation tomorrow. Casey Wian reports from the port of Long Beach, California.
Casey Wian: It's still far too easy for a terrorist to use cargo containers to sneak a nuclear weapon into a United States port say Congressional Democrats. They are now demanding the White House get tough on port security.
Senator Menendez: Two months ago in the midst of the Dubai ports deal, everyone in congress professed their strong support for securing our ports. This week, the Republican-controlled Congress will have a chance to put their money where their mouths are.
Casey Wian: The liberal political group Americans United for Change are now running these ads.
Americans United Ad: After 9/11 I thought President Bush and his backers in Congress on would get serious about security, but four years later they can still put a dirty bomb in these, and only one in 20 will be inspected. For the other 19 this is what stands between us and them.
Congressman Markey: What we have is a situation where these highly tamper-proof seals are now placed on containers and with the very inexpensive child scissors, those seals can be cut.
Casey Wian: Democrats are sponsoring amendments requiring that every container entering the US port carry a tamper-proof seal with an electronic signal and that every container be inspected for radioactive material. They say that would raise shipping costs about 2%. Wal-mart and other retailers are opposed, telling Congress 100% scanning is neither effective as a deterrent or feasible operationally.
Congressman Nadler: The opponents to this amendment say it would hinder commerce. It's not true, but how would one atomic bomb exploding in an American port hinder commerce?
Casey Wian: Scanning of all shipping containers already in place at some Hong Kong shipping terminals. United States Department of Homeland Security says its goal is to scan 98% of containers by the end of 2007. DHS also says it will immediately begin preliminary screening of 400,000 port workers for terrorist links and their immigration status. But those preliminary checks will not include rail workers with access to the ports, nor will it include truck drivers, nor will it include criminal background checks.