Dean: America's Security Should Be America's Business

[kpete]

Dean: America's Security Should Be America's Business; Chertoff Statement is Example of Administration's Incompetence on Security

3/7/2006 2:19:00 PM
WASHINGTON, March 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the Democratic National Committee:

In an article published today in the Wall Street Journal, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made the outrageous claim that the controversial deal to allow a foreign government- owned company to manage six of our nation's largest ports would actually enhance America's security. Chertoff's statement raises new questions about the ports deal and why the U.S. government has to negotiate with a foreign company in order to thoroughly scrutinize operations on American soil. These comments come as Americans are learning that "overseas-based companies operate as many as 80 percent of American terminals." (Bloomberg, 2/28/06)

According to the article, "federal law-enforcement and intelligence agencies have been trying to get inside information about global shipping operations" since September 11, 2001, and Chertoff argues that turning over the management of some of our nation's busiest seaports would give the government "a deep look into" the practices of the foreign government-owned company's operations at "the U.S. ports." (Wall Street Journal, 3/7/06)

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"America's security should be America's business. The unbelievable claim that we need this deal to gain better insight into what happens at our own ports is not only laughable but another example of the Republican leadership's failure to keep us safe. The Bush Administration and the Department of Homeland Security shouldn't be waiting for public outrage before looking at potential threats to the American people. Gaining allies in the war on terror shouldn't require the outsourcing of America's ports nor handing over the security of the American people to foreign governments. Five years after 9/11, Republicans in Washington have done nothing to make our ports less vulnerable and have thwarted Democrats' efforts to increase funds for port security. Democrats will continue to fight to close the gaps in our nation's port security, and ensure that those responsible for keeping America safe are doing their jobs."

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, http://www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

http://www.usnewswire.com/
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=61962

[Swede Atlanta]

1. Good Grief

They are so out of touch with reality. Now they are trying to justify the ports deal as some kind of intelligence initiative to learn more about how foreign governments use their front companies to run our ports? They are grasping at straws now.