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The Controversy Over a UAE-Based Company Handling Operations at Major U.S. Ports Needs to Result in Improvements in the Ports' Currently Lenient Security
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-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(TEBO OPEN):
THE NEWS IS FULL OF HEADLINES FROM POLITICIANS TALKING ABOUT A UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES-BASED COMPANY HANDLING OPERATIONS OF SIX MAJOR U-S
PORTS--CLAIMING IT POSES A SECURITY THREAT. BUT, WHAT DO WE REALLY
KNOW ABOUT THIS DECISION, AND THE COMPANY BEHIND THE FUROR?
CARL BENTZEL [LIKE "PENCIL"]--WHO IS WITH THE PUBLIC-AFFAIRS
FIRM D-C-I GROUP, AND WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DRAFTING THE
POST-"9/11" "MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT"--SAYS THAT THE
BIGGER ISSUE IS THE OVERALL RELATIVELY LENIENT SECURITY OF AMERICAN
PORTS--SOMETHING THIS COMPANY WOULD NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE...
(BENTZEL):
"IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE FOR CONGRESS TO RUSH TO BLOCK
THIS DEAL FROM GOING THROUGH. OF COURSE, WE NEED A THOROUGH
REVIEW. BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, U-S POLICYMAKERS SHOULD USE THIS
SITUATION TO INTRODUCE MORE TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES TO SECURE OUR
MARITIME BORDERS AND INCREASE OUR PORT SECURITY. IF THEY DO THAT,
THIS WHOLE EXERCISE WILL NOT HAVE BEEN A WASTED OPPORTUNITY CHASING RED
HERRING. INSTEAD, IT WILL HAVE SERVED TO SAFEGUARD OUR NATION
AGAINST FUTURE TERRORIST ATTACKS."
(TEBO CLOSE):
THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON WILL NOT SUBSIDE SOON, ACCORDING TO BENTZEL.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT WILL BE A FLASH IN THE PAN--OR IF CONGRESS
TAKES REAL STEPS FORWARD ON PORT SECURITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THIS ISSUE, PLEASE VISIT
W-W-W-DOT-"PORT-SECURITY-MEDIA"-DOT-COM. I'M BOB TEBO.
