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Outrage Over Port Security |
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America’s working families are outraged about the Bush administration handing over the nation’s ports to a Dubai-based corporation. We noted yesterday that in addition to raising security concerns, the $6.8 billion deal for handling cargo at major Eastern and Gulf Coast ports not only increases the potential for terrorist attacks, but highlights the greed involved and the not-so behind-the-scenes connections that bind the Bush administration to Dubai.
James Parks talked with a couple members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)—the workers who would be employed by Dubai—and they say even now, not enough is being done about the nation’s port security.
Clyde Fitzgerald, president of the South Atlantic-Gulf Coast District ILA which represents workers on Miami and New Orleans ports.
There’s a whole lot more we could do to protect our ports. We’re only checking a small percentage of containers coming in. It’s physically impossible to check every one, but we should check more than we do.
James Paylor, president of ILA Local 1566 in Philadelphia, agrees—and says he supports the efforts “to demand full disclosure of the details of the deals.”
The main thing is that we need consistent enforcement of security. At the Port of Philadelphia, they’re hiring [low-wage workers] making $6 an hour to load and unload cocoa beans—a job that should go to a Longshoreman.
As Josh Marshall points out on Talking Points Memo, Bush had a Freudian moment at cabinet meeting when he said:
This deal wouldn’t go forward if we were concerned about the security
for the United States of America.
Meanwhile, AFL-CIO Now visitors have weighed in on the debate—here’s a sample. (Got news? E-mail us at: blognews@aflcio.org) –Tula Connell
Danny Cooke, president of the Texas State Council of Machinists, says he is appalled, but not surprised, by Bush’s willingness to hand a contract to a United Arab Emirate corporation.
Bush has been very consistent in giving good American jobs over to other countries. Of course, in the past we sent the work to them and with the exception of Mexico, did not bring them to the work. I am also appalled that he hates the American worker to the point of refusing to allow American Companies in on the process. Do we not have some of the best security firms in the world? Is he simply more interested in taking care of other countries than our own? When the notorious Tom Delay says it was a mistake, you know this has to be bad.
Linda Lewis, an expert on Homeland Security, writes:
The decision to approve the Dubai takeover is contrary to earlier decisions regarding other STATE-owned firms planning takeovers, that were not Arab states. This refutes Bush administration claims that rejecting the Dubai deal would be discriminatory.
She provides details on her weblog, Goverup.com.
From Houston, Texas, Aurora Hunter writes:
I’ve had a lifetime of hearing about how no one ‘can do’ anything better than Americans. So how come we even have to consider outsourcing the management of our ports to foreign companies and countries? On the other hand, apparently we’re not very good at security, so maybe that’s what we should be outsourcing! Bin Laden’s security system comes to mind as one of the best in the world, judging by the damage that his organization has inflicted and yet he remains alive, well, and free despite the efforts of the world’s greatest superpower to change that status.
Mike Meyer, e-mailing from the computer of his neighbor David Tourison in Sheridan Wyo., says if he planned to spend $6.8 billion, he’d take a close look at his purchase. So why didn’t President Bush supposedly even know about the deal?
One need not look for conspiracy when GREED AND STUPIDITY fit the bill. Sadly we keep hiring these people when they refuse to do the job, refuse to earn their pay. We should do for them just as we would anyone who won’t work, DON’T PAY THEM.
Meyer is a member of The Voter Initiative Political Party of Wyoming. (VIPP) that believes American taxpayers should have the final word on the federal budget.
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