A Level Gaze

A Level Gaze

"What effect must it have on a nation if it learns no foreign languages? Probably much the same as that which a total withdrawal from society has upon an individual."
--G.C. Lichtenberg

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

They Honestly Don't Care About Security

This morning, I heard a report on NPR (audio only) that made me think I might have been unfair to the Bush Administration in last night's post on foreign control of port security. The upshot of the report: the port managers are just "luggage handlers"; the Coast Guard and US Customs Service take care of all security. So, what would be the difference if a foreign company did the heavy lifting instead of an American one?

Fortunately Julia was around to set me straight:

Just to top off the sundae with a great big cherry, amongst the ports that Dubai would be taking over operations in are multiple C-TPAT ports. C-TPAT is an innovative program developed by the Bush administration in the wake of 9/11 to allow various companies involved in shipping, including port managers, to certify their own safety and avoid a good deal of even the current low percentage of materials shipped currently searched by Customs agents.

In her earlier post on the subject, Julia shows what her research on the subject turned up. Strangely, the Customs and Border Patrol C-TPAT fact sheet she linked to seems to have disappeared. The good news is that she was able to grab some of the highlights before it did:

* C-TPAT is a joint government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chain and border security.

* C-TPAT recognizes that Customs can provide the highest level of security only through close cooperation with the ultimate owners of the supply chain, importers, carriers, brokers, warehouse operators and manufacturers.

* Through this initiative, Customs is asking businesses to ensure the integrity of their security practices and communicate their security guidelines to their business partners within the supply chain.

And what are the benefits of the C-TPAT program?

* A reduced number of inspections (reduced border times)

* An assigned account manager (if one is not already assigned)

* Access to the C-TPAT membership list

* Eligibility for account-based processes (bimonthly/monthly payments, e. g.)

* An emphasis on self-policing, not Customs verifications

(emphasis added)

In short: the Bush Administration made an effort to shift more responsibility for port security to the private companies that manage ports and away from the Customs Service. If the administration had its way, the government of Dubai (along with those of China and Denmark) would have a great deal of responsibility for the security of these ports. At a time when we should be tightening security, our president is telling private port management companies that they should police themselves.

I feel compelled to offer my apologies to Brad DeLong for failing to remember his immortal axiom:

The Bush administration is not only worse than you imagine even after taking account of the fact that it is worse than you imagine, it is worse than you can conceivably imagine[.]

posted by David at 2/22/2006 11:44:00 AM ::

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