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Data Lacking in Coast Guard Review of Port Deal
Documents released by a Senate committee yesterday indicate that “intelligence gaps” created difficulty in the U.S. Coast Guard’s effort to review a deal in which an Arab company would take over six major U.S. ports, USA Today reported (see GSN, Feb. 24). These gaps made it difficult to determine whether the deal would create a security threat, according to the documents, released by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine). Collins said the Coast Guard report, which was prepared in December while the deal with Dubai Ports was being negotiated, raised “red flags.” The Coast Guard in the report did not differentiate between United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Ports and current ports operator Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation, a British company. “There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment” of the deal, according to the report. “The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats.” Coast Guard spokesman Jeff Carter said the portion of the document released by Collins was taken out of context. He said the review found that “this transaction, when taking into account strong security assurances by DP World, does not compromise U.S. security.” The portion of the report released by Collins raises questions on security operations, workers’ backgrounds and “foreign influence” at the companies. Carter said Dubai Ports and the current port operator are included because Peninsular and Oriental executives would remain involved in operating the ports if the deal is approved. Collins said the report raises disturbing questions. “This report suggests there were significant and troubling intelligence gaps,” she said. Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other senators yesterday introduced legislation to give Congress the final say on approval of the deal (Stone/Hall, USA Today, Feb. 27). Senators opposed to the deal held a rally yesterday in New Jersey, blasting President George W. Bush for being weak on national security, Agence France-Presse reported. “We’re here to stand for a very simple proposition; our ports should not be in the operational hands of a foreign government,” said Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). “It’s about making sure we keep America safe. What we don’t want unloaded here is a chemical, biological or nuclear weapon,” he added (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Feb. 27).
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