This is just a bucket load of crazy.

Oh, great. Are we going to hand over airport security to Hamas now?

Umm, any details on how much of Baltimore's port ops these guys run?

I heard the Medellin drug cartel just won a no-bid contract to manage the U.S. Border Patrol department.

/sarc?

My understanding, anyone with better imformation please correct me, is that port authorities are responsible for certain aspects of security. Homeland security doesn't and can't do it all by themselves. This could be a problem if the owners are in a position to interfere with mandated security procedures. We all need to keep an eye on this.

Well its good thing the longshormen run the ports

Dubai Ports World is set to complete a $6.8 billion deal

At least they aren't as corrupt as Halliburton, who are the real terrorists.

HALLIBURTON! HALLIBURTON! Squawk!

...

Oops. Sorry. Thought I was over at DU posting under my account there.

Who runs Galveston?

Nothing to see here, move along.

I don't understand. How can a company own a port? Isn't the port part of the State of NY, part of the country of US? What is it that they are going to own, exactly? Can someone more knowledgable explain?

Private companies contract to provide services, management functions, etc. etc. It's part of capitalism.

I'm thinking it may not be an entirely bad thing. If something goes wrong, guess whom we pin it on?

How is it that this is one big contract?

Well, we gave control of the Panama Canal to the Chicoms, why not the Port of New York to the UAE?

After all, neither of those countries are our enemies, right?

Right?

Is everyone out shovelling snow tonight? This sure is a slow thread.

#13 Cato the Elder

When I see a bunch of sheiks/UAE Royalty cracking crabs at my favorite spot in Dundalk, I'll know the world has really changed.

Panama belongs to the "Chicoms"?

Unbelievable.

Port of Baltimore is included in that. We're not happy here, I feel confident in saying.

I hate it when Senator Schumer and I agree on something.

This takeover of eastern US ports by the enemy was approved by the US Department of Homeland Security.

And we mustn't forget the US Government's attack on free speech this past week.

George "Whahabi" Bush is continuing to take orders from his Saudi masters.

Piltdown, you live in Mobtown? Where...?

I'm thinking it may not be an entirely bad thing. If something goes wrong, guess whom we pin it on?

Chimpy McHaliburton...a.k.a bu$hitler

#22 Cato the Elder

Fells Point

Navy Spy:

Well, we gave control of the Panama Canal to the Chicoms, why not the Port of New York to the UAE? After all, neither of those countries are our enemies, right? Right?

Carter gave away the Panama Canal, and Clinton gave its operations contract to the Chinese Communists a decade or so ago.

So Bush is simply outdoing the Dems by giving actual US ports to the Islamic Fascists.

Why is this not clear?

13 Cato the Elder

If it's a purely financial investment, it's a good thing. The potential trouble might come in with direction from the top that hamstrings security. It'll never be in the form of a directive to not inspect anything, it'll be in the form of self-contradicting policy, all tied up with a PC bow, that makes it impossible for inspectors to do their jobs.

Think of some of the monkey business that goes on WRT elections, and how you are required to be a citizen, but regulations forbid workers from asking the question. That's the model that a determined manager might use to defeat security procedures, without overtly contradicting them. They won't forbid inspections from happening, they just might make it impossible to comply with all the regulations, causing inspectors to collect paychecks for sitting there.

Yeah, but port security is being taken over by the Israelis

/wishful thinking

Well, at their website, there was a press release about the potential transaction and it said if there were questions, they should be directed to...

Enquiries

DP World

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem
Mohammad Sharaf
Telephone Dubai: +971 4 881 1110
Telephone London: +44 20 7861 3232

So feel free to give him a call.

Does this means Arabs will be supervising shipping to and from Israel?

...or is the US joining the Arab boycott?

OT - quick question for mich-again

Did you win the muhamed picture auction thingy?

17 Piltdown Man

That'll be the day.

Wait - aren't crabs haram?

Check with your Dundalk imam before picking up that mallet!

:)

Latest news report is Dick Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington in a hunting accident.

I bet the moonbats are probably celebrating with relief that at least Ted Kennedy didn’t kill Mary Jo Kopechne with a shotgun so they now can declare war on the Second Amendment.

I'm not comfortable with turning this strategic area over to an company with loyalties elsewhere. Is there any recourse or is this a done deal, pending shareholder approval?

Don't worry: Islam is a noble religion. Besides, fascists are efficient operators of all types of transportation systems.

Piltdown, I could have waved to you on the way down to Canton this afternoon. Had brunch with my bud and his two kids at the Austin Grill.

#29 ibrodsky

Does this means Arabs will be supervising shipping to and from Israel?

No, it means they will be supervising shipping of terrorist cargo into the US.

#33

Why couldn't Hugo Chavez go on a hunting trip with Cheney?

I thought Jooos controlled everything.

Meanwhile the head of the Jewish community of Iran call Ahmadinejad on the carpet for denying the holocaust!

Talk about courageous!

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

#32 Cattt

LOL! I'm picturing a yacht parked in Bear Creek!

What neighborhood are you?, as they say.

Here is a press release featuring Ahmed bin Sulayem with none other than Greg Norman, the White Shark.

"I have been a regular visitor to Dubai for nearly two decades, and I have followed the meteoric development and progress very closely," Norman said. "I am very much looking forward to joining Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Nakheel as they help foster Dubai's evolution into a world-class tourist and business destination."

[BTW.. mama winger, no comment]

#33 hankmeister

Latest news report is Dick Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington in a hunting accident

Too bad he didn't go hunting with the swimmer.

Does this mean all port workers will have Nakba Day off?

#42 mich-again

That's OK.

#36 Cato the Elder

Yeah, I'm spitting distance from the Can Company. Although, insular as neighborhoods are, you wouldn't know it.

A couple of years back, a neighbor of mine showed me something in the paper about a serial killer killing prostitutes in Canton and Patterson Park. Knowing that it's a tenth of a mile away, this guy says to me "thank god he's not in Fells Point."

That's how it is.

Where you at?

36 Cato the Elder

Where are you? DC?

41 Piltdown Man

The phone company thinks I'm in Pikesville, and the post office thinks I'm in Mount Washington. It feels like Pikesville, to me.

I'm right next to the JFX - probably 10 minutes from you, max, on a good day.

@1 m
You are so right on!

Piltdown, right now I'm in temporary digs on Cathedral Street, within sight of the Monument.

My real house is in Charles Village. Being renovated right now.

We should have crabs 'n' beers sometime! Cattt should come too.

#47 Cattt

484 + 21209 = Summit Park?

This is INSANE!

Next we will hear that running the prisons have been turned over to a company from Yemen

#49 Cato the Elder

Absolutely, when I come out of hibernation. We can go to the Captain James crab deck on Aliceanna & Boston. You passed it today. Main restaurant looks like a ship, crab deck on the water to the right.

46 Piltdown Man

Ahh, true. This is Pikesville. I can go a couple of blocks and will be in Mount Washington, which is totally different from here. Here, you will see many people walking on Saturday. There, you will see many people in Birkenstocks. I like Pikesville; I feel kinda weird in Mount Washington.

CNOC was blocked from purchasing Unocal, why's this any different?

OT: Just busted my two cars out, drifts waist high. A beautiful winter wonderland, the calm after the storm.

52 Valis

LOL! Who knows, maybe some airline might award their maintenance contract to the Iranians.

I don't see that an Arab company owning the ports is going to be a problem. After all, President Bush's family has lots or Arab friends and business. Don't confuse the war on terror with a war on Islam (A Nobel Faith, said the President during this year's State of the Union address) or a war on Arabs! [Link: www.sfgate.com...]
[Link: www.arabnews.com...]

Another attack occurs and it is discovered to have come through one of those ports, who do you think will be blamed? 5...4...3...2...

Bush.
You can take that to the bank.

/_{even in the UAE}

#54 Cattt

Yeah, I grew up in Pikesville. On Naylors Ln. near corner of Reisterstown and Old Court.

Or crowd control to

It's crap like this that makes me drink the Anejo Tequila.

I see the Moby has shown up.

@257 vistorstay

Your moby facetiousness has the odour of a skunk turned into road kill.

oops .. should have put an escape character in I guess. This was missing

pick an islamic state

49 Cato the Elder
46 Piltdown Man

How cool is this? You are both like 10 minutes away.

#50 Piltdown Man

Different exchange, but Summit Park subdivision is about one minute away from here (it's where I vote).

ok, the question for me is Why? Why would we allow this to happen? We need to get under the hood on this story.

#63 quark2
At least we can agree that the Government allowing an Arab company to simply own the ports is not a bad thing in itself! After all, it had to be approved by HSA, part of President Bush's Administration. How's everyone tonight?

Ok now I now how to do it.
Hand crowd control over to < pick an islamic state>

Eiii! "now" -->< "know"

I hear "Moby One Note" playing the old refrain.

/turns down sound on Moby One Note.

@67 visitorstay

Where did you go to school for your talent in
disinformation and language manipulation?
That whole post was disingenious.

Damn. And I was hoping to see New York again on vacation. Well, maybe Disneyland will still be there.

Let see, we have the Chinese running the Panama Canal thru some company...

We have the Mexican Govt Hiring the Iranians to drill for oil in the Sea Of Cortez in Baja California...That is pretty close, imo.

And now the Arabs are going to run these ports?

I get the feeling we are bein set up?

I think thru exec order the govt should block it.

#46 Piltdown Man

Spittin' distance to the Can Company, huh?

Wave hello next time you pass the Seafarers Hall on Essex St.

I might very well be one of those bums having a smoke on the sidewalk outside.

"Dubai comes to Dundalk?"...well, welcome to the weird and wonderful whacky world of maritime, where the folks calling the shots are as corrupt as they are stoopid...or is that vice-versa.

If you recall a few years ago, there was a blue-hulled cable ship docked over at North Locust Point.

That was either the CS Wave Sentinel, or the CS Atlantic Guardian,UK-flagged vessels, registered in London...and docked under the guns of Fort McHenry.

Go Figure...

Regards;

Hanlon's Razor:

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

#71 quark2

Please point out any disinformation. Please be specific.

#7 jrdroll

Well its good thing the longshormen run the ports

Exactly. I sure would like to see what

If shareholders approve the deal tomorrow, it will give control of various dock operations

they think they will be controlling.

Baltimore was pretty in the snow today. My friend Nathan and his kids and I gave his wife the afternoon to himself. Walking around Mount Vernon till even my dog was tired...

visitorstay

own the ports

for one.

#65 Cattt

very cool. It does my sanity good to know that even in this bastion of lunacy, there are critical thinkers.

It should serve as comfort to those in other bastions. Berkely? Boston? There is hope for you yet.

Wisdom on balance and responsibility from President Bush. I love this man!

"We believe in a free press, and also recognize that with freedom comes responsibilities. With freedom comes the responsibility to be thoughtful about others," Bush said.

But, he added: "We reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press."

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

OT

Well, at least our VP is a manly man. A poor shot? Maybe...but a manly man. ;-)

#79 easy

You are quite correct! I made a mistake, it is indeed "run" not "own". I'm the first to admit when I've made a mistake. An Arab company will RUN the ports. That's been approved by President Bush's Homeland Security Administration. Run, not own. Run.

#74 Bilgeman

I'll do that...I got a friend on Montford so I pass by often. But I'm not sure how to handle it. I ain't going up to a group of friggin water guys and saying "hey bilgeman" unless I'm sure as hell you're there.

@76 visitorstay

Your whole post. Propagandist tweaking of sentences, so if someone is harvesting Charles threads they'll jump right on that one.

visitorstay
"Run"

If shareholders approve the deal tomorrow, it will give control of various dock operations

We will have to see what that means.

Coming soon - outsourcing US southern border security to Mexico ...

Here are some (scum?) DC lawyers who may be helping companies like this to get around our security laws:

From: EPSTEIN BECKER & GREEN, P.C.

Foreign owned companies that seek to participate in the lucrative U.S. defense contracting arena may face a significant obstacle: in order to do the work, they often must handle classified information, and the U.S. government normally is unwilling to trust foreign owned companies with such information. Federal law generally requires contractors that have access to classified information to be substantially free of the ownership, control, and influence of foreign persons and countries. This prohibition applies even if the country of origin of the foreign owner (e.g., Canada) enjoys especially friendly relations with the United States. There are, however, certain steps that a foreign owned company may take to avoid this limitation, and thus become eligible to perform contracts that require access to most types of classified information, from Confidential to Top Secret.

Companies located in the U.S. that desire to perform a classified contract must first obtain the permission of the Defense Security Service ("DSS") (a division of the Department of Defense ("DoD")) to access classified information. This permission is called a "facility clearance," and typically is granted to a U.S. contractor with a reputation for integrity and lawful conduct.

As a general rule, however, companies cannot obtain a facility clearance if they are under foreign ownership, control, or influence ("FOCI"). The Defense Security Service may deem a company to be under FOCI if a "reasonable basis exists to conclude that the nature and extent of [foreign ownership, control, or influence] is such that foreign dominance over the management or operations of the facility may result in the compromise of classified information or impact adversely the performance of classified contracts." DoD Industrial Security Regulation, § 2-201. As a practical matter, ownership by foreign interests as small as 5 percent, contracts with, or indebtedness to, foreign interests, and management positions held by foreign persons, may trigger the scrutiny of the DSS.

The Solutions ...

Conclusion

With proper planning and preparation, foreign companies can benefit from defense contracts that otherwise would be reserved for U.S. owned companies. If you have questions regarding these, or other government contract issues, you may contact Nicholas A. Nardi at (202) 861- 1387, or Ken Weckstein at (202) 861-1860.

#3 zombi

"Oh, great. Are we going to hand over airport security to Hamas now?

"No profiling allowed" Minetta or Ham-ass? Hmmm?
Airport Insecurity increases ...

You know the nice thing about this blog is that at the end of each evening you'll swear you've heard it all - and then the next day there's a story that tops it!

I won't be surprised when we eventually hear that (feel free to insert the name of any other feckless, oil rich nation in the ME here):

1) The ACLU is receiving generous funding from the Saudis

2) A Saudi firm has bought a nuclear reactor in the United States.

3) The Saudi's have bought a US airline

4) A Saudi firm has bought up land near a major city in order to build a refinery or chemical plant

5) Some large percentage of ex-US Intelligence bureaucrats have been given lucratively paid positions as consultants to the King

6) Saudi money will be found to line the pockets of UN bureaucrats to a level that will make the money involved in the "oil for food scandal" seem like a cracker jack prize by comparison.

7) Saudi money will be found to have been directly transferred to US Republican and Democratic politicians

8) Saudis will own a majority of the MSM

9) A Democrat will be elected president and immediately sic the Justice Dept on Microsoft, forcing it to somehow be sold or broken up, and lo and behold a group of Saudi investors will ride in and buy it.

10) A Saudi firm will purchase one of the largest US trucking companies and expand its coverage to all of the Americas under the guise and protection of NAFTA/CAFTA.

11) Saudi money is being used to fund "peaceful" nuke development in Pakistan, Syria, Iran, and Indonesia. Sunni vs Shiite differences notwithstanding.

all the while the moronic racists like David Duke will continue to scream that the "Jews control everything"

#85 quark2

Specifics, please. Otherwise, I'll accept your inability to back up your challenge to me as an apology. And that's ok! We're all friends here. Another fellow (can't remember his name, some president kind of name...but he posts a LOT, like over 16,000 here in 18 months! Get a LIFE!) said I posted disinformation too, but ran off when I asked for proof. Silly. We're all here for the same reasons: Fight the War on Terror. Support our President.

Whats the big deal?

Its not like we let them buy an airliner flight school or anything.

Of course that may happen on monday.

#91 visitorstay

We're all here for the same reasons: Fight the War on Terror. Support our President.

Well, I am. Not so sure about you though. Hmmm.

@91 visitorstay

I posted specifics. Your Whole post.
Every word in every sentence that you posted.
Is that specific enough?
And I am not your friend.

Folks, c'mon. Aren't we being unfair here?

After all, Dr. Rice of the State Department recently pointed out that we Americans "know the benevolence that is at the heart of Islam."

That's good enough for me.

OK folks, don't get your panties in a wad over this. I am most familiar with how Florida ports are run but here is how it basically works.

"Ports" are owned by the states. That generally does not change. MARAD (Fed) provides limited oversight for port infrastructure and the like. Usually the state sets up a quasi government entity called a "Port Authority" to manage the port. The PA is basically a landlord. On the land that the PA manages, various "facilities" rent land and conduct business. Those "facilities" are regulated by various federal and state agencies and the USCG is the lead federal agency for port security. MTSA and 33CFR Part 101-106 spell out security regs that all regulated facilities and vessels must comply with. The PA is usually considered another layer of security.

Ownership of vessels and facilities (to a certain extent) can get very murky in the maritime world. Various layers of vessel and facility ownership are put in place to shield the charterers, owners and operators from liability and regulatory responsibility. It's just the way things are.

P&O is a very large shipping company. They have excellent security. Just because they are running the container facility (or whatever they are doing) in NYC will not change the security equation. They will still have to comply with all the state and federal regs. And believe me there are a lot of them.

Vessel and Port security are taken very seriously and there are vulnerabilities inherent in the maritime transportation system. Those of us who work in the industry must balance the security requirements with the free flow of commerce daily.

China & the Arabs will now control many important chockepoints/ports. VERY nice./sarc

Another fellow (can't remember his name, some president kind of name...but he posts a LOT, like over 16,000 here in 18 months! Get a LIFE!) said I posted disinformation too, but ran off when I asked for proof. Silly. We're all here for the same reasons: Fight the War on Terror. Support our President.

Careful, now. Don't pick on the "elder statesmen" or question them in any way...otherwise you'll be outed as not hardcore enough by the other Trotskyites, er, Spartacists, er, believers, errr...nevermind. Either that or you'll be accused of being someone else who used to post here a long time ago or of being of Irish extraction.

Also, don't start foaming at the mouth about how we should bomb our enemies until they are pulverized--it might give someone the impression that bombing our enemies is extremist and that might make some of us look bad.

We probably need Lucky Luciano back.

#98 j-damn
Is there a reason you post about me either after I am gone or not on the thread?

#98 16,267

Does UAE support the Arab boycot of Israel?

If so they will forfeit the East Coast port operations.

Meet the guy who now controls all ship cargo (nuclear and non-nuclear) coming into the United States:

Sultan Ahmed Sulayem

Is there a reason you post about me either after I am gone or not on the thread?

Please point out to me where exactly in MY post that I mentioned you.

As far as when you are here or aren't, I can't control. Are you implying that if you aren't currently logged in and viewing whichever thread is in question that no one can comment on any matter in which you may or may not have been involved?

Some of you people need to graduate from the playground.

#96 sailordude 2/12/2006 05:11PM PST
Ah, a voice of reason in the wilderness.
What specifically do you think are the "various dock operation" these people will be able to control?
Could not be be much.

#104 j-damn

Please point out to me where exactly in MY post that I mentioned you.

You really are a coward. Amazing, you snipe at me last night long after I left, now you snipe at me here and pretend you weren't talking about me.

How pathetic.

#101 Totally clueless about what your post means?

You really are a coward. Amazing, you snipe at me last night long after I left, now you snipe at me here and pretend you weren't talking about me.

You really are a paranoid w/delusions of grandeur. I'll ask one more time--please point out where exactly in my post I even mention you.

All I'm doing is trying to help out the "Moby-of the-Week".

Again, as far as when you are here or aren't (and who cares, really), please install some sort of "Reaganite cam" so we can all see when the "King" of this particular little dirt hill is online--wouldn't want to say anything baaad about you without your usual response time of .5 nns

You were in some pathetic slap-fight last night--derailing a thread in the process, complaining about someone's lack of recognition of the 'question mark' (while making several spelling mistakes, may I add)--and it appears as though you are itching for another one.

If I were as quick to make assumptions as others around here, I'd assume--no, I'd SURMISE--that you don't have much of a life.

#108 j-damn
Did you wipe the spittle off the screen after that post?

BTW, the next thread down is about you. Idiot.

Good grief. Hasn't there been enough of this for a lifetime already.

#104. #106 Reminds me of an old movie:

Queeganite: Now there's no need for that I know exactly what hell tell you. Lies! He was no different than any officer in the wardroom -- they were all disloyal, I tried to run the ship properly by the book but they fought me at every turn. If the crew wanted to walk around with their shirttails hanging out that's all right let them take the tow line. Defective equipment no more no less, but they encouraged the crew to go around scoffing at me and spreading wild rumors about steaming and circles. And then old yellow stain. I was to blame for Lt. Merrick's incompetence and poor seamanship. Lt. Merrick was the perfect officer but not Captain Queeganite.
Ah, but the strawberries! That's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes, but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, and with geometric logic, that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox did exist! And I'd have produced that key if they hadn't pulled Caine out of action! I-I-I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officer and!...(realizes he has been ranting, babbling)
Naturally, I can only cover these things from memory if I've left anything out, why, just ask me specific questions and I'll be glad to answer them...one-by-one...

Did you wipe the spittle off the screen after that post?

Nice comeback.

BTW, the next thread down is about you. Idiot.

Ohhh, now I'm a "leftist" and a "liar".

Next I'll be a "witch". Get your torch, ASSumer.

96 sailordude,

Nice to know. BUT, no waaay in the world do I want islam to "run" any operation on our shorelines. Is there someone we can call, write, email, or scream at about this? I don't care what the shareholder vote is, who owns what, or how stringent the security regs might be. I care about my borders and no U.S. port should be run by UAE. Talk about vulnerability.

I remember in the '70's the arabs were buying land like crazy and I remember feeling the hairs stand up on the back of my neck back then.

This "free-flow of commerce" is going to eventually bite us. Actually it already has...price of cement and steel are astronomical because China has bought so much of it up.

Charles, could you please put a fucking end to this shit!

#112 j-damn

Next I'll be a "witch". Get your torch, ASSumer.

No, your own words have proven what you are. Nothing but a pathetic little coward. Are you going to start a blog about me now?

I thot trolls were supposed to be ignored.

Solomon had it right when he advised never to answer a fool...

It's all about diversity.

/moonbat off

Sieze the US port assets in the name of national interest. The Arabs should have no trouble understanding that. they have done the same to American Oil companies in the past that operated in the Middle East. By the time the lawyers get finished it will be a moot point anyways.

Mooph.

#96 sailordude:

"Vessel and Port security are taken very seriously..."

No offense, but...BULLSHIT.

and there are vulnerabilities inherent in the maritime transportation system."

Agreed.

"Those of us who work in the industry must balance the security requirements with the free flow of commerce daily."

And guess which end of the Commerce/Security scale always weighs heaviest?

That IS the main vulnerability of the maritime system.

If we were serious about Maritime Security, we would close our ports to Flag of Convenience vessels.

But, gee, that would cost the cruise line companies and agribusiness and Big Oil.

So, to save a shipowner and operator some filthy lucre, we have to tolerate that rustbucket flying the proud flag of Absurdistan with God knows what in his holds and crewed by people from God knows where, docked at a pier in Yourtown USA.

Look, if we so desperately want to import novelty rubber dogshit from Shanghai, we are perfectly capable of doing so in US-flag and Chinese-flag vessels.

Regards;

This is a joke right? Jus an early April fool's prank? Nobody could be this nuts!

This is just so unreal. Like a bad episode of the Twilight Zone. I was always critical of the Jews for going so meekly to their deaths in the 1930s and 1940s; I could never understand whay they didn't resist. It was like they quit at the very beginning. I always believed such a shameful surrender could never happen here. Looks like I might be proved wrong on that. Most of Europe is now surrendering about as fast as the Jews did 60 - 70 years ago; the U.SA. looks like it is going to follow Europe's example. We are going to relinquish the security of our ports to people who want us dead? Did I hit my head last night, and am I in some concussion-induced alternate reality? Can I awaken from this nightmare?

#120 bilgeman

"Vessel and Port security are taken very seriously..."

No offense, but...BULLSHIT.

None taken. But if you compare port and vessel security from 9/11 until now you will find that it has improved 1000 fold. Are we there yet? Nope. But in a capitalist world you will never be completely safe.

And guess which end of the Commerce/Security scale always weighs heaviest?

Completely agree...but guess what? Your job probably depends on the free flow of commerce. Are you willing to sacrifice yours or your neighbors job?

If we were serious about Maritime Security, we would close our ports to Flag of Convenience vessels.

But, gee, that would cost the cruise line companies and agribusiness and Big Oil.

And you.

So, to save a shipowner and operator some filthy lucre, we have to tolerate that rustbucket flying the proud flag of Absurdistan with God knows what in his holds and crewed by people from God knows where, docked at a pier in Yourtown USA.

Look, if we so desperately want to import novelty rubber dogshit from Shanghai, we are perfectly capable of doing so in US-flag and Chinese-flag vessels.

Hey, I'm a merchant mariner...I would like nothing more than all the world's commerce to be carried on US bottoms.

Unfortuanately, "shit ain't like that" - Ice T

sailordude:

"But if you compare port and vessel security from 9/11 until now you will find that it has improved 1000 fold."

Yeah, I'll give 'em that...a thousand times more than some number more than zero but less than one, which is where it was before.

On the commercial side, I just see more paperwork for the Captain to dump on the Chief Mate.

"Paper Safety"...you know, like "Paper Seaworthiness".

"Your job probably depends on the free flow of commerce. Are you willing to sacrifice yours or your neighbors job?"

Ahhh, but it ain't an "either/or" thing necessarily. I could safeguard my job AND my life, while simultaneously giving that lazy lout of a neighbor of mine gainful employment.

"Hey, I'm a merchant mariner...I would like nothing more than all the world's commerce to be carried on US bottoms."

As am I, but like Ice-T said...I don't know, maybe we'll see a resurgent US fleet by the time we're driving Buicks to the Moon.

Regards;

bilgeman

I'm thinking you must be a CM (unlimited)? 2M here with 1600T Masters.

regards