‘Northeast Times’ Trumps The Competition

That headline: Totally serious. Really.

Remember how that Dubai Ports World deal where six American ports were going to have a parent company based in the United Arab Emirates was going to threaten security and everyone would die or something?

I watch and read a lot of news. A lot. And I don’t think I ever heard anyone ask: “Well, wouldn’t they just be staffed by the same workers as before?” It’s not like Saddam Hussein would immediately be over here working at the Tioga Marine Terminal.

And, well, the news outlet I really didn’t expect to ask that question did, and the Northeast Times got the right answer:

“Say you get someone that’s infiltrated a commercial port operator,” said Earl Freilino, a security consultant with the Delaware River Marine Enterprise Council, which advises the Port of Philadelphia on shipping issues. “They can identify people for being converted or used in some way. That’s when you start having problems.”

[Robert] Palaima, the president of Delaware River Stevedores, said that scenario was unlikely, because ownership changes had little impact on local operations. The company’s ownership has changed three times since he became president in 1991, with no effect on local management or dock workers.

“(Delaware River Stevedores has) always been an independently managed company,” Palaima said. “We make our own local hiring decisions.”

Not too many racist letters this week and now this. I think this is horseman number two.

Grapes and national security: Tioga Marine Terminal [Northeast Times]
Feb. 20: Any (Arab) port in a storm

Secret terrorist trap plan revealed!

I got it. The Bush Administration is just trying to set a giant mousetrap by allowing a United Arab Emirates-controlled company to take over several Eastern U.S. ports.

In Catherine Lucey’s Daily News story today, she talks to all the local pols who are up in arms about the deal, and also mentions the actual port that the UAE company would have a 50 percent stake in:

Here in Philly, the deal gives Dubai Ports World a 50 percent interest in Delaware River Stevedores. [...] DRS leases the Tioga Marine Terminal from the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, unloads ships in Camden and Wilmington and provides loading services to the Philadelphia Cruise Ship Terminal.

Shit. The Tioga Marine Terminal? If terrorists ever try to drop in via that port, the natives will tear ‘em to shreds. Rock on, Philly.

Arabs running port? No sale, pols say [DN]
Tioga Marine Terminal [philaport.com]
Yesterday: Any (Arab) port in a storm