Is Port Flap More Emotion Than Logic?

Most of the opposition to the deal to let Dubai Ports World take over a company that already manages six American ports has focused on two issues. The first concern is outlined in a Washington Post article that cites Joseph King, former US Customs official:

...a company the size of Dubai Ports World would be able to get hundreds of visas to relocate managers and other employees to the United States. Using appeals to Muslim solidarity or threats of violence, al-Qaeda operatives could force low-level managers to provide some of those visas to al-Qaeda sympathizers... Those sympathizers could obtain legitimate driver's licenses, work permits and mortgages that could then be used by terrorist operatives.

Yes, but can't the same be said of thousands of other foreign companies with US operations? None of the above-mentioned scenarios are specific to port management.

The second major concern revolves around the fear that we are outsourcing national security to foreign nations. Reuters quotes Ted Kennedy as saying:

"The American people need to have confidence that the port deal won't undermine national security and that the administration isn't outsourcing our national security," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat.

As the New York Times points out, yes, there are gaping holes in port security, but they are and will remain the responsibility of Customs and the Coast Guard.

I, too, initially reacted with horror to the deal but the more I thought about it I concluded that what we really should be concerned about is that our government has made little or no progress since 9/11 in securing our ports despite spending billions. The entity that manages port logistics is an emotional and political sideshow to the real problem. Congress should perhaps focus on its own dysfunction and parochialism that has turned homeland security into another pork project and the fact that they have not taken enough responsibility or stewardship over improving port security. They are always quick to point the finger and slow to take responsibility.