PORT SECURITY

U.S. Hiring Hong Kong Firm to Check Cargo for Nukes
WASHINGTON -- In the aftermath of the Dubai ports dispute, the Bush administration is hiring a Hong Kong conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside cargo passing through the Bahamas to the United States and elsewhere.

The administration acknowledges the no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. represents the first time a foreign company will be involved in running a sophisticated U.S. radiation detector at an overseas port without American customs agents present.

Freeport in the Bahamas is 65 miles from the U.S. coast, where cargo would be likely to be inspected again. The contract is currently being finalized.

Dobbs: China Works With Worst Rogue States
Seeking to meet the demands of its hard-charging economy for energy and natural resources, China is making friends with some of the worst enemies of the United States, some of the most repressive, reprehensible regimes in all the world, according to CNN host Lou Dobbs.

CNN correspondent Kitty Pilgrim told Dobbs Thursday night that in deal after deal, China is doing business with some of the worst rogue regimes in the world, yet it brushes off criticism with platitudes.

China Port Control More Worrisome Than Dubai Deal
The real reason the Dubai ports deal created such an uproar across America was the much larger issue of border security.

If only Congress would show as much concern for our border security as they did about the port deal.

Another matter Congress should concern itself with is China's growing reach over global ports - including ones close to the United States.