Republicans failed to defend Americas ports again today

[dv8grl]

While the media has shifted our eyes to the GAS CRISIS the house of Representatives rejected a Democrat lead proposal to require all over-seas US bound marine containers @ US Ports to be inspected.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-04-26T224031Z_01_N26306841_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-CONGRESS-PORTS.xml

The cargo screening gap has prompted warnings from some U.S. lawmakers and security experts that sea cargo is still one of the nation's most serious security vulnerabilities more than four years after the September 11 attacks

"We know from intelligence, their (terrorists') highest goal would be to bring a nuclear device to our shores," Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat.

[tngirl]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A House of Representatives committee on Wednesday rejected a Democratic proposal to require overseas inspection of all U.S.-bound marine containers but approved a plan for more screening in American ports and possibly abroad.

The legislation from the Homeland Security Committee authorizes $7.4 billion to require the government to finish installing radiation screening equipment at major U.S. ports by the end of 2007. It also would let the United States, if it decides to beef up security checks abroad, deny entry to containers from countries that refuse to cooperate.