Container Security : Clueless Representative DeFazio

September 28, 2006 by SwizStick  
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Fresh off my post from yesterday linking to remarks from security expert Stephen E. Flynn, one of which was “…I can guarantee that our government will behave irrationally from a risk standpoint…” comes clueless Rep. DeFazio (D) from Oregon who proves most of Mr. Flynn’s points in a news article I read last night:

“Why can’t we do it on the other side of the ocean before they depart?” asked Rep. Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon. “Why has there been resistance on the part of the administration and the majority here, to screening all the containers on the other side of the ocean?”
In response, Mr. Chertoff said, “For one thing, we don’t own foreign ports, Congressman.”
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“We retain the right of sovereignty in international trade and we can refuse the entry of any cargo,” said the Oregon Democrat. “The Chinese regularly do this for commercial purposes; we can sure as heck do it for homeland security purposes.
“Anybody who isn’t cooperating with us, we say, ‘Well, that’s fine, but guess what? Nothing’s leaving your port to the United States of America anymore.’ It’s pretty simple.”
Such action, Mr. Chertoff said, would cut off 75 percent of international trade and lead to a depressed economy.
Mr. DeFazio proposed a three-year period to implement such a strategy, but Mr. Chertoff balked and called it an “artificial deadline” that would be “as unrealistic as passing a law that says in three years cancer has to be cured.”
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“We all would desire to have radiation scanning before things are loaded on ships,” Mr. Chertoff said. “But I’m not going to sell the American people pie in the sky. I’m going to give something that’s realistic, actionable and produces real results.”

Elected representative advocating irrational behavior from a risk standpoint? Check.

Elected representative expressing enthusiasm for shutting down ports and inspecting our way to security? Check.

Elected representative showing overwhelming ignorance about how global transportation and logistics systems work? Check.

Elected representative showing a complete lack of appreciation for the importance of global trade and transportation systems to the economy? Check.

Did I miss any points, Mr. Flynn? I believe this guy just about hit them all. If I were a businessman in Oregon, particularly in Representative DeFazio’s district, I would be writing him a letter or giving him a phone call offering a free tutorial in international trade and transportation 101.

What’s real scary is this guy sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security. Shouldn’t a long term Congressman who sits in such committees have at the minimum a rudimentary knowledge of trade and transportation?

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