Port Security

The controversy over an Arab company's plan to operate terminals at six U.S. seaports put port security at the top of lawmakers' agenda. But some security experts say the firestorm over the ill-fated Dubai Ports World deal masks a bigger problem: the failure of the United States to invest enough on security — including infrastructure upgrades, advanced radiation-detection equipment and manpower — to prevent terrorists from smuggling radioactive bombs or other dangerous materials into one of the more than 360 U.S. seaports. Only 5 percent of the 11.3 million shipping containers arriving at U.S. seaports last year were examined, leading some members of Congress to call for inspections of all U.S.-bound containers. The Bush administration defends its port security strategy and vows to install more radiation-detection devices at U.S. and overseas ports and to expand programs that ask U.S. businesses and foreign governments to voluntarily heighten security overseas.