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U.S. fears nuclear attack, steps up alert

WASHINGTON: The spectre of a nuclear bomb, hidden in a cargo container, detonating in an American port has prompted Congress to require 100 per cent screening of U.S.-bound ships at their over 600 foreign starting points.

The Bush administration and shippers maintain the technology for scanning 11 million containers each year does not exist and say the requirement could disrupt trade. Current procedures including manifest inspections at foreign ports and radiation monitoring in U.S. ports are working well, they contend.

Nonetheless, President George W. Bush signed the measure into law this month and praised its transfer of domestic money to States and cities at higher risk of terrorism attack. He said he will work with lawmakers to ensure the cargo screening provisions do not impede commerce.

Scanning containers at their points of origin is a highlight of that law, intended to fulfil recommendations of the commission that investigated government activities before and after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The commission said the shift would safeguard the United States from terrorists.

The law sets a five-year deadline for having the system in place but, recognising the technology still might not be available, gives the Homeland Security Secretary the authority to extend the deadline by two-year increments.

“If a terrorist manages to conceal a weapon of mass destruction in a shipping container, it must be discovered long before that container reaches our shore,” Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said in support of the measure. Rep. Edward Markey, another Democrat and a chief proponent of the legislation, said costs and complexity involved in the new system would pale beside the devastating effect of a nuclear attack launched from a big city port. “The truth is, we cannot afford not to do it,” Mr. Markey said.

The White House issued a statement strongly opposing the scanning requirement, saying it was “neither executable nor feasible.” Opponents warned that it could cause huge backlogs at the nation’s seaports, which handle some 95 per cent of goods coming into the country.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says “it would be wonderful” if all containers were inspected before they left foreign ports. “But it’s got to be done in a way that reflects reality and also reflects the fact that we’re not the only players in this pool.”

Industry groups that lobbied against the 100 per cent screening asked whether Congress intends to cut off trade with small volume ports that cannot install the needed technology. They also warn of foreign governments retaliating by requiring U.S. ports to set up the same inspection regimen. — AP

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