Today on CNN’s Late Edition, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff refused to explain why the administration has turned over control of operations at six of the nation’s largest ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, a country with dubious ties to international terrorism:

The discussions are classified. I can’t get into the specifics here…As far as my agency is concerned, port security really rests principally with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection.

In other words, don’t worry about it, the Coast Gaurd has it covered. Kim Petersen, president of the largest maritime security consulting company in the United States, SeaSecure, disagrees:

Port security is a big problem, Petersen said, because the Coast Guard does not have enough resources for the waters close to ports.

“It doesn’t have either the people or the necessary physical resources to provide the in-water patrols that are so desperately needed,” he said.

Sounds like Chertoff has the whole situation under control.

Today, on CBS’s Face the Nation, host Bob Schieffer pressed Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) about his views on Bush’s illegal NSA surveillance program. Frist, who famously flaunts the fact that he holds a medical degree, didn’t hestitate to share his legal diagnosis:

FRIST: I believe the program — I know the program is constitutional — that it is legal –

SCHIEFFER: Alright, let me just stop you, and let me just get back to the question that I asked you. Since you know all about it, as you’re one of the 8 who knows more about it than the others, do you think that the whole situation needs to be brought under the control of the court? Do you think we either need new laws to do that or do you think it’s ok to just keep going as you’re going?

FRIST: Does it have to be thrown over to the courts, going back to the question you just asked? I don’t think so. I personally don’t think so.

SCHIEFFER: You don’t think that the court needs to issue a court order before they do that?

FRIST: No.

While Frist was busy parroting the White House view, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who served six-and-a-half years of service on active duty as an Air Force lawyer, suggested the program is illegal and needs to be brought before a court:

GRAHAM: I am adamant that the courts have some role when it comes to warrants. If you’re going to follow an American citizen around for an extended period of time, believing they’re collaborating with the enemy, at some point in time you need to get some judicial review because mistakes can be made.

If there is anyone who should understand that mistakes can be made, it’s Bill Frist.

UPDATE: Crooks and Liars has the video.