President Bush says that protecting the nation’s ports is a “solemn duty.”
But yesterday on Hardball, Thomas Kean, chairman of the 9/11 Commission, explained how President Bush failed to do what’s necessary to protect America’s ports, long before the UAE entered the picture. Watch it:

Kean explained to Matthews the gaping security holes at the nation’s ports: “[Y]ou and I can walk today into the port of New York. I don’t think there’s any question about that and get in areas where people shouldn’t get.”

The problems that Kean describes are part of a consistent pattern of neglect. The 9/11 Commission recently concluded that Bush’s cargo-screening efforts are “so far a near-failure.” The Coast Guard estimated in 2002 that it would cost $5.4 billion over 10 years to implement critical security improvements to the nations’ ports as mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act. Bush asked for $46 million for fiscal year 2005, which was below pre-9/11 levels.

Full transcript below: Read more

From this morning’s Jerusalem Post:

The parent company of a Dubai-based firm at the center of a political storm in the US over the purchase of American ports participates in the Arab boycott against Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The Jerusalem Post notes that “US law bars firms from complying with such requests or cooperating with attempts by Arab governments to boycott Israel.” Once upon a time, opposing such boycotts was important to the Bush Administration. From the BBC, 5/11/02:

“The US government is strongly opposed to restrictive trade practices or boycotts targeted at Israel,” said Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Kenneth Juster.

“The Commerce Department is closely monitoring efforts that appear to be made to reinvigorate the Arab boycott of Israel and will use all of its resources to vigorously enforce US anti-boycott regulations.”

…The Department of Commerce has issued more than $26m in fines and turned down export licenses to those found violating the law.

The boycott against Israel is an important distinction between P&O, the British company that currently operates 21 U.S. ports, and Dubai Ports World.

Bush says pulling out of Iraq would undermine our troops’ morale:

It is also important for every American to understand the consequences of pulling out of Iraq before our work is done. “¦ We would undermine the morale of our troops by betraying the cause for which they have sacrificed. [12/18/05]

U.S. troops say they want out of Iraq within a year:

A new poll to be released today shows that U.S. soldiers overwhelmingly want out of Iraq “” and soon. The poll is the first of U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq, according to John Zogby, the pollster. Conducted by Zogby International and LeMoyne College, it asked 944 service members, “How long should U.S. troops stay in Iraq?” Only 23 percent backed Mr. Bush’s position that they should stay as long as necessary. In contrast, 72 percent said that U.S. troops should be pulled out within one year. Of those, 29 percent said they should withdraw “immediately.” [NYT, 2/28/06]

American Progress has a plan that will drawdown the U.S. troop presence in Iraq within one year. If the troops support it, why can’t their Commander-in-Chief?

UPDATE: Zogby poll results here.