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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday the United States was making progress toward scanning more incoming cargo without slowing commerce.

Speaking before the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, a panel of private-sector shipping and retail executives, Chertoff said the United States would not be able to scan 100 percent of inbound cargo for terrorist activities without disrupting the supply chain and clogging ports.

"If I shut them, there won't be any risk, but there won't be any ports," Chertoff said. He criticized lawmakers who pushed for 100 percent physical scanning in a recently enacted homeland security bill, saying he would like to take certain members to ports and show them what would happen once their plan became reality.

Chertoff cited advances in the Container Security Initiative, in which foreign governments enter into agreements to improve scanning of suspicious cargo, saying the provisions of the initiative will be operational in 58 ports worldwide by Oct. 1. He also praised progress made in the Secure Freight Initiative, which will allow for radiation scanning of 100 percent of seaborne cargo by the end of the year.

"We'll be able to separate the kitty litter from the dirty bomb" without slowing down port traffic, Chertoff said. Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard are devising a plan for scanning small, incoming boats without cargo that could pose a threat.

Chertoff sought the committee's advice for a solution on how to more effectively scan cargo.

"A simple argument like 100 percent physical inspection can have a lot of traction," he said. "And if we're not prompt and reasonably energetic in coming up with an alternative model for how to do this, we may well find the model being dictated by people that have a very simple viewpoint of what should be done, and that is to open everything up."

The bill implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which President Bush signed into law Aug. 3, requires the Homeland Security Department to ensure, within five years, that all U.S.-bound ship cargo is scanned at foreign ports. The law allows the department to extend the deadline for ports that need more time to comply.

Despite the possible deadline extensions, industry groups fought the provision up to the last moment before Congress passed the 9/11 bill last month. "If enacted, the 100-percent scanning provisions of the legislation would have a crippling effect on global trade, without significantly improving security," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned House members in a letter.

COMMENTS

• And of course these foreign seaports and governments will cooperate fully, and give their undivided attention to scanning U.S. cargo. Yeah, right! Their first priority will be themselves, as it should be. The handful of CBP and ICE personnel in these foreign ports have their hands full, and can do very little without the cooperation and assistance of the locals. How can we expect more from them, when CBP is already overwhelmed by the huge amounts of cargo in our own ports? We used to examine every shipment to some degree, and some shipments were targeted for more thorough exams. Now we look at virtually nothing, and rely on flawed technology to do the job for us. No wonder narcotics seizures in cargo are down, and so much contraband and prohibited or dangerous imports (e.g., children's toys and cigarettes from China, etc.) are entering this country's commerce. Let Customs do it's primary function, looking for illegal imports, instead of pulling officers away for immigration functions, as has been happening since the assinine merger of Customs and INS into CBP and ICE! Terrorism is an important mission, but not the only one for U.S. border enforcement. Former Customs Inspector Posted August 17, 2007 12:43 PM
• I saw a documentary the other night about how bears can smell so much better than even blood hounds. We should just train bears and as well as they can smell they can sniff out any contraband by standing in the middle of one dock. SATOS Posted August 17, 2007 10:51 AM
• So they can process containers quicker, but the reliability of the scanners remains in doubt - how many false alarms will there be? Do they not understand that with more false alarms then those operating the systems will become disillusioned and fail to react to an alarm or when they search it will be done half-heartedly. Andy Robinson Posted August 17, 2007 9:45 AM