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Article published Mar 6, 2005
Port
defense lacking: Audit has found that funds have been
wasted
The Department of Homeland Security has spent hundreds
of millions of dollars allocated for the improvement of security at the nation's
ports but hasn't succeeded in enhancing security.Those are the findings of the
department's own inspector general. In an audit of port security spending, the
inspector general found that "the program has not yet achieved its intended
results in the form of actual improvement in port security."This is despite the
fact that the department has awarded $517 million in grants for the purpose of
improving port security. Less than a quarter of the grant funds has actually
been spent. In addition, the audit found that much of the department's money
went to ineffective projects such as unnecessary lighting and technical
equipment.The audit faults the department for funding the wrong projects and for
spreading the money across the nation, even to inland states like Oklahoma,
rather than focusing the money on the country's busy ports. Grants were awarded
even though the department ranked them very low among applications for
funding.In other words, much of the money hasn't been spent, and much of what
has been spent has been spent ineffectively.This is worse than mere bureaucratic
ineptitude. It is dangerous. The nation's ports may be vulnerable to a terrorist
attack. We've known since the 9-11 attacks that our ports could be attacked, but
we've wasted opportunities and resources intended to improve security
there.South Carolina's congressional delegation should be in the forefront of
this debate. Senators and representatives from the Palmetto State should be
demanding more money for port security and proper, effective use of that
money.Charleston is one of the busiest containerports in the nation. If
terrorists want to sneak a weapon into this country, using one of the thousands
of shipping containers that come throughthe port might be an effective tactic.
This state's congressional delegation should be protectingthat port. It should
be protecting the lives and the economy of the state, which depends on the port.
Even automotive manufacturing in the Upstate relies on the proper functioning of
the port in Charleston.This is a crucial matter, and officials in Washington are
obviously not taking it seriously enough.