PortsGate: Coast Guard Had Security Concerns

It's not an official scandal until it has the word "gate" attached to it, which is usually appended when the actual facts start pouring in showing that the Republicans have been lying - yet again.

So, here we are - in the middle of PortsGate. How many Bushco scandals are there now? I've lost count.

As it turns out, after being repeatedly reassured by Bushco since the deal was revealed that there were "no security concerns" involved, we now discover that not only was the Homeland Security department a bit skeptical - the Coast Guard was as well:

The U.S. Coast Guard said questions about foreign influence, employees and operations made it impossible to assess the threat posed by a state-owned Dubai company's purchase of a firm that manages some terminal operations at six U.S. seaports.

"Impossible".

``There are many intelligence gaps concerning the potential'' for assets owned by DP World or London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. ``to support terrorist operations,'' says an undated intelligence assessment by the Coast Guard that was released at a hearing today of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The document wasn't given to an administration panel assessing the national security risks of the acquisition, but its concerns ``were addressed and resolved,'' Stewart Baker, an assistant secretary at the Homeland Security Department, said.

"Addressed and resolved"? How, exactly? Enquiring opponents want to know. In fact, we demand to know. We're all familiar with how the Bush administration has strong-armed people armed with facts in the past - like those pesky government scientists who dared to do things like "research". Everybody knows that facts aren't as solid as blind faith. Right?

When committee chairperson, Susan Collins (R-Maine) asked what happened, she was told that the information was classified. So, away they went to a closed-door session.

So let's see: there were security concerns before there weren't security concerns and those security concerns can't be discussed openly because there were no security concerns.

Just another day in DC.

Update: Susan Collins, upon leaving the closed-door session, said she's "more convinced than ever that the process was truly flawed".