The Bush Administration is adamant about protecting our security methods and results when revealing them would be politically inconvenient, embarrassing, or reveal that they are breaking the law. However, they are happy to blab away when politics makes revealing allegedly sensitive information politically expedient. Today's example came from Scott McClellan who gave terrorists great insight into how to avoid port security.
When full disclosure is not in the Administrations political interests we get the suggestion that even questioning their authority brings aid and comfort to the enemy.
Alberto Gonzales: Our enemy is listening. And I cannot help but wonder if they aren't shaking their heads in amazement at the thought that anyone would imperil such a sensitive program by leaking its existence in the first place, and smiling at the prospect that we might now disclose even more or perhaps even unilaterally disarm ourselves of a key tool in the war on terror.
In the case of wiretapping, the disclosure of security measures in place is a help to our enemy. Obviously, Al Qaeda took great comfort in believing a FISA warrant would be required for wiretapping <snark> Well, if those hearings made AQ smile, they are having a Fire Your Gun in the Air party (BYOG-Cheney not invited) over McClellan's statements today
(emphasis mine)
And in terms of -- let me back up and make sure that people have a clear understanding of the security measures that are in place, because I think in your question you ignored some key aspects of this. First of all, we secure cargo before it gets to our shores. The Customs and Border Patrol and the Coast Guard are in charge of security for our ports, and they do a great job. And there are a number of steps and measures that we have put in place over the last few years to improve security at our ports and to strengthen security at our ports -- as I pointed out, the Container Security Initiative.
Under the Container Security Initiative, the Customs and Border Patrol inspects 100 percent of all high-risk containers. And they do that at foreign ports before they're loaded on to the ship and headed to the United States. A hundred percent of all cargo is screened, using intelligence and using cutting-edge technology. Technology is very important. Technology is very important --
Q -- all of it --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, 100 percent of cargo is screened. There's a 24-hour rule in place. The Customs and Border Patrol is required to screen manifest a day before cargo arrives. So what we're doing is pushing out the security before that cargo comes to our shores. And then I also mentioned the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, how that's been implemented and how we have more than 7,000 companies participating in that.
Lesson one for the terrorists (oh, they are loving this just as much as those Senate hearings on the wiretapping): your cargo is more likely to be inspected at a foreign port. Either have an insider there, or find a way to slip dangerous cargo aboard at sea. It would be even more helpful if McClellan would name the 7,000 companies inspecting the cargo, but I'm sure he'll dish that out soon enough in support of DP World. "We have Syrian Company -- Jihad Cargo Inspection -- inspecting all shipments from Damascus and nobody complained about that!"
Now that the terrorists know what to avoid at foreign ports, Scotty boy will help them avoid detection in the US.
And then, finally, the technology that is used by the Customs and Border Patrol -- they use large-scale x-ray and gamma ray machines and radiation detection devices to pre-screen cargo coming into this country. So there are a lot of security measures that are put in place. It is the top priority for this administration.
So there you go AQ, be prepared to avoid detection from x-ray and gamma ray machines and you are golden --that's in the unlikely case that the cargo is screened at all.
The reality is that every decision this Administration makes is political and partisan. This is just one of many examples that there singular goal is to consolidate power with King George. I don't really believe that AQ took much notice of today's briefing. I don't buy that they are so stupid as to have no idea about their enemies methods. Unlike, the Bush Administration, they are students not only of their enemies methods, but of their motivations. The knowledge that BushCo will always put their political fortunes before the countries security makes them "smile" and is truly an aid and a comfort.