Let’s face it, if al Qaeda wanted to sneak a nuclear device into a U.S. port, they probably wouldn’t have any trouble. At best, maybe ten percent of the shipping containers that arrive in this country are examined and that has barely changed since 9/11. As the Wall Street Journal pointed out, the Bush Administration’s port security budget is pathetic :

A study completed last year by the Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified 66 of the nation’s 359 ports as being especially vulnerable to terrorist attack. But while the country has spent $18 billion securing airports since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, it has spent just $630 million to improve security at the nation’s ports. The Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General last year sharply criticized the port-security program, saying it didn’t direct funds to the most vulnerable ports and compromised the nation’s ability to stave off terrorist attacks.
. . .
Customs is in charge of two major programs designed to prevent terrorists from smuggling weapons of mass destruction or operatives into the U.S.: the Container Security Initiative, or CSI, and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, known as C-TPAT. Under CSI, U.S. customs inspectors are stationed in dozens of ports around the world to review cargo manifests sent before a ship leaves port to try to flag suspect cargo for inspection overseas. Under C-TPAT, international-shipping companies voluntarily implement security measures in exchange for faster clearance through customs. The aim of the program is to secure containers before they even arrive in the U.S.

But last May, congressional investigators found that both programs were badly flawed and might actually facilitate terrorist smuggling if their deficiencies weren’t fixed. Again, the problem revolved around a lack of minimum standards for inspection equipment and an inability to verify foreign ports security efforts. In fact, only between 5% and 10% of an estimated six million containers that arrive in the U.S. every year are inspected, according to Customs and Border Protection.

So the magic number is $630 million. That’s how much the Bush Administration cares about keeping our ports safe. As a point of comparison, keep in mind that the same Administration spent $1.4 billion-with-a-B on public relations contracts over the same period. Of if you want to look at it another way, consider the $630 million over five years versus this bit from the 2006 budget :

In addition, the 2006 Budget provides support for programs that encourage responsible choices before parenthood. President Bush’s Abstinence Initiative provides grants to States and communities to develop, implement, and evaluate programs for adolescents that promote abstinence and healthy choices. Activities also advance parent education and outreach, media campaigns, and research related to abstinence education. Since 2001, 102 grantees have provided abstinence-only education services in communities nationwide. The Budget provides more than $206 million for abstinence-only activities this year.

That’s what everyone should be outraged about. The President is spending more money on telling teenagers not to have sex than he is on keeping terrorists from sneaking a nuclear device into this country.