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Home Front Economy

Mexican truck stampede to hit U.S.!

2007-04-12

And the GOP wonders why it lost last November Despite congressional opposition, the Bush administration is fully committed to beginning within weeks a pilot test that will allow Mexican trucks to operate freely across the U.S. A spokesman for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Ian Grossman, told WND the agency plans to grant the first authority for a Mexican trucking company to operate its long-haul rigs throughout the U.S. as early as the end of this month. WND previously reported an amendment introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., into the Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Appropriations Bill is designed to block the Department of Transportation's pilot test until the Mexican government authorizes U.S. trucking companies to operate in Mexico. Now there's a good point. WND also reported Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., has introduced the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act, designed to block the test until current FMSCA regulations regarding Mexican trucks operating beyond commercial zones along the international border are clarified and strengthened. The Mexican trucking company can begin operating trucks in the U.S. immediately, once the FMCSA grants the authority, Grossman told WND. Grossman explained granting authority to the 100 Mexican trucking companies specified under the DOT pilot test may take between four to six months to complete. "The department is committed to moving forward with this program," he said, "and will continue to work with members of Congress to address their concerns." Reaction from the Teamsters Union was immediate and sharp. "The Department of Transportation can't enforce truck safety in the United States, let alone at the southern border," spokeswoman Leslie Miller told WND. "The Bush administration continues to show a reckless disregard for the will of Congress and the American people who oppose this illegal pilot project." Rod Nofzinger, spokesman for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, was equally critical. "Unfortunately, the administration is bound and determined to move forward with their Mexican trucking program despite the serious concerns that have been raised by the American public, Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and lawmakers on Capital Hill, both Republicans and Democrats alike," Nofzinger told WND. "I have little doubt that they want to beat Congress to the finish line on this," Nofzinger continued. "They know that once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it's awfully hard to get it back in. Once Mexican trucks start rolling throughout the U.S., it will be very difficult for Congress and the American people to turn them back, regardless of the safety and security risks that they'll be carrying with them." So far all I see are the usual suspects protecting their rice bowls. Hunter also was critical of the FMCSA decision to begin implementing the Mexican truck pilot test immediately. The congressman's spokesman, Joe Kasper, told WND Hunter has significant concerns about the program. "Congressman Hunter maintains that compliance and enforcement standards must be clarified and strengthened before the pilot program is implemented," Kasper said. "Congressman Hunter will utilize the program's impending implementation as an opportunity to promote and continue highlighting the importance of the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act." Responding to the congressional concerns, Grossman said Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta had certified in 2002 that DOT met each of the 22 safety requirements Congress in the Fiscal Year 2002 DOT Appropriations Bill demanded be met before allowing trucks from Mexico to drive beyond U.S. commercial zones along the border. Kasper disagreed, insisting Mineta's certification was not enough. "We need public disclosure of the safety requirements and public debate, including a DOT filing in the Federal Register before we approve this test," Kasper told WND. "While the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act restates the safety conditions included in the FY2002 appropriations measure," Kasper continued, "the legislation goes further by requiring the implementation of English proficiency standards and data base accessibility for law enforcement officials to verify a driver's identification and criminal history." Hunter's NAFTA Trucking Safety Act has been referred to several House committees, including House Transportation and Infrastructure; Homeland Security; Judiciary; and Ways and Means. According to Kasper, the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act has collected 18 co-sponsors. Asked to comment on the Feinstein amendment or Hunter's NAFTA Trucking Safety Act, Grossman told WND the FMCSA "was engaging in no speculation on the course of possible congressional legislation" regarding the Mexican truck pilot test. Looks like at least a few libs are starting to get it as well. They have to choose between the union vote and the illegal alien/razista solidarity vote. Hmmm, decisions, decisions. Not the first time I'm glad I'm not a lib. "What's good fer bidness is good fer 'Merka." We have to get away from this idea that "free-market fundamentalism" is synonymous with "conservative" and that profits for business supercede every other consideration. Mexican trucks turn our highways into slaughterhouses and drive our owner-opeators into bankruptcy? Hey, good for business. Cheap illegal labor destroys our working class and feeds crime. Hey, good for business. Yahoo rats out dissidents to the Red Chinese? Hey, good for business. Dubya and Condi soft-soap the Saudi Arabian terror cult? Hey, good for business. If this keeps up we won't have a country. Is that good for business?

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Europe

EU pressures members to renege on U.S. air service deals

2005-03-16

Days ahead of talks in Washington, the European Union head office pressured its members Wednesday to renege on their air service agreements with the United States and let the Commission negotiate on behalf of all 25 states. The European Commission said it sent legal warnings to 11 members that have independent "open skies" accords with Washington. That brought the nations against which the EU head office has started proceedings to 20 overall, including all the major markets. EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot will hold talks with U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta starting Monday to try to open the U.S. domestic market more for European carriers and foster more competition. Renege on agreements. What next, treaties?

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Home Front

Terror strikes on US

2001-09-11

CNN September 11, 2001 Posted: 5:14 p.m. EDT In an apparently coordinated terrorist attack against the United States, four commercial passenger jets crashed on Tuesday, three of them into significant landmarks. U.S. intelligence officials tell CNN "there are good indications that persons linked to Osama bin Laden may be responsible for these attacks." The sources say they based the statement on specific information that had been gathered Tuesday. Bin Laden is the Saudi millionaire who has been blamed for terror attacks against U.S. interests and is believed to be in Afghanistan. American Airlines Flight 11, carrying 81 passengers and 11 crew members, slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m. About 15 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles, with 56 passengers and nine crew members on board, crashed into the south tower. Both towers eventually collapsed in a shower of debris and plume of thick dust. A half-hour after the second crash, American Flight 77 took off from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles Airport en route to Los Angeles, California, carrying 58 passengers and six crew members -- but crashed into the Pentagon instead. Less than an hour after the third crash, United Flight 93 en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, with 38 passengers and seven crew aboard. Huge chunks of debris falling from remains of World Trade Center towers more than six hours after the crashes. Firefighters could get no closer than 2 blocks from the burning hulk. The FBI said it believes all four planes, carrying a total of 266 people, were hijacked. The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in Washington are evacuated. Federal Emergency Response Plan is implemented immediately after first attack, according to White House. All U.S. embassies and U.S. forces around the world are put on high alert. The highest alert is THREATCON DELTA. All federal agencies implement continuity plans to make sure U.S. government continues to function effectively. President Bush calls the crashes "a national tragedy." Later in the day, Bush issues a statement from Barksdale AFB near Shreveport, Louisiana. "Make no mistake: The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts." Secret Service secures President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and key members of Bush's Cabinet and national security team. Air Force One lands in Omaha, Nebraska, and spokeswoman Karen Hughes says Bush is in a secure location. Mullah Omar, the Taliban spiritual leader, condemns the attacks and denies that Osama bin Laden, was responsible. Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, says in reaction to the terror attacks that "we want to tell the American children that Afghanistan feels your pain and we hope that the courts find justice." In the first-ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide are stopped at their departure airports. International flights are initially diverted to Canada; FAA says later, however, that 22 U.S.-bound international flights will be allowed to land. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta tells FAA to suspend operation of all flights until at least noon Wednesday. He also issued orders controlling the movements of all vessels in U.S. waters. In New York, more than 10,000 rescue personnel rush to the scene. Evacuation of lower Manhattan begins. Israel evacuates all of its missions around the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is evacuated. CDC prepares emergency response teams in case they become necessary. Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, Republican leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, Sen. Don Nickles, R-Oklahoma, House Democratic leader Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Missouri, and House Speaker Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, were taken by helicopter to an undisclosed location. Philadelphia landmarks are evacuated. In Chicago, the Sears Tower is evacuated; United Nations in New York is evacuated. Two aircraft carriers and five other ships are deployed along the East Coast of the United States, and two aircraft carriers go to New York area, all from Norfolk, Virginia. The New York Port Authority closes all bridges and tunnels into the city. U.S. stock markets close after the New York attacks and will remain closed Wednesday. NATO sends home all non-essential personnel from its Brussels, Belgium, headquarters. The Immigration and Naturalization Service puts the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada on highest state of alert. Los Angeles International Airport is evacuated. Disney closes its parks in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. FEMA implements plan established for such events: FBI leads investigation and Justice Department heads crisis management. White House spokeswoman Karen Hughes says FEMA activates eight urban search and rescue teams in New York and four teams are at work at Pentagon. Three Palestinian groups -- Hamas, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Islamic Jihad -- deny responsibility for the attacks, but blame U.S. policies in the Mideast. Washington, D.C., and San Francisco declare states of emergency. A Delta flight makes emergency landing in Cleveland and all passengers are safely evacuated. Federal officials search the plane for a possible bomb.

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