Union ad: Key to stopping terrorists is controlling Wal-Mart

Rather extreme view of Wal-Mart as OBL's handmaiden in TV ad implies threat to security from unlikely source: Wal-Mart

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From the article:

The ad focuses on the question of whether all cargo containers shipped to America should go through scanners before they leave foreign ports. Over the past year, there's been widespread disagreement among elected officials, security experts and commerce executives about the goal of 100 percent scanning.

Some say America's best chance at preventing terrorists from sneaking bombs into the ports is to require all cargo containers to go through radiation and imaging detection equipment overseas. Just two weeks ago, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) convinced his colleagues to amend their 9/11 Commission Bill to require the Department of Homeland Security to come up with a plan for 100 percent scanning.

But others, including Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, have advised against prematurely making a commitment to scanning all cargo at foreign ports. They have argued that America ought to wait for the results from a pilot project starting this year at several foreign ports before setting deadlines for scanning all containers.

Wal-Mart, along with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, say they support 100 percent scanning "in concept," according to Traynhman.

"But it's our understanding that the technology is not ready," he said.

During the past year, trade groups also have warned that scanning all cargo would stall international commerce and hurt the country's economy.