The controversy over an Arab company's plan to operate terminals at six U.S. seaports put port security at the top of lawmakers' agenda. But some security experts say the firestorm over the ill-fated Dubai Ports World deal masks a bigger problem: the failure of the United States to invest enough on security - including infrastructure upgrades, advanced radiation-detection equipment and manpower - to prevent terrorists from smuggling radioactive bombs or other dangerous materials into one of the more than 360 U.S. seaports. Only 5 percent of the 11.3 million shipping containers arriving at U.S. seaports last year were examined, leading some members of Congress to call for inspections of all U.S.-bound containers. The Bush administration defends its port security strategy and vows to install more radiation-detection devices at U.S. and overseas ports and to expand programs that ask U.S. businesses and foreign governments to voluntarily heighten security overseas.

Pamela M. Prah is a veteran reporter who recently joined CQ Researcher after several years reporting in Washington for Stateline.org, Kiplingers Washington Letter and the Bureau of National Affairs. She holds a masters degree in government from Johns Hopkins University and a journalism degree from Ohio University.