News, Prophecy and other

[Shammu]

Can It Be? UN Close to a Deal on Iran Nuclear Showdown
Diplomats Say UN Security Council 'Very Close' to Deal on Iranian Nuclear Standoff
By NICK WADHAMS
The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council was "very close" to a deal on confronting Iran over its suspect nuclear program after three weeks of difficult negotiations, diplomats said.

Britain and France, backed by the United States, distributed a proposal for a Security Council statement late Tuesday that removed some language opposed by Russia and China but still demands that Iran stop uranium enrichment, the process that can lead to making a nuclear bomb. So far, Tehran has refused.

The move followed three meetings Tuesday among the five veto-wielding members of the council to discuss a unified stance. The West, which believes Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, hoped to reach a deal before the foreign ministers from the five nations and Germany meet in Berlin on Thursday to discuss strategy toward Iran.

"We have reached agreement on the bulk of the text, so there was movement on all sides, and now we need to see whether we can cross this last bridge but we're very close," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said.

Russia and China, both allies of Iran, oppose imposing sanctions, something the West does not want to rule out.

Iran, which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, remains defiant. The government released a statement through its embassy in Moscow earlier Tuesday warning that Security Council intervention would "escalate tensions, entailing negative consequences that would be of benefit to no party."

In the same statement, Iran said it had proposed setting up a nuclear fuel production facility within its borders with international help. The proposal is an alternative to Russia's offer to host Iran's nuclear fuel production as a way to ease concerns that enrichment conducted in Iran could be used to develop weapons.

Russia said its enrichment offer was contingent on Iran resuming a moratorium on domestic enrichment, but the Iranians rejected that measure.

"In terms of satisfying its needs, Tehran cannot remain dependent on international suppliers," the Iranian government said in the statement.

It was not clear whether the offer mentioned in Tuesday's statement differed from one that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made before the U.N. General Assembly in September. At that time, he offered foreign countries and companies a role in uranium enrichment inside Iran.

In New York, diplomats said the full 15-member Security Council would meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss the revised text. They stressed there were still some differences among them.

"I think that we are making progress, but I think we are not yet at the final stage," China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said.

The council has struggled for three weeks to come up with a written rebuke that would urge Iran to comply with demands from the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, that it suspend uranium enrichment.

Bolton expressed a hint of exasperation with other members of the council Tuesday, telling reporters: "We have been incredibly flexible. Incredibly flexible. I probably have never been more flexible."

Russia and China fear that the statement under consideration could be the first step in a process that would lead to punitive measures by the council and possibly even military action. As a result, they want any council statement to make explicit that the IAEA must take the lead in confronting Iran.

The West believes council action will help isolate Iran and put new pressure on it to clear up suspicions about its intentions. Stoking the Russian and Chinese fears, they have proposed an incremental approach, refusing to rule out sanctions.

U.S. officials have said the threat of military action must also remain on the table.

It was too early to say if the text circulated Tuesday would satisfy the Chinese and the Russians, but it made several concessions.

Among them, it gives IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei 30 days to report back to both his agency's board of governors and the Security Council on Iran's progress in meeting the demands. Previous drafts had set a 14-day deadline.

The new document also goes into less detail than earlier drafts about the demands that the IAEA has made to Iran.

In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday that Iran was a menace for reasons other than its alleged drive to build a nuclear bomb and that the United States and its allies have "a number of tools" if Tehran does not change its ways.

"We need now to broaden that thinking and that coalition, not just to what Iran is doing on the nuclear side but also what they're doing on terrorism," Rice said.

UN Close to a Deal on Iran Nuclear Showdown

[Shammu]

 Banned group leader critical after attack in Pakistan
Islamabad, March 29, IRNA

Pakistan-Banned Group Leader
Chief of a major banned jehadi group has been severely beaten by unidentified men near the capital Islamabad and is in serious condition in a hospital, the groups spokesman said on Wednesday.

Chief of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Fazal ur Rehman Khalil was kidnapped by unidentified men after he offered prayers in a mosque in Islamabad Tuesday evening and was later thrown outside the same mosque in the night after being subjected to severe torture, spokesman Sultan Zia said.

The spokesman said doctors have described Khalil's condition as very serious and that doctors are trying to save his life.

Zia said he does not have any idea as to who kidnapped and beat Khalil.

Khalil's group had been very active in the Indian-controlled Kashmir and had also very close ties with Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Many of his supporters also crossed into Afghanistan to support Taliban when the US-led forces launched attacks in Afghanistan in late 2001.

Khalil was earlier leading Harkat-ul-Ansar group, that was fighting Indian troops in Kashmir but he changed the name after the U.S State Department put the group on the list of terrorists outfits in 1994.

Later Khalil changed name of the group.

President Musharraf outlawed the group in 2000 and the group has been working with a new name Jamiat-ul-Ansar since then.

He was detained on several occasions by the security agencies since 2001 after the government changed its Afghan policy but was freed later.

Banned group leader critical after attack in Pakistan

[Shammu]

 Iran's Ambassador: Tehran and Moscow agreed on Russian proposal
Moscow, March 29, IRNA

Iran-Russia-Nuclear
Iran's Ambassador to Moscow said here on Wednesday that the high ranking Iranian and Russian officials are agreed on the basics of establishing a center in Russian soil to enrich uranium for Iran.

Gholam-Reza Ansari told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency that all the same, the time and place of the next round of talks on the matter are not decided yet.

The Iranian envoy referred to the existence of certain pressure lobbies abroad that "create obstacles in the way for smooth proceeding of the negotiations on the issue," setting example of the remarks made by the Director of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs John Sawyers on the issue.

"The letter he has written to the UNSC proves that the Western countries are pursuing the phases of a certain pre-planned plot and are opposed to achieving a final result from Tehran-Moscow talks," he added.

Ansari evaluated the previous rounds of bilateral talks on the matter as "positive and constructive, expressing hope that Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor would become operational at the scheduled date.

Calling Russia "Iran's trustworthy partner" he said, "The Iranians view Bushehr plant as the symbol of good and close cooperation between our countries."
Stressing that the newly emerged conditions should not affect making operational the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor, the Iranian diplomat said, "Our bilateral cooperation in construction of new nuclear reactors, too, should not be affected by the prevailing Western hue and cry."
Ansari reiterated, "The contract for construction of Bushehr plant was signed many years ago, in full accordance with the international rules and regulations."
He concluded his remarks expressing hope that the Russians would respect their commitments in this respect 'this time'.

Iran's Ambassador: Tehran and Moscow agreed on Russian proposal

[Shammu]

 Iran to launch massive naval wargame titled "Holy Prophet" on March 31
Tehran, March 29, IRNA

Iran-Wargame-Prophet
Iran is to launch a massive joint naval wargame titled "Holy Prophet (PBUH)", beginning on March 31 with shooting of a Shahab II Missile into the air with the message of "Peace and Friendship" for the regional countries, Persian Gulf, and Sea of Oman littoral states.

Commander of the Islamic Republic Guard Corps Naval Force Admiral Morteza Saffari announced the news at a press conference here on Wednesday, adding, "The IRGC Naval Force, the IRI naval and Army forces, volunteer Forces and the IRI Disciplinary Forces will participate in the military maneuver.

The wargame would begin with the password "Muhammad the Messenger of Allah," according to the IRGC Naval Force Commander and last till April 6 in the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf up to 40 kilometers to the south, to Iran's border port city of Chabahar in the region.

Over seventeen thousand of Iran's armed forces and Basij mobilization forces, would take part in the naval wargame in which ,500 large and small naval vessels of various types would participate.

The IRGC official added, "The Command Headquarters of the wargame would be the IRGC Noah Naval Barracks, while five other army, Air Force and navy bases in three provinces would back up the massive operation."
Admiral Saffari announced the entire armed forces' of the country's full readiness to defend the territorial integrity of the motherland.

He added, "The latest local achievements of the country in defense industries, implementation of the experiences of the country's armed forces in planning and launching massive military operations in practice, evaluation of the conduct of our commanders, and providing a real atmosphere for our mobilization forces to display their defense apabilities are among the top objectives of the maneuver." The four-phased naval wargame is meanwhile planned to display the Islamic system's defensive capabilities.

Iranian made drones would be flied to collect information from the virtual enemy's camp, sea-to-air missiles capable of pursuing moving objects, helicopters capable of shooting air-to-sea, and air-to-land missiles, rapid reaction boats, Iranian made intelligent mines with multi-sensors, various naval rocket mine launchers, huge Iranian made naval rockets and up-to-date telecommunication facilities would be among the sea of equipment to be facilitated during the wargame.

Iran to launch massive naval wargame titled "Holy Prophet" on March 31

[nChrist]

Hoffman, pastor of the 300-member First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, and Ward, pastor of the 540-member Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, both announced in recent weeks that they would no longer perform civil marriage ceremonies for North Carolina until the state recognizes same-sex marriages.

Hello Dreamweaver,

I just hope that they would no longer recognize themselves as being a church. In fact, it irritates me that they even use the word "church". Just bluntly, the devil has taken over these so-called churches.

Love In Christ,
Tom

John 10:29-30 NASB  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one."

[Soldier4Christ]

Brothers,

The most important recognition needed is that from God and He will not recognize a people that has strayed so far away from Him. I would think that these churches would be associated with His comments on the Nicolaitans.

[nChrist]

Brothers,

The most important recognition needed is that from God and He will not recognize a people that has strayed so far away from Him. I would think that these churches would be associated with His comments on the Nicolaitans.

Hello Pastor Roger,

YES, sex has replaced Scripture and human beings are piously becoming their own gods. That's what it really boils down to. It's very sad.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 119:105 NASB  Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

[Soldier4Christ]

Iran Defiantly Rejects New U.N. Demands

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran on Thursday the "international community is united" in the dispute over its nuclear program, but a Tehran envoy defiantly rejected a U.N. call to reimpose a freeze on uranium enrichment.

Rice spoke after a meeting in Berlin among diplomats from the five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany over ways to press Iran to stop enriching uranium, which can be used for weapons. Iran says its program is peaceful.

The meeting follows agreement Wednesday by the 15-member Security Council to ask the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to report back in 30 days on Iran's compliance with demands to stop enriching uranium.

In Vienna, Iran's chief representative to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, told The Associated Press that "it is impossible to go back to suspension."

"This enrichment matter is not reversible," Soltanieh said.

Rice said the Berlin meeting sends "a very strong signal to Iran that the international community is united."

She hinted at escalating Security Council action should Iran disregard the council's demand that it freeze enrichment, although remarks from Russian and Chinese representatives suggested strains in the alliance facing down Tehran.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the issue of sanctions was not discussed at the meeting and were not supported by Moscow.

"Russia on principle doesn't think sanctions can achieve a settlement, especially in the Middle East where there's so much going on," he said.

Lavrov's remarks were echoed by China's Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, who called for a "peaceful solution" and added there was "too much turmoil" in the region.

"This issue is among the most difficult and complicated in today's world, it requires time, persistence and wisdom, and it can only be resolved through peaceful means," Dai said, adding his country would "work together with the other sides."

The United States and Britain used tougher rhetoric.

British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said Iran had "miscalculated."

"The onus is on Iran to show the international community that its program is entirely for civil purposes and for no other," Straw said. "We have shown very great patience with Iran. They in turn have miscalculated.

"They thought the international community would be divided on this issue but in fact they have become more and more united," he added.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that his country and the five permanent members remained intent on a "diplomatic solution" to the dispute.

He held out hope Tehran might reconsider, telling reporters: "We hope that the declaration by the Iranian ambassador is not the last word offered on this."

Steinmeier said the 30-day window agreed on by the Security Council declaration gives Iran time to "make a choice between isolation ... or a return to the negotiating table.

"We all very much hope that Iran will seize the offer to resume negotiations and we use this opportunity to once again call on Iran to suspend all enrichment activities and to open up once again the path leading to negotiations," he said.

Wednesday's statement from the Security Council took into account the Russian and Chinese reservations about too much toughness, while meeting U.S., French and British calls for keeping the pressure on Tehran.

The modest statement did not go as far as the United States had wanted. It is not legally binding and carries no explicit penalties for Iran if it does not comply, but Rice said it is an important first step. The Security Council could eventually impose economic sanctions, though Russia and China say they oppose such tough measures.

The statement also calls on Iran to ratify the IAEA's additional protocol, which allows unannounced inspections.

The Security Council could eventually impose economic sanctions, though Russia and China say they oppose such tough measures.

The Europeans initially proposed a much stronger statement but accepted a milder one to secure the support of Russia and China. Western countries agreed to drop language that proliferation "constitutes a threat to international peace and security." Also gone is a mention that the council is specifically charged under the U.N. charter with addressing such threats.

Russia and China had opposed that language because they wanted nothing in the statement that could automatically trigger council action after 30 days.

The West has refused to rule out sanctions, and U.S. officials have said the threat of military action must also remain on the table.

In Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki condemned "unjustified propaganda" about its program.

"Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and has never diverted towards prohibited activities," Mottaki told the 65-nation Conference on Disarmament.

But, he added, Iran is willing to continue talks with the IAEA.

"We are willing to continue with negotiations and also continue with our sincere and constructive cooperation with the agency," Mottaki told reporters. "Our cooperation with the agency will continue."

Negotiations between Iran and France, Germany and Britain collapsed in August after Tehran rejected a package of incentives offered in return for a permanent end to uranium enrichment. Its moves to develop full-blown enrichment capabilities led the IAEA's board to ask for Security Council involvement.

[Shammu]

Former PM says Russia is turning into dictatorship
Mark Franchetti

A FORMER Russian prime minister has warned that his country is slipping into a dictatorship similar to the harsh regime in neighbouring Belarus.

Mikhail Kasyanov, 48, sacked by President Vladimir Putin in 2004 for questioning his commitment to democracy, said the Kremlin had become so despotic that people increasingly lived in fear.

“If Russia continues along the current course it will end up like the regime of Alexander Lukashenko,” he said, referring to the hardline president of Belarus, widely condemned in the West as Europe’s last dictator. “An atmosphere of fear is being created and a sense that everyone is under the state’s control. These are the first steps towards a totalitarian system.

“There is practically no press freedom, the judiciary is no longer independent and public opinion is manipulated.”

Kasyanov plans to challenge for the presidency in 2008, when Putin’s second and final term expires. Though his popularity rating is in single digits, the dashing politician remains the opposition’s best hope.

Many of the Kremlin’s critics believe Kasyanov can unite Russia’s fractured opposition and gain the support of some of the country’s wealthy elite, with whom he had close relations when he was in government. Others fear, however, that it is those very links that make him unpalatable to ordinary Russians, who tend to find him arrogant and too flashy.

The former Kremlin fixer has vehemently denied rumours of corrupt dealings while in office, but has found it difficult to shake off the nickname “Misha 2%”, the cut he is alleged to have made on state contracts.

Former PM says Russia is turning into dictatorship

[Shammu]

Afghan convert sheds Muslim name
Man threatened with death for becoming Christian now known as 'Joel'
Posted: April 2, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
© 2006 Assist News Service

The exiled Afghan convert, Abdul Rahman, now reportedly wants to be identified as Joel – his baptism name – and has expressed his thanks to people of Italy for their efforts to secure his release.

According to AGI news service Joel (formerly known as Abdul Rahman) also extended thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for the same.

He was charged with death sentence since Afghanistan's Sharia law interprets a Muslim's conversion from Islam to any other religion as crime.

Mounting international pressure prompted Afghan President Hamid Karzai to intervene to save the Afghan convert from possible death sentence.

Italy granted asylum to 41-year old convert following his appeal for sanctuary in the west. He made to Italy on March 30.

Almost all Afghan parliamentarians have reportedly flayed the government's decision to allow the convert to fly to Italy. Voicing their displeasure they said the trial should have continued against Joel in Afghanistan.

Rahman is said to have converted to Christianity some 16 years ago in Germany while working with an international Christian organization. He was charged with death sentence after he was seen holding Bible in Afghanistan.

[Shammu]

Afghan clerics threaten trouble over convert
Sun Apr 2, 2006 7:53 AM ET162

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan clerics and their followers threatened violence against the government on Sunday over the release of a Christian convert, saying he had to be brought back from Italy and put on trial.

There has been fiery criticism of the government over the release of the convert, who was spirited out of the country last week, but protests have been few and peaceful.

The convert, Abdur Rahman, 40, was jailed last month for converting to Christianity and could have faced trial under Islamic sharia law that stipulates death as punishment for apostasy.

After a storm of Western criticism, led by the United States, Rahman was released and taken to Italy.

About 1,000 people gathered in a mosque in the northeastern town of Kunduz and demanded that Rahman be brought back from Italy and sentenced to death.

"This act of the government is illegal," Sheikh Mohammad Baqir, a cleric and organizer of the rally, said, referring to Rahman's release.

"Either he should be tried or the government should go. We urge other provinces to raise their voices and if the government doesn't listen, we will resort to violence," he said attracting calls of "Allahu akbar" (God is Greatest) from the crowd.

Police refused to let the gathering leave the mosque and march through the town. A police official said they were worried about violence if a march was allowed.

Afghanistan saw violent protest in February over cartoons of Islam's Prophet Mohammad published in European newspapers. Violence also broke out last year during protests over a magazine report U.S. military interrogators had desecrated the Koran.

Many conservatives in Afghanistan had insisted Rahman be tried under Islamic law. The lower house of the Afghan parliament also said his release was illegal.

Afghan clerics threaten trouble over convert

[Shammu]

S.D. tribe may offer abortions
Reservation is free to circumvent state ban
By Stephanie Desmon
The Baltimore Sun

In South Dakota, where lawmakers last month passed a near-total ban on abortion, the leader of one of the state's American Indian tribes is proposing to circumvent the legislation by establishing an abortion clinic on an Indian reservation - within reach of women who need the service but outside the reach of the strict new law.

Cecelia Fire Thunder, a former nurse who is the first female president in the history of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said it was "an eye-opener" when legislators approved a law that prohibits abortion in nearly all cases - even when the pregnancy is the product of a rape or incest. The only exception is to save the mother's life.

"An Indian reservation is a sovereign nation, and we're going to take it as far as we can to exercise our sovereignty," said Fire Thunder, whose Pine Ridge Reservation encompasses 2.7 million acres in southwestern South Dakota. "As Indian women, we fight many battles. This is just another battle we have to fight."

Because federally recognized American Indian tribes are not, in many cases, required to abide

S.D. tribe may offer abortions

[airIam2worship]

Dreamweaver,

WOW! - Knock me over with a feather. I'm shocked and outraged. In reading the entire article, I don't see a way in the world that Christians can sit quietly and take this. If you put all of this together with the sexual abuse of children by clergy, this is a horrid and UGLY PICTURE!

Worldnet Daily is a reputable Christian News source, so this isn't anything to be taken lightly. If this is completely true and plays out like the article suggests, there will be a MASSIVE UPROAR in this country. TALK ABOUT A POSSIBLE SIGN OF THE END OF THIS AGE - WOW!

Hey, Brothers nothing that the Roman Catholic Church does surprises me anymore. I know their are many good people out there that are Catholics and I am not criticizing anyone, but the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church has never convinced me, my father tried to raise me and my brothers and sister as Catholics, but to be honest with you even at the age of 8 when I was forced by my dad to go to cathechism and receive first holy communion, I felt deep within my spirit that it was not the right thing, somehow I knew it was not the "Truth". As I got older and learned more about their doctrines I realized that it is not what God teaches us in the Bible. I didn't even now you had to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior untill I was 12. None the doctrines that are taught in the Catholic Church are in the Bible. Last night as my husband and I watched the news, they were reporting on the anniversary of the Pope's death, and how they wanted to make him a saint, they were saying that according to the Catholic Church you must have performed at least 2 miracles in order to qualify for sainthood. According to God's Word, everyone who receives Jesus as their Lord, and is cleansed from his sins by the Blood of Jesus is a saint according to God. So as you can see I just don't understand how so many people allow themselves to be deceived.

[airIam2worship]

Hello Dreamweaver,

I just hope that they would no longer recognize themselves as being a church. In fact, it irritates me that they even use the word "church". Just bluntly, the devil has taken over these so-called churches.

Love In Christ,
Tom

John 10:29-30 NASB  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one."

Hello Brothers, I do believe that they are right in just one thing, that is THEY SHOULDN'T PERFORM ANY MARRIAGES at all, seeing as they take marriage so lightly and don't even honor the traditional God ordained marriage between one man and one woman, they probably think divorce is normal and natural too. I don't even consider them to be a church, but then again they really aren't part of the Body of Christ so even if they do call themselves a church it still doesn't mean that they are. God is not one to be mocked.

[Soldier4Christ]

Post-9-11 mandate set 2004 start date,
but program rules still not determined


While most Americans began thinking seriously about the risk to the U.S. of terrorism through the nation's ports during the recent attempt by a Dubai-owned company to take over management of all or portions of over 20 East and Gulf Coast harbors, the Department of Homeland Security has been thinking about the problem since Sept. 11, 2001 – but it still hasn't been able to implement federal identification cards mandated for all harbor workers in 2002.

The ID system is almost two years past its deadline, and, despite renewed pledges to bring the program operational, many of the same bureaucratic hurdles that have delayed its implementation still exist.

When online, the program is expected to affect nearly 12 million workers, reported the Baltimore Sun. By way of comparison, the program for U.S. airports resulted in background checks for just 2 million retail, airline and airport workers.

"We need to finish the job of getting our transportation worker identification credential into play here in U.S. ports," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a recent speech.

"This is an initiative which languished for too long. We're committed to getting this under way in the next few months, and that'll be the final piece of security that we need to make sure that we are covering the entirety of the supply chain from the point of loading to the point of loading here in the United States."

Some security experts say, however, more time will be needed to launch the complex program.

A 2004 prototype program, that limit background checks to matching names to the federal terrorist watch list, resulted in one company issuing about 15,000 cards in 96 days.

Despite the fact the mandate was included in the 2002 Maritime Transportation Security Act, Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration has not yet released the rules governing the program. Without them, the required background checks and the types of information to be encoded in the ID cards remains undefined. While TSA is promising to release the rules "soon," it normally takes one year before they become final.

A frustrated Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-N.J.), chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, said he is unable to get answers from Chertoff for why the agency didn't settle policy issues long ago nor is he optimistic the latest round of public statements mean the program will begin soon.

"There is no excuse," LoBiondo said of the program's delay. "Hopefully, we'll get somebody's attention at a high enough level to make this a priority."

Lawrence I. Willis, general counsel for an AFL-CIO union representing longshoremen, said many harbor workers are concerned the rules for port IDs will be similar to those for credentials issued to truckers who haul hazardous materials. That program has been criticized as being too cumbersome, too expensive and too intrusive. It disqualifies drivers who've been convicted of certain felonies in the previous seven years.

"Our focus will be to make sure we have a program that roots out true security risks to the United States and doesn't unfairly and unjustly punish someone making a bad decision several years ago," Willis said.

Intrusive or not, LoBiondo noted that a recent Homeland Security investigation found almost half of 9,000 truckers screened had a criminal record and some were driving with fake licenses. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, he said, still issues ID cards without thorough background checks.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority implemented its own program in the absence of one from Homeland Security. It's been able to run background checks on its 600 employees but lacks legal authority do the same for the 8,000 who work for outside firms that have access to the port.

The federal program "is something we've been waiting for two years," said F. Brooks Royster, Baltimore's port director. "We need it. We don't want to lose experienced workers, but the point of security is to find what people are hiding."