Navy Seeks Bin Laden Shipping Fleet

ABCNews ^ | 12/6/01 | ABCNEWS

[TXCaptain]

The locations of the 23 vessels are unknown.

Hundreds of ships carrying tens of thousands of containers arrive every day at U.S. ports, where they are subjected to only minimal spot checks.

"The ease with which a terrorist could smuggle chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons in a container, without detection, is, in a word, hair-raising," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.

At best, only one out of 10 of such containers is actually checked by U.S. Customs inspectors, who have no radiation detection equipment to check an entire ship.

" There is no magical shield that would let you know, beep, beep, beep something terrible is coming in," said Graham Allison, former assistant secretary of defense. "That doesn't exist."

Another concern about the secret bin Laden fleet is that the ships could be used to transport bin Laden and his top aides away from U.S. forces.

A bulletin sent to shipping companies by U.S. authorities in the Persian Gulf, and obtained by ABCNEWS, warns the United States will use all military assets to search suspect ships and that "any perceived hostility … will result in the destruction of the commercial vehicle."

In international waters outside of Karachi, Pakistan, today, about 75 U.S. Navy and Marine personnel spent eight hours searching a Panamanian-flagged vessel today for possible al Qaeda personnel aboard, officials said.

It was the second boarding of a suspicious vessel in as many weeks. The ship had more than 300 containers, the majority of which were searched. The rest were sealed by the search party. They reportedly found no al Qaeda among the crew or the containers.

The boarding party included Navy SEALS and explosive ordnance disposal personnel.

[blam]

I will sleep a little easier tonight. Pray for our troops.

[VOA]

Navy Seeks Bin Laden Shipping Fleet

To all our able-bodied seamen (and sea-ladies?):
Please make sure you have the video cameras ready to roll before you load either the
torpedo tubes or put in the powder charges.

Your fellow Americans are looking for LOTS of film footage that could be titled:
"Victory At Sea 2001-2002"

All we ask is some decent color footage of some of bin Laden/Al-Quida boats being
blown to itsy-bitsy pieces...something better than that monochromatic stuff those
hot dogs from the Air Force give us!!!
(Shame on me for resorting to a cheap ploy like "inter-service rivalry" in order
to get some good film footage of terrorists' material assets getting blown to bits!)

[Paleo Conservative]

We should also require physical inspection fo all containers originating from China.

[Lion's Cub]

Glad to hear about this. I just hope nobody ties our guys hands as they try to carry this out. If we're going to be in a state of war, let's do it right.

[calmseas]

A bulletin sent to shipping companies by U.S. authorities in the Persian Gulf, and obtained by ABCNEWS, warns the United States will use all military assets to search suspect ships and that "any perceived hostility … will result in the destruction of the commercial vehicle."

Don't mess with Texas . . . or any of her other 49 friends.

[Severa]

Wow. *worried look* My husband's an STS3 (submarine sonar technician third class) aboard a US Navy fast attack submarine, currently on 6 month deployment. I pray for the safe return of my husband and all of our fine men and women in the armed services.

[My2Cents]

All the more reason to beef-up the US Coast Guard. Let's hope the US Navy spots Bin Laden's navy, but if any ships make it past our Navy, the last line of defense is the Coast Guard.

[Ironword]

If anything was inbound, it's already here.

Probably came in on a COSCO ship. Uranium in containers on the deck, coke in plastic bags in the rudder compartment.

[gg188]

A bulletin sent to shipping companies by U.S. authorities in the Persian Gulf, and obtained by ABCNEWS, warns the United States will use all military assets to search suspect ships and that "any perceived hostility … will result in the destruction of the commercial vehicle."

Sink 'em all, move on to the next one. Don't waste time or jeopardize sailors. We rule the seas.

[Hammerhead]

As an ex STS2(SS) SSN663 Hammerhead Fast Attack out of Norfolk, you are in more danger than he is. Believe me.

[StoneColdGOP]

Ha ha ha ha ha.... Send the silent service after 'em.

[rockfish59]

i'd sure love to see the 5 inch guns blast the hell out of the garbage scows!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

PING

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"All the more reason to beef-up the US Coast Guard"

I am a member of
Coast Guard Auxiliary
District 13, Division 5 Flotilla 51
COOS BAY, OREGON



Age 17 and up (no upper age restrictions) Click Here for details.

US Navy GMG3 '66-'69	POW/MIA Never Forget	Tonkin Gulf '68-'69	Coast Guard Auxiliary 2001-

[Fulbright]

Great post. This stuff should be sunk on sight.

[defenderSD]

All I can say is, everyone in our Armed Forces is sure earning their money these days. The war against terrorism is turning into a massive effort similar to WW II. God bless them all.

[ThirdMate]

Bump

[F-117A]

Hundreds of ships carrying tens of thousands of containers arrive every day at U.S. ports, where they are subjected to only minimal spot checks. ...

At best, only one out of 10 of such containers is actually checked by U.S. Customs inspectors, who have no radiation detection equipment to check an entire ship.

Fine, just make the importer pay to have each container searched. They don't pay, it doesn't get released!

[mad_as_he$$]

I know you are worried but I have to tell you that one of our attacks is about as safe as you can get - might be safer than your drive to the grocery store. The only thing that could maybe bother them would be a stray mine or the Russians (not likely). OBL's boys would be cat and mouse time with a very big and skilled cat.

Thank you for your service to our country - "Those also serve who only stand and wait".

Please let me know if you are in need of anyhting. Yes I do understand Navy tradition but we at FreeR would gladly come to the aid of any service family - believe me! You would be overwhelmed!