Seizure Helped Speed Libyan Cooperation on Weapons

Washington Post ^ | December 31 2003 | Robin Wright

[knighthawk]

U.S. and British intelligence in late September discovered a secret shipment bound for Libya that contained thousands of parts for centrifuges, a key component for producing nuclear weapons, senior U.S. officials said Wednesday. Officials said the interception of the cargo was a critical factor in squeezing Libya to give up its deadliest weapons programs.

The shipment was headed from a Persian Gulf port aboard a German ship. With help from the German government and the German shipping company, the United States was able to get the freighter BBC China diverted to a southern Italian port in early October, when it was boarded and the secret shipment seized. The parts were not on the ship's manifest, U.S. officials said.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[RetiredArmy]

The shipment was headed from a Persian Gulf port aboard a German ship. With help from the German government and the German shipping company, the United States was able to get the freighter BBC China diverted to a southern Italian port in early October, when it was boarded and the secret shipment seized. The parts were not on the ship's manifest, U.S. officials said.

Our pals the good Germans. With friends like this, who needs enemies.

[TUX]

German fingerprints are all over this baby.

[MHGinTN]

More evidence for why the frogs and schnitzels were obstructing and seeking to cancel forced disarmament of Iraq. All of which the DNC twits running for nomination will deny the validity of, and the dnc complicit networks will twist to suit their bosses.

[Atlantic Friend]

Well, it could have been centrifuges bought from somewhere else, and only shipped by the Germans...The post don't give that many details about this story.

[snooker]

Why doesn't Bush make a big stink about this publically and give that weasel some of it back?

[epluribus_2]

No wonder El Baradei does not want US help in "certifying" Libya's disarmament. We might actually DO IT.

[Shermy]

"...The shipment was headed from a Persian Gulf port aboard a German ship. ...

"...According to a European official, the parts were Pakistani but were constructed in a facility outside Pakistan...."

Sooooo...Saudi Arabian nuke program of Pakistani heritage? Why not name the "persian gulf port" otherwise?

[brooklin]

Please reread the article. It was with the help of the German govt. and the German shipping, firm that they got this ship to dock in Italy. I misread the story the first time myself.

[STFrancis]

I was just about to post the same thing.

Due to assistance of the GERMAN .gov and the GERMAN SHIPPING Company they were able to catch these guys. The Germans happen to be the GOOD Guys in the story not the other way around.

But some people just need to make their reality fit...

[STFrancis]

More from the article if you take the time to read it:

-------------
"It's clearly a success for the proliferation initiative but it's also an allied success, especially for the Germans and Italians," a senior administration official told the Post. He described both the German government and the shipping company as "extremely cooperative."

The Bush administration is still reluctant to provide details of the operation or the source of the centrifuge parts, although the shipment did not originate at a port in Pakistan, U.S. officials said.
According to a European official, the parts were Pakistani but were constructed in a facility outside Pakistan.
U.S. intelligence believes Pakistan has shared its nuclear technology with other nations.

------------
Hope this makes it a little clearer....

[Southack]

"U.S. and British intelligence in late September discovered a secret shipment...

NOTE to all liberal journalists: The UN lifted all sanctions on Libya on September 13, per the Lockerbie settlement.

That's right boys and girls, sanctions were lifted PRIOR to this shipment of centrifuge parts being seized on its way to Libya.

I repeat: Sanctions had ALREADY been lifted when this WMD program shipment was seized on its way to Libya.

[Mo1]

He described both the German government and the shipping company as "extremely cooperative."

The German Gov helped with this shipment and then helped with stopping it?

I get the feeling there is a lot more going on behind the scene

[CWOJackson]

"The German Gov helped with this shipment and then helped with stopping it?"

Good business. They get paid for the material AND get to keep it also.

[Mo1]

Please reread the article. It was with the help of the German govt. and the German shipping, firm that they got this ship to dock in Italy.

That was my take when I read the whole story

So why is Germany bad mouthing us so much and yet helping behind the scene?

[RetiredArmy]

I know how to fit pal. The german government may have helped. That should since it was their ship. These people have been against us the entire war. Funny, I spent many a day, 10 years worth of days, stationed in GERMANY keeping the Soviets out of their playground. Now when we are fighting on other fronts and their safety is insured they are against us. I read it the first time. My thoughts concerning the germans still stands. And, DON'T come at me for being ANTI-GERMAN BECAUSE I AM MARRIED TO A GERMAN WOMAN! And she feels the same way I DO!

[Grampa Dave]

Nothing like a lot of hard evidence when confronting a thug like Krazy Kadaffi. This evidence when tied in with Shock and Awe, and what happened to $oddomite had an impact on Krazy. He is just Krazy not suicidal.

[STFrancis]

Hey don't blame me for wondering why people here like to turn even positive news into something negative...

[geedee]

Seizure Helped Speed Libyan Cooperation on Weapons

knighthawk, I usually love your threads but, friend, I've gotta call you on this one.

I've heard from several reliable liberal sources that Omar-babe only capitulated because of the nine decades he's been under sanctions.

What's that you say? Reliable liberal is an oxymoron? Okay, fine. I heard it from Petah Jennings then and you know the alphabet news networks never . . .

What? Disney owns ABC and Petah-boy religiously feeds at Hillary's trough? Okay, fine. But I also read it in The New Yawk Times and . . .

Well, cacca, I guess you're back on my Christmas list. I apologize for doubting you.