German Ship Seized with Uranium (enrichment)-Making Parts for Libya (for nuclear bomb)

Deutsche Welle ^ | Jan. 1, 2003 | DW staff

[FairOpinion]

Officials have confirmed that a German-flagged ship was carrying parts to build a nuclear bomb from a Persian Gulf country to Libya in October. Investigators seized the shipment before it reached its destination.

Just a few months before Libya declared it would cease its efforts to create weapons of mass destruction, American and British agents seized a German freighter ship loaded with centrifuges and other parts that are used to create enriched uranium, the material needed to build nuclear bombs. The seizure is believed to have influenced Tripoli’s decision to suspend its weapons program last month.

On Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Areli confirmed the discovery following a report in the Wall Street Journal, a financial daily, that the German ship had been en route to Libya but was diverted to an Italian port so that U.S. investigators could seize the content. The newspaper cited officials saying the German company which owns the ship, Hamburg-based BBC Chartering and Logistic, had been extremely cooperative with investigators after they were alerted to intelligence that the ship might be carrying the parts.

"A ship was diverted, based on intelligence, that it was carrying centrifuge parts in early October," Areli said, adding that the seizure demonstrated the value of the U.S.’ Proliferation Security Initiative, which aims to prevent the production of weapons of mass destruction. Sixteen countries, including Germany, are participating in the global initiative.

Thousands of components seized

U.S. and British intelligence agents had learned the ship would be leaving a Persian Gulf state with the parts and an ultimate destination of Libya. German authorities were informed and contact was made with the German shipping company. A U.S. Navy ship then escorted the "BBC China" to port. Investigators found several thousand components on the ship that are used to enrich uranium.

Washington officials said Wednesday they believed the discovery might have helped sway Libya towards agreeing to stop its weapons program and open its doors for international inspections. Following months of secret negotiations with Tripoli, the U.S. and Britain announced on Dec. 19 that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had agreed to a deal on inspections.

After the seizures, an unnamed U.S. government official told the paper, Tripoli "saw how much we knew about what they were doing."

With the investigation continuing, U.S. officials have refused to state who sold the centrifuges or where they originated from.

[FairOpinion]

The Germans again.

I bet we will find some French made stuff too.

[FairOpinion]

ping

[Peach]

Officials have confirmed that a German-flagged ship was carrying parts to build a nuclear bomb from a Persian Gulf country to Libya in October.Which country?

[the invisib1e hand]

the germans don't appear to be interested in playing fair, do they?

[FairOpinion]

Good question.

Another article has more detail. Looks like Dubai was an interim port, but the parts were originally from Germany, they just figured it would be too conspicuous to go straight to Libya.

"Officials said the interception of the cargo, worth tens of millions of dollars, was a factor in squeezing Libya to give up its deadliest weapons programs.

The shipment was headed from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates -- an interim transshipment point -- aboard a German ship, the officials said. 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 shortly after it passed through the Suez Canal.

Officials boarded the ship in Italy in early October and seized the cargo, which was not listed on the ship's manifest, U.S. officials said. The craft was less than two days from docking in Libya."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/7612880.htm

[Cicero]

The newspaper cited officials saying the German company which owns the ship, Hamburg-based BBC Chartering and Logistic, had been extremely cooperative with investigators after they were alerted to intelligence that the ship might be carrying the parts.

If true, this somewhat mitigates the offense. I can't imagine a French company caught with the goods being "extremely cooperative."

[demsux]

U.S. and British intelligence agents had learned the ship would be leaving a Persian Gulf state with the parts and an ultimate destination of Libya.

Would the port have been located in Iraq???

[Michael81Dus]

The Germans again?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1049620/posts?page=51#51

"German authorities were then notified and shortly after the BBC China cleared the Suez Canal, they informed the shipowner, which then instructed the captain to change course for Italy, the officials said."

Germany is fighting terrorism, and not supporting it.

[Peach]

This has probably been discussed on another thread and sorry if I missed the analysis.

Question: Discussions started with Libya six months ago. Why are they still looking for nuclear material, given their desire to supposedly give up the program?

On FNC it was discussed that perhaps middle managers didn't know about the discussions. Also theorized that perhaps the program was continuing in case the negotiations broke down.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

[the invisib1e hand]

Germany is fighting terrorism, and not supporting it.

The germans are not supporting America or our unique values, nor, as the nucleus of the EU, do I think they are 'playing fair' economically.

[Michael81Dus]

Ok, provide facts which make you thinking that Germany is not an ally of America in the war against terrorism and that Germany does not support freedom. As for playing fair economically - the US tariffs on steel weren´t fair either, and I think that both the US and EU aren´t cute babes.

Germany is engaged in missions in Afghanistan, at the Somali coast, Germany protects the US facilities there by German soldiers, it has tightened its anti-terror-laws, so what?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Hamburg is one strange little city.

[the invisib1e hand]

call it a silly hunch. don't really have time to go over my theses on the EU and economic warfare...might be something posted here about it...

remember this?

[Michael81Dus]

I only remember this. The Iraq war 2003 has been the ONLY security issue the US and Germany disagreed on since WW2. THE ONLY ONE! Not a big thing to call someone an enemy, I´d say. Even allies must have the right to disagree respectfully - and that´s what happened. Even while the US forces started combat actions, German Patriot systems were part of Israeli and Turkish defence, and a German NBC-defense bataillon was located in Kuwait.

Call us not an US ally and hear my laughter!

[river rat]

Denial is not a river in Egypt....

Semper Fi

[Arkie2]

If it was from Iraq it would have come from a British or US controlled port so I'd rule that out.

[AdamSelene235]

The Germans again.

Is it just me or are the Germans and French attempting to murder Americans by proxy?

[Michael81Dus]

Sounds as if you were talking to you. Haven´t you got the message? The German state is actively working against terrorist activities and therefore on the same side like the United States. That the German shipowners fully cooperated isn´t a sign that they are bad guys.

[Michael81Dus]

The ship is named "BBC China" - maybe it comes from Asia?

[the invisib1e hand]

the ONLY security issue the US and Germany disagreed on since WW2

so, basically, we've agreed on everything except the two largest threats to the United States and the world at large in the 20th century? That is not agreement at all. That's a damning statistic.

I'm not saying anything about you -- for it seems that you are German or identify strongly with Germany. It is possible and sometimes necessary to make a distinction between the representatives of a nation and the citizens of a nation.