U.S. to release Scud ship to Yemen

MSNBC | 12/11/02

[areafiftyone]

The United States has agreed to release a North Korean ship that carried Scud-type missiles destined to Yemen, a senior U.S. administration official said Wednesday. Yemen had protested the high-seas seizure by Spanish and U.S. forces and demanded the release of the cargo, which it said was intended for the country’s military.

EARLIER ON WEDNESDAY, Jim Miklaszweski reported U.S. military officials were frustrated at Yemen, which is ostensibly an ally in the U.S. war on terrorism. They said Yemen had previously denied ownership of the cargo, but now that the government has claimed the arsenal, the United States has no choice under international law but to release the weapons.

[MattAMiller]

Yep, they probably didn't want us to know about the purchase. If they are on our side then why would they do that.

I'm sure we don't let them know about everything we do. I'm sure we don't even let the British in on everything we do.

The Yemini's didn't want anybody to know they were buying weapons from North Korea. We figured out their little secret and can use it for leverage.

[Shermy]

It's missle envy.

[clintonh8r]

My own impression is that we had been tracking the ship for some time. The Spanish blew our cover by stopping it, and, as I understand it, refusing to board her. They called us to do the hard job. I think it was probably our intention to allow the ship to steam uninterrupted to its port so that we could track the cargo. So, all those so ready to bash the administration might just consider that there could be operations going on that they don't know about, even as brilliant as they are.

[swarthyguy]

From the Spanish Defence Minister....

So in the containers there are sophisticated weapons, and included in the weapons that we have found are a series of Scud missiles. There are other weapons that still need to be identified. And this will be done as soon as the very exhaustive investigation under way is concluded.

On CNN

[swarthyguy]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/12/11/missile.ship.spain/

[justa-hairyape]

What is Seoul or Tokyo or any of our allies to think?

That some within the US want the Islamic Fascist armed. These globalists also just gave Jimmy Carter a noble peace prize.

The greatest death toll the US military experienced in the Gulf War was from a scud missile that struck one of our bases.

[RightWhale]

All this cloak and dagger stuff with hiding it under cement, and the missle not being on the ship's manefesto

Perhaps Yemen didn't order the missiles but just got a free shipment instead of them going to Alqaida or Saddam.

[justa-hairyape]

Yemen was the cut out for a third party.

Probably just a temporary cutout.

[ARCADIA]

I think the US just wanted to let Yemen know that it wasn't pulling wool over the US' eyes.

Kinda like saying "Just letting you know that we know." Yemen admitted it and demanded them back because the North Koreans talked. So to save face, they decided to act outraged.

[eleni121]

Get rid of Tenet - CIA Chief - now!

Shelby is right

From the Intelligence Report released today - a dissenting view. (From today's NYTimes:

"...Mr. Shelby said he endorsed the report in general, but that he differed, with some sadness, on issues of accountability.

"I believe we're all accountable, and I believe people who make decisions on a high level or middle level dealing with the security of this nation should be accountable for what they don't do," Mr. Shelby said.

Mr. Shelby singled out George Tenet, the head of the C.I.A., and John Deutch, former head of that agency; Louis Freeh, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Michael V. Hayden, the director of the National Security Agency.

The senator said Mr. Tenet had "done some good things." But he added, "There have been more massive failures of intelligence on his watch as director of C.I.A. than any director in the history of the agency."

He also has choice words for Deutch and Freeh.

[CougarGA7]

Perhaps Yemen didn't order the missiles but just got a free shipment instead of them going to Alqaida or Saddam.

Wouldn't that be sweet.

[buzzsaw6]

You all who ask why the Bushies (I'm one) appear to be prostrating themselves before the world of court opinion with supposedly dumb stuff like letting a few missles go to an ally? Time for a history lesson and parallel. During the American Civil War, Lincoln faced a dilemma. A US Navy ship stopped a Bahamian ship with two Confederate foreign service reps on their way to serve in England and France for the CSA. They were arrested and removed. The outcry from the English and French (haven't the French surrendered yet? I digress)was such that Lincoln make the remark on the release of the two confederates: "One war at a time, Mr Staunton."
As a member of the active duty military, I see the perfect sense this statement makes and the daily application of this by the President is something I applaude.

[Destro]

Having Nuclear Weapons means North Korea can get away with it.

[Tommyjo]

"My own impression is that we had been tracking the ship for some time. The Spanish blew our cover by stopping it, and, as I understand it, refusing to board her. They called us to do the hard job. I think it was probably our intention to allow the ship to steam uninterrupted to its port so that we could track the cargo. So, all those so ready to bash the administration might just consider that there could be operations going on that they don't know about, even as brilliant as they are."

The US asked the Spanish Navy to board the ship. They were operating as part of the joint naval force involved in Enduring Freedom. In the region as part of this fleet are French,German,US and British warships. It was Spanish Special Forces that raided the ship.

[Smogger]

My own impression is that we had been tracking the ship for some time. The Spanish blew our cover by stopping it, and, as I understand it, refusing to board her. They called us to do the hard job. I think it was probably our intention to allow the ship to steam uninterrupted to its port so that we could track the cargo. So, all those so ready to bash the administration might just consider that there could be operations going on that they don't know about, even as brilliant as they are.

Bingo. You win a prize.

That was my impression as well.

[Tommyjo]

Images of Spanish SF/Marines boarding the vessel from Spanish Navy Sea King and from inflatable.


http://i.cnn.net/cnn/interactive/world/0212/gallery.scud.ship/gallery.helicopter.jpg

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/interactive/world/0212/gallery.scud.ship/gallery.raft.jpg

[prisoner6]

The should have SUNK the damn ship.

The Gipper would probably have done that...maybe even JFK.

W should have put those missles uneer hudreds of feet of water.

prisoner6

[!1776!]

The USA is in a full tilt prostration to our arab and pakistani 'allies'. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with the Grand and Secret Plan that is underway. Those who question or criticise are either too stupid to see the grand strategery or simply Anti Bush Liberals who know not of what they speak. Double standards are us. And people wonder why there is so much costernation around the world about our policies. It's getting very hard to understand this administration.

Never underestimate the value of subtly reminding people that we see all, not only this and things afterward, but what we might have seen earlier, and kept for later use...

Even if it is buried under concrete.

[clintonh8r]

Thanks. I obviously had incorrect information. Good for the Spaniards, an ancient and proud navy!

[wjcsux]

Isn't this the same Yemen that allowed a bunch of Islamic nutcases attack one of our ships, The U.S.S. Cole, and kill several sailors? I thought so.