[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.

[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