Three mystery ships are tracked over suspected 'weapons' cargo

independent.co.uk ^ | 2/19/03

[Paul Ross]

Yep. Too obvious. A likely distraction or feint while the real threats are more circumspect, pretending to be legitimate cargo carriers.

[GOPJ]

Liberia or some other African country?

flying under the flags of three different countries

France, Germany and Russia?

[GOPJ]

Liberia or some other African country?

flying under the flags of three different countries

France, Germany and Russia?

[piasa]

DPRK = Democratic People's Republic of Korea = North Korea

[Godfollow]

If true, why in the hell is this in the news?

[piasa]

Tonga

[maestro]

So,......just what 'locations' are these 3 ships at.....NOW?

[FreedomPoster]

Why risk SEALs? 688 boats. MK-48's.

[Tennessean4Bush]

And as the article said, if we sank them, they may contaminate the oceans, killing all life, and spreading disease, which may spread to humans.

There is nothing more cleansing and diluting than trillions of gallons of water.

[TBall]

I know its not very far, but how far out is it to international waters?

[CyberAnt]

"You're setting yourself up for international ridicule if they dont have any weapons aboard"

Hmmmm? That's a good point. Maybe that's the Independant's plan ...?? A way to embarrass Blair; undermine his credibility.

[Sacajaweau]

Right. Capt Blix will nab him.

He's the guy with the patch over both eyes, right??

[Constitutional Patriot]

Scuttle-Bump

[FairOpinion]

I am willing to accept the notion, that I may be a bit paranoid, but it sure sounds to me, like I am not the only one, either that, or maybe it's not just paranoia, but they may know more than we do.

"American and British military forces are believed to be reluctant to stop and search the vessels for fear that any intervention might result in them being scuttled. If they were carrying chemical and biological weapons, or fissile nuclear material, and they were to be sunk at sea, the environmental damage could be catastrophic."

[muggs]

ping

[piasa]

Searching on the ship's names produces some interesting results:

- "Croatia searchs ship carrying explosives allegedly bound for Iraq," AFP via spacedaily.com, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/021025170021.cs4byrg4.html. Oct 25, 2002

ZAGREB (AFP) Croatian police continued to search Friday a cargo ship on which they had seized smuggled military explosives, which according to local media reports were allegedly bound for Iraq. The twelve crew members of the Boka Star, who are Yugoslav citizens, are still being held at the ship, the interior ministry said in a statement. The search of the Boka Star, sailing under the Tonga island flag, started immediately after it sailed into the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka on Tuesday after police acted upon a tip. So far, police have searched eight of a total of 14 containers on the ship and found military explosive devices. Police said that their investigation will seek to determine all the circumstances relating to the Boka Star and its cargo, including the ship's exact route, final destination and owners of the cargo.

Croatian media reported that the explosives found on the Boka Star, allegedly owned by a Montenegrin citizen, Marko Balic, were bound for Iraq. Croatian media also speculated that the search of the ship might be linked with recent discoveries of sales of fighter aircraft spare parts made by a Bosnian Serb company to Iraq in violation of a United Nations arms embargo.

The reports said that the shipments of aircaft parts to Iraq were routed through the Montenegrin port of Bar, from which the Boka Star had sailed out before entering Croatia's territorial waters. Croatia's interior ministry said that the search of the Boka Star could be concluded as soon as on Saturday.

[Miss Marple]

I just read this thread. I will do some research myself, but may not get back to you until tomorrow.

[piasa]

OCTOBER 31, 2002 : (CRAOTIA INVESTIGATION OF THE SHIP 'BOKA STAR' UNCOVERS EXPLOSIVES) CROATIAN authorities, aided by investigators from Interpol, are continuing to examine the Boka Star, detained in the port of Rijeka under suspicion of transporting an illicit military cargo for Iraq. Croatia's interior ministry said on Tuesday it was trying to identify the explosives, earlier described as "multipurpose", which were seized during the search of 240 tonnes of cargo on board the Tonga-flagged ship. The explosive materials found on the vessel have been removed and stored in a secure warehouse outside Rijeka. - http://www.bicc.de/milex/homepg/tracker.php3?action=show&input%5Bid%5D=4101, reported in Bonn International Center for Conversion, November 5, 2002

[lizma]

...the captain said they knew nothing about seafaring.

This is sorta their mark. Learning to fly planes without learning how to take off or land, saying they are sailors without having a clue how to work a ship.

This "I'm a clueless Middle Easterner, teach me" stuff has outlived it's usefullness. At least I hope.

[GOPJ]

If you're right, when the war starts, we should take them out...

I don't know. We've got three ships sailing around, violating of international maritime law. They had to figure they would be noticed. How much enviro damage can they do? I think smallpox and the chemicals would be toast. I know anthrax spores to be a tad hearty, but months in salt water, so diluted, I don't see how blowing them to smithereens would be a big deal.