[harpseal]

I don't buy it. It doesn't add up.

You are correct it does not add up. A team could easily take control of any one of these vessels. There is no reason to not do it since they are violating maritime law. Further, just where are they going to get the merchant seamen to willingly lay down their lives for Ol' Saddam?

[null and void]

Further, just where are they going to get the merchant seamen to willingly lay down their lives for Ol' Saddam?

Same place thay got airline pilots...

[Travis McGee]

This might pass muster on Fleet Street, but we would tend to know a few things, such as, ships don't spend 3 months at sea steaming around. One month, maybe, then they need fuel. And you don't just drift around DITW to save fuel. Nope, doesn't add up.

If they want to hide a mobile cargo, it will be on large trucks in Iraq, possibly in Syria if they have a deal. The USN owns the oceans, and even Saddam and OBL know it.