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Iraqi 'terror ships' at sea
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/3453118?source=Evening ^

Posted on 02/19/2003 1:34:10 AM PST by lightsabre

Iraqi 'terror ships' at sea By Patrick McGowan, Evening Standard 19 February 2003 Three huge cargo ships feared to be carrying Iraqi weapons of mass destruction are being tracked around the world by British and American intelligence. The vessels, which have been at sea for three months, are believed to be carrying weapons smuggled out through Syria or Jordan. They are all refusing frequent requests to provide details of their cargo or destination and officials are worried that the vessels are maintaining radio silence in clear contravention of maritime law, which states all ships should be in constant communication. Despite grave suspicions of what is on board, Britain and the US are afraid to order interception by naval ships because of fears the crews would scuttle the vessels, each between 35,000 and 40,000 tonnes. If they are carrying chemical, biological or nuclear weapons this could cause catastrophic environmental damage. The vessels have called briefly at a handful of Arab countries, including Yemen, but they have been resupplied at sea with food, fuel and water by other ships. All three were chartered by a shipping agent based in Egypt and are understood to be sailing under three different flags of convenience. The discovery of weapons of mass destruction would be a huge boost to George Bush and Tony Blair and would represent the "smoking gun" they need to justify invading Iraq. However, environmental concerns are preventing boarding of the vessels, whose positions are provided by satellite 24 hours a day. They set sail just a few days after UN inspector Hans Blix returned with his team to Iraq to search for Saddam's weapons arsenal. Iraq is effectively blockaded by US and Royal Navy ships patrolling the Gulf and the three vessels are not thought to have set sail from there. A shipping industry source said: "These ships have maintained radio silence for long periods and for a considerable time they have been steaming round in everdecreasing circles. "If Iraq does have weapons of mass destruction then a very large part of its capability could be afloat on the high seas right now." In the build-up to possible war in Iraq, meanwhile, another huge wave of British troops flew out to the Gulf today. About 1,000 members of 16 Air Assault Brigade, including paratroopers, infantry and support units, left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on three overnight flights. The troops, who are mainly from the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, based in Colchester, are among the last expected to be deployed to the Gulf region. A group of 180 soldiers were the last to leave at just after 6am today when they boarded a passenger charter jet before heading off to a secret location. They will join around 40,000 other British military personnel who have been sent to the Gulf over the last few weeks in preparation for a possible conflict to disarm Iraq.


TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: iraq; warlist
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To: Calpernia
Sink it voluntarily, I believe.
61 posted on 02/19/2003 8:27:58 AM PST by Quilla
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To: maquiladora
give lightsabre a break-this is the first time i am hearing of it.
62 posted on 02/19/2003 8:34:41 AM PST by faithincowboys
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To: Calpernia
LMAO! Apparently the U-2 flight plans didn't include maritime in the FILED flight path!

It's amazing the lengths to which some of these countries will go to avoid the obvious.

63 posted on 02/19/2003 8:36:21 AM PST by r9etb
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Off the coast of Iraq? There's not much "coast" to be off of. Wouldn't they then be surrounded by the US Navy?


64 posted on 02/19/2003 8:36:29 AM PST by Hatteras (The Thundering Herd Of Turtles ROCK!)
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To: r9etb
I just saw an interesting point on another board. Sorry, I didn't copy the thread. But the poster said that we can still watch the activity that occurs via satellite with the 48 hour notice. So we still have useful information.
65 posted on 02/19/2003 8:51:55 AM PST by Calpernia
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Comment #66 Removed by Moderator

To: sparky samson
THEN, that violates access right? Cause the inspectors are suppose to have access to all Iraq facities. Or is the ships under different terms cause they are in the water?
67 posted on 02/19/2003 9:00:46 AM PST by Calpernia
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Comment #68 Removed by Moderator

To: sparky samson
Yes, you are right, that WE (and UK) are tracking them. BUT WHY isn't the UN? This is making me mad. The UN is inspecting them (Iraq) now and here is suspicious activity that seems is being kept hush hush. It is still not on any of the US News sites.

The UN Inspectors should be RIGHT THERE requesting/demanding Access!!!!
69 posted on 02/19/2003 9:19:09 AM PST by Calpernia
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To: BullDog108
great insight/
70 posted on 02/19/2003 9:19:37 AM PST by nocommies
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To: r9etb
I would bet my eye teeth each ship is shadowed by an attack sub.
71 posted on 02/19/2003 10:01:34 AM PST by boomop1
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Comment #72 Removed by Moderator

To: Blueflag
According to other stories posted here, the US has developed "E-bombs" that can destroy any non-hardened electrical or electronic equipment. These E-bombs are experimental, because they have never been tested against hostile targets.

These ships are suspected to contain forbidden weapons, that all have electronic control systems for deployment and detonation. The ships refuse normal communications, but certainly are equipped with communications facilities that might be used to command release of the suspected contraband cargo. We would not want that to happen.

The US has a requirement for a weapons test under field conditions. Three potentially extremely dangerous targets are out there roaming the sea with as much stealth and isolation as they can achieve. Looks to me like a perfect confluence of motive, means, and opportunity.

73 posted on 02/19/2003 10:06:20 AM PST by MainFrame65
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To: Calpernia
"SHOULDN'T the UN Inspectors board them?"

Of course not. That would make sense. We can't have any of that.

74 posted on 02/19/2003 10:10:49 AM PST by MozartLover
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To: lightsabre
Definitely sounds like a job for Pitt and Giordino.
75 posted on 02/19/2003 10:16:15 AM PST by william clark
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To: boomop1
I would bet my eye teeth each ship is shadowed by an attack sub.

Wouldn't doubt it.

Speaking of submarines, just today I happened across this little tidbit on SEAL Delivery Vehicles. If we wanted to board one of these ships, it seems like SEALs would be the folks to do it.

76 posted on 02/19/2003 10:51:07 AM PST by r9etb
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To: sparky samson
So... what happens when these mystery tubs break out of the holding pattern and set sail for NYC, Australia, and Israel, eh?
Will we have to choose between a "catastrophic" release of WMD at sea, or inside of one or more of our densly populated Cities?

Does anyone suppose that we will have to wait very long to find out what happens if one of them heads for Israel ?

I for one would hope that between our Seals and British Marines / Commandos one of these floating stinkbombs might just be found some Morning mysteriously adrift, with no hands on board to tell the tale and any booby-traps deactivated.
If anyone could pull that off, it would surely get the Islamofaciasts' attention - and let the Euroweenies know that someone in what is left of the Free World means business!

Should things go amiss and any evidence of WMD release be detected, the remaining suspect vessles should be vaporized as instantaniously as possible, no permission or questions asked of anybody.

We can't afford, I opine, to be playing politics or any other sort of PR/PC game with this stuff floating around.
Humanity may be at stake.

77 posted on 02/19/2003 11:19:26 AM PST by Uncle Jaque (God Bless America!; May He find us worthy of the FREEDOM He has so Graciously bestowed upon us!)
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To: MozartLover
I have a mental picture of 3 helicopters, with Blix, Baradei, and Kofi Anan dangling at the end of VERY long ropes....

And maybe the French, German, and Belgian UN reps in the second wave....
78 posted on 02/19/2003 11:34:52 AM PST by MainFrame65
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Comment #79 Removed by Moderator

To: Blueflag
I am not a naval expert either, but I doubt that Iraq installed sonar on three merchant ships. The first time that Achmed and Abdul realize that they've been torpedoed will be when the see the virgins.

As for the aftermath of a sinking on their contents, I would think that any nuclear material might be shielded well enough to survive the sinking unless they are indeed suicide sailors and don't mind the radiation exposure. I have no idea what effect dilution with seawater might have on Sarin or anthrax.
80 posted on 02/19/2003 12:09:20 PM PST by namsman
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