Alarm Over Cargo Ships Tracked By Intelligence

Independent (UK) ^ | 2-20-2003 | Nigel Morris/Ben Russell

[Arkinsaw]

What is so difficult about stopping, boarding, and thoroughly searching these ships. Why the hand-wringing? They are, after all, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. They are not going to get to a safer place. We board suspected ships all the time. Hell, Osama himself may be on one of these things, or it might just be a load of rotten oysters. Find out for crying out loud.

[rface]

looks like someone might have found something here.....

[blam]

Maybe I'll feel better after I watch Nuclear; Bombing Of Bikini Atoll coming up on the Discover Channel. lol.

[Cindy]

LENGTHY RELATED THREAD HERE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/846384/posts

[lexington minuteman 1775]

The hand wringing is due to the fact that if indeed these ships are carrying this stuff, that the crew will scuttle the ships to avoid this stuff seeing the light of day and it would present a huge ecological disaster, my bet is they are waiting for a time to do it that will limit the ability for the ships being scuttled.

[blam]

"LENGTHY RELATED THREAD HERE: "

Yup. That's was yesterdays article. I hoped this one may have something new.

[Higgymonster]

In addition to being the 4th or 5th time this has been posted in the last 24 hours, on the Defense Department briefing this morning Rumsfeld and Myers were ask about this report and said they knew nothing about it and in checking were unable to confirm. Or, something to that effect.

[Husker24]

Maybe this is just a ruse to get our attention away from other ships actually going somewhere. I think it would be stupid for Saddam to do this, those ships are sitting ducks out there, does he not think were watching this stuff.

[GhostofWCooper]

The Navy commander who is directed to inspect the cargos aboard these ships should be given clandestine orders to inform the renegade captains and crews that they will be summarily executed if any cargo is dumped or the ships scuttled. They could also be offered immunity and protection (or even rewards) for cooperating with the inspectors.

If they refuse this offer, it could only mean they ARE INDEED carrying chemical, biological or nuclear weapons material so,
way out there in the middle of the Indian ocean, a sudden nuclear attack could be employed to more-or-less destroy the weapon material on board. It would no doubt release some of the material, but destroy most. A fair deal.

[punster]

I think the real concern is the crews might scuttle the ships. If there is something really bad on board, sinking them could cause an unparalleled disaster.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What is so difficult about stopping, boarding, and thoroughly searching these ships.

What's so difficult about having them just disappear entirely.

Rogue wave, don't you know?

[duckln]

Sorta fishy. Three ships wandering around and recently
a French aircraft carrier dispatch and recalled. Any connection?

[ThePythonicCow]

Myers were ask about this report and said they knew nothing about it and in checking were unable to confirm.

My recollection is that Myers just gave a curt "that report can not be confirmed", and when asked the same question again in differents words, gave the same curt answer, eyes darting slightly nervously.

In other words, I think he gave the moral equivalent of "no comment."

Then Rummy stepped in with an aggressive selection of a different question, from a different reporter.

[Cold Heat]

Any connection?

Sure! Another case of French surrender.

For sale, one aircraft carrier in fair condition. Hardly used, with road miles. One owner, good papers and instruction manual.

[way-right-of-center]

I'm sure the french carrier is travelling in the opposite direction of any ships suspicious ships

[blam]

"In other words, I think he gave the moral equivalent of "no comment." "

Yup. They know which one of the boys on those ships didn't shave on any given day.

[ChemistCat]

I heard today that they think the crew may be under orders to sink the ships if they are going to be boarded...and that an environmental disaster is likely to follow. Hence the caution.

Hussein, obviously, thinks NOTHING of ruining the environment, since his own brain is so completely polluted with evil.

Every time I think of it, I get madder and madder at those idiots who are protesting OUR actions.

[VMI70]

Can you all source any legitimate authority, not some eco freak pal, who can explain in detail exactly how scuttling these ships would cause an "ecological disaster"?

I guess a teaspoon of oil dropped in a swimming pool would be considered an "ecological disaster" in this day and time.

Beware of falling prey to the propaganda disseminated by uninformed, illegitimate sources.