[JustPiper]

The explosion occurred about 50 miles east of Chincoteague, Va., after a fire started on the deck of the ship, said Lt. Chris Shaffer of Ocean City (Md.) Emergency Services.

[JustPiper]

Uranium Traveled to Iran Via Russia, Inspectors Find
By WILLIAM J. BROAD

Published: February 28, 2004

Inspectors have found evidence that some of the highly enriched uranium found on nuclear machinery in Iran came from Russia, European diplomats and American experts said Friday. The nuclear fuel appears to have come through the global black market, the experts added, and not with the blessings of Moscow.

With the findings, Russia emerges as a new and unexpected foreign source of supply to Iran's nuclear efforts. Recent revelations had shown that the Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan had provided Iran with some sophisticated centrifuge technology that could be used to refine weapons-grade uranium through his hidden nuclear trading network, according to international nuclear officials and Dr. Khan's own testimony.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/28/international/middleeast/28NUKE.html

[Nemo1USA]

WELCOME HOME USS ENTERPRISE

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--carrierhomecoming0229feb29,0,7212706.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia


Carrier USS Enterprise returns after six-month deployment


By the Associated Press

Published February 29, 2004

NORFOLK, Va. -- The nation's oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier returned home Sunday to adoring crowds after a six-month deployment supporting the war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism.

The USS Enterprise, displaying a banner reading "Hi Mom," pulled into Norfolk Naval Station at about 9:15 a.m. and fired a two-gun salute as family and friends cheered wildly from the pier.

"There was a bright blue sky with a brilliant sun, and lots of happy people with American flags," said Navy spokesman Lt. Jim Hoeft.

The "Big E's" 5,000 crew members weren't the only ones to get off the flattop on Sunday. Also coming home were more than 1,000 relatives, mostly children, of crew members who boarded the ship on Friday in Mayport, Fla. for what is known as a "tiger cruise."