15 Freighters Believed to Be Linked To Al Qaeda

Washington Post ^ | 12/31/2002 | John Mintz

[Pokey78]

U.S. Fears Terrorists at Sea; Tracking Ships Is Difficult

U.S. intelligence officials have identified approximately 15 cargo freighters around the world that they believe are controlled by al Qaeda or could be used by the terrorist network to ferry operatives, bombs, money or commodities over the high seas, government officials said.

American spy agencies track some of the suspicious ships by satellites or surveillance planes and with the help of allied navies or informants in overseas ports. But they have occasionally lost track of the vessels, which are continuously given new fictitious names, repainted or re-registered using invented corporate owners, all while plying the oceans.

As they scramble to keep tabs on the largely unregulated and secretive global maritime industry, U.S. officials have no end of worries about how nautical terrorists could attack U.S. or allied ports or vessels, officials said. They cite such scenarios as al Qaeda dispatching an explosives-packed speedboat to blow a hole in the hull of a luxury cruise ship sailing the Caribbean Sea or having terrorists posing as crewmen commandeer a freighter carrying dangerous chemicals and slam it into a harbor.

[UnBlinkingEye]

As they scramble to keep tabs on the largely unregulated and secretive global maritime industry, U.S. officials have no end of worries about how nautical terrorists could attack U.S. or allied ports or vessels, officials said.

If we only had troops in the United States, stopped intervention in the affairs of other nations and quit protecting the interests of multinational corporations we would no longer face any problem with international terrorists. Which would leave us free to deal with a political elite that seeks to destroy the Constitution and our God given rights.

[tonmo]

Are you actually suggesting that we cease all forms of trade?

uhmn, no... was just asking the question, seeking responses, listening to what the people have to say about the subject. I've heard the idea raised more than a few times, and was genuinely curious as to what some of you think about it... I say "semi-related" because it also involves the issue of illegal aliens. Was wondering if, along with a MUCH more strict approach to dealing with illegal aliens, could we be doing a better job monitoring and measuring the legitimacy of goods imported into our country. I think there's legitimate concern when considering all those empty vats/canisters of things that get hauled in on a daily basis, with little or no monitoring. Just wondering what the thoughts are on how to lower the risk. I do strongly support the administration's theory that the best defense is a good, strong, aggressive offense here... Just some raw meat for the forum... :-)

[Barnacle]

[TLBSHOW]

My father was the last president of a great generation. A generation of Americans who stormed beaches, liberated concentration camps and delivered us from evil.

Some never came home.

Those who did put their medals in drawers, went to work, and built on a heroic scale ...

George W

[Savage Beast]

When and where did George W. Bush make that wonderful statement?

[Barnacle]

George W has said a lot of things that I like. But, how he’s allowing and in some ways even promoting the illegal alien invasion of America borders on treason.

[AFreeBird]

SINK 'EM... The ocean is wide and deep... strange things happen ya know...

Better to keep tabs on them right now I think; see where they go, what they carry, etc...

[Brad’s Gramma]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/573439/posts

Please read ALL of Jim Robinson's comments on this thread.

[PhilDragoo]

Thank you for this honor. Together, we will renew America's purpose.

Our founders first defined that purpose here in Philadelphia. Ben Franklin was here, Thomas Jefferson and, of course, George Washington, or, as his friends, called him, George W.

~~~

My friend, the artist Tom Lea of El Paso, Texas, captured the way I feel about our great land, a land I love. He and his wife, he said, "Live on the east side of the mountain. It's the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that has gone."

Americans live on the sunrise side of the mountain, the night is passing, and we're ready for the day to come.

God bless. God bless America.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

15 new artificial reefs. Great !

Sink them and ask questions later. Soon they'll get the message. Our response should be as follows: Raise your fist to us and we'll break your arm. Break our arm and we'll rip your legs off. Rip our legs off and we'll kill every last one of you and all of your friends and relatives. That's all.

[El Gato]

They are pirate ships with false registrations, which is the same as no registration. Sink them on sight! Better yet, have Congress grant letters of Marque on them. A few million per ship would likely make finding and sinking them worth the effort.

[Ramius]

Roger that. And... you're pretty much on target.

What gets my panties in a bunch is all the 'close the borders' ranting I see here from time to time. It's just classic wishful thinking that just simply isn't possible.

People were smuggled successfully in and out of East Germany for years... and they had just about the most secure border that could ever be made, and only a few miles of it compared to the thousands of miles of US borders.

An average container ship pulls into port with over 2500 containers, and whole industries rely on those containers unloading and getting on their way in just a few hours. It is simply impossible to inspect each one. We can wish it were possible all we want. It simply is not going to happen.

Millions of tons of drugs are illegally imported into this country every year. Why? Because there are too many ways to do it and the money is simply too good. We can't keep drugs out of prisons fer-cryin-out-loud. What this all means is that if there is a will a method will be found.

The only thing we can do is hunt them down everywhere and kill them. Sometimes we will succeed and sometimes we will fail. Yes, there will be more terrorist attacks here in the US. Yes, more people will die. The reality of the situation is that this is the reality of the situation.

But to "close the borders" -- even though it is not practically possible -- is just exactly what the terrorists would have us do. They aim to control us by managing and guiding our fear. That's how they work. That's what they want us to do.

We need to be unafraid of them, even knowing that they will succeed in hurting us again. All the while we will continue to hunt them and kill them. There may not ever be a "victory" in the classical sense. The victory comes from merely never losing the will to fight them.

The unfortunate part of this war is the the best and most important stuff all happens at the far end of a scope-sighted rifle, and never makes headlines. Some parts will from time to time make for good video that plays well for the TV generation. Most will not. That's OK. We cannot let the lack of good video lull us into the misundertanding that nothing is happening. This could not be further from the truth.

[anti-commie_federalist]

If I'm not mistaken we have more than 15 subs that can track these terrorists. Lets make sure our boys don't have any more scientific whale tracking to take care of first :)

[tonmo]

Well said! Thank you.

[JohnBovenmyer]

We won't get much intelligence data with them on the bottom. Better to board and capture them. Then scuttle them after we're done. The op might be cheaper than the torpedo, albeit less fun for some.

[TLBSHOW]

When and where did George W. Bush make that wonderful statement?

It was when he told all Americans just who and what he was and just what he was going to do when he became President of the United States. He needs all our help in stopping these terrorist and we all have that as our job to do.

[TLBSHOW]

God bless. God bless America.

Good find... :>)

the new day is always dawning in America

[Carry_Okie]

News like this just gives me that sinking feeling...

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Simple. Because the economy would collapse.

I agree thats [simple] not true but [simple].

[Carry_Okie]

An average container ship pulls into port with over 2500 containers, and whole industries rely on those containers unloading and getting on their way in just a few hours. It is simply impossible to inspect each one. We can wish it were possible all we want. It simply is not going to happen.

Sir, that statement simply reflects the size of the trade subsidy. Bill the product for the inspection and decide if foreign production is really that good a deal. We should be charging them for safe transit too. Why should the taxpayer subsidize the export of their jobs by assuming the risk?

Free trade socializes risk.