Free Republic

U.S. Navy forces may board thousands of commercial ships in international waters to search for weapons of mass destruction under an agreement signed this week between the United States and Liberia, the world's No. 2 shipping registry. Liberia ranks second to Panama in total shipping tonnage in U.S. ports, under so-called "flags of convenience." One-third of oil imported to the United States arrives there on Liberian-flagged tankers.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - U.S. Navy sailors may board thousands of commercial ships in international waters to search for weapons of mass destruction under a landmark pact between the United States and Liberia, the world's No. 2 shipping registry. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed Friday that the United States is seeking similar deals with other nations, but he declined to identify them. Wednesday's accord - the first of its kind, Boucher said - comes amid fears that terror networks would use ships for attacks, taking advantage of comparatively lax security on the waters after crackdowns in the skies....