Intresting News on Iraq

KoldFusion · 2003-02-24, 01:49 PM

Hey all,

My dad just forwarded me this email containing as intresting news article about the on going Iraqi deception in relation to their claim that they have no weapons of mass destruction. I believe this originated from a London news agency.

Iraqi 'terror ships' at sea
By Patrick McGowan, Evening Standard

This is LONDON
19/02/03 - News and city section

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, 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.

-Robert Hoffman

This show the extent of the Iraqi resolve to decieve the international community. It also shows how wreckless the Iraq is by putting what quite possibly be the whole world's oceananic ecosystem in the path of anhilation.
This article also shows the Bush cares something for the environment by showing restraint in ordering naval vessels to intercept as explained above.
Thoughts and comments are welcome on this matter. BUT keep it civil PLEASE!

SilentCacophony · 2003-02-24, 02:03 PM

Well it says they don't think it came from Iraq (although it could have or from somewhere else with stuff from Iraq). It's all speculation, so it could be or it could not be. I do commend them for worrying about the environment though. I don't like fish, let alone fish with anthrax.

Doobz · 2003-02-24, 05:44 PM

what i want to know is, WHAT IDIOT LET THIS RUN IN THE NEWSPAPER!?!?!?

Lexington_Steele · 2003-02-24, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by Doobz
what i want to know is, WHAT IDIOT LET THIS RUN IN THE NEWSPAPER!?!?!?

?????

Doobz · 2003-02-24, 06:02 PM

well, it just seems to me like you would wanna keep enemies from knowing that you know about this sorta thing

instead, it's announced to the world that there could possibly be sever WMDs on lightly guarded ships

seems rather stupid to me

Lexington_Steele · 2003-02-24, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by Doobz
well, it just seems to me like you would wanna keep enemies from knowing that you know about this sorta thing

instead, it's announced to the world that there could possibly be sever WMDs on lightly guarded ships

seems rather stupid to me

I am pretty sure that they already know that we know.

"They are all refusing frequent requests to provide details of their cargo or destination." I think that might have tipped them off.

Doobz · 2003-02-24, 06:12 PM

yeah, sounds to me like the whole thing could have been handled much more discreetly

besides, by announcing this, you announce it to other potential groups that want WMD

Lexington_Steele · 2003-02-24, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by Doobz
yeah, sounds to me like the whole thing could have been handled much more discreetly

besides, by announcing this, you announce it to other potential groups that want WMD

Probably not. There is not much we can do but follow this ship around until it decides to dock.

There aren't many groups that have the ability to try and take them. Anyone who did have the power to make an would immediately be exposing themselves and would certainly fail. In addition, it is not even certain that there are WMDs aboard. No one is going to take that kind of risk. Another group getting their hands on this ship is a nearly nonexistant possibility.

In the meanwhile, public knowlege of this possibility of Iraqi linked WMDs will garner more support for a war with Iraq. Public knowlege of this ship and it's possible cargo was very intentional.

Confectrix · 2003-02-24, 06:37 PM

Quite right Lex. Let's see what happens.

Doobz · 2003-02-24, 08:45 PM

well, still, nobody thought they could commit a terrorist act on the scale of 9/11 on american soil either

in the intelligence business you cover every angle

SilentCacophony · 2003-02-24, 09:17 PM

The U.S. puts WAY too much out in the news that they shouldn't, but I agree with lex, they no doubt already know we know.

Doobz · 2003-02-25, 04:43 AM

only because we let them

could have been easily prevented

KoldFusion · 2003-02-25, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by SilentCacophony
Well it says they don't think it came from Iraq (although it could have or from somewhere else with stuff from Iraq). It's all speculation, so it could be or it could not be. I do commend them for worrying about the environment though. I don't like fish, let alone fish with anthrax.

I said it came from a London newspaper. That means that the US didn't put it in the news.

Originally posted by Doobz

only because we let themcould have been easily prevented

not entirely true. This would have found it's way to the news wether we wanted it to or not.

Originally posted by Lexington_Steele

Probably not. There is not much we can do but follow this ship around until it decides to dock.

There aren't many groups that have the ability to try and take them. Anyone who did have the power to make an would immediately be exposing themselves and would certainly fail. In addition, it is not even certain that there are WMDs aboard. No one is going to take that kind of risk. Another group getting their hands on this ship is a nearly nonexistant possibility.

In the meanwhile, public knowlege of this possibility of Iraqi linked WMDs will garner more support for a war with Iraq. Public knowlege of this ship and it's possible cargo was very intentional.Probably not. There is not much we can do but follow this ship around until it decides to dock.

There aren't many groups that have the ability to try and take them. Anyone who did have the power to make an would immediately be exposing themselves and would certainly fail. In addition, it is not even certain that there are WMDs aboard. No one is going to take that kind of risk. Another group getting their hands on this ship is a nearly nonexistant possibility.

In the meanwhile, public knowlege of this possibility of Iraqi linked WMDs will garner more support for a war with Iraq. Public knowlege of this ship and it's possible cargo was very intentional.

I'm with you Lex. The only scenario I can see as far as getting on the ships is submarine launched SEALS. There are some drawbacks though. 1) The ship could possibly (though not likely) not even be carrying WMD and they could be accused of pirating. 2) The ship "could" be lost in the raid if the SEAL team slips up. They are probably rigged with C4 like nobody's business and it will only take one push of a button.

Originally posted by Doobz

well, it just seems to me like you would wanna keep enemies from knowing that you know about this sorta thing

instead, it's announced to the world that there could possibly be sever WMDs on lightly guarded ships

seems rather stupid to me.

Sure you want to keep them from knowing.... but that isn't always in your control. There are several factors relating to intel gathering capability. 1) Technology 2) How large is the number people verifying this info. For example: In the middle east.... We aren't going to send Johnny southern hill billy redneck to infiltrate the Iraqi regime or what not. It will be someone who looks like them. (LOL kinda funny to think about i man with a southern accent and white saying... "hey ya'll where be he saying them gosh darn weapons be hiding?" LOL). Moving on.... Lets face it Saddam is not stupid. He showed in the Gulf War that he has no bones about messing up the environment by burning those oil wells. He knows that if we try to intercept those ships the we will cause an ecological disaster of epic proportions.

Please understand that I respect each of your views and I in no way meant to trample anyone. I just wanted to make some points.

Hijinks · 2003-02-25, 09:58 AM

The US has denied this report over and over. If these ships did exist, they would take them out.

KoldFusion · 2003-02-25, 10:18 AM

could you provide a link or something of the US denying these reports? please? If we are I'd like to know since it is on this topic. And NO we would not take them out....like I had said they would scuttle them. Please provide a link to your info please