U.S. tracking N. Korean ship with banned military equipment: CBS News

[ECH1969]

U.S. intelligence has detected the departure from a North Korean port of a North Korean ship suspected of carrying military equipment banned under a U.N. sanctions resolution against Pyongyang's Oct. 9 nuclear test, CBS News reported Thursday.

The United States is tracking the ship, CBS said, noting that it remains uncertain exactly what the ship is carrying and where it is headed.

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=278059

[BootinUp]

1. It won't get far. n/t

[AlamoDemoc]

2. Here we go again! (n/t)

[Drum]

3. Oogedy boogedy!

This will play like a very long version of OJ's low-speed chase through L.A.

"Slowest Maritime Pursuit Videos." (Season 1)
grafted with
"Wag the Dog"

[whistle]

4. Where is the ship going? What direction?

[jimshoes]

5. They suspect it has banned equipment

but they have absolutely no idea what it might be. Watch out for this one. :eyes:

[williesgirl]

6. How can they know what's in the cargo? BS - scare early absentee voters

[kestrel91316]

7. Well, that's right on time for our October Surprise................

:scared:

[seafan]

8. Hmmmm. Remember the *Iraqi mystery ships* from early 2003?

Seems like we've been down this road before.

Independent, The (London), Feb 19, 2003 by Michael Harrison

Iraq crisis: Three mystery ships are tracked over suspected `weapons'


THREE GIANT cargo ships are being tracked by US and British intelligence on suspicion that they might be carrying Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Each with a deadweight of 35,000 to 40,000 tonnes, the ships have been sailing around the world's oceans for the past three months while maintaining radio silence in clear violation of international maritime law, say authoritative shipping industry sources.

The vessels left port in late November, just a few days after UN weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix began their search for the alleged Iraqi arsenal on their return to the country.

Uncovering such a deadly cargo on board would give George Bush and Tony Blair the much sought-after "smoking gun" needed to justify an attack on Saddam Hussein's regime, in the face of massive public opposition to war.

The ships were chartered by a shipping agent based in Egypt and are flying under the flags of three different countries. The continued radio silence since they left port, in addition to the captains' failure to provide information on their cargoes or their destinations, is a clear breach of international maritime laws.

[stillcool]

10. where'd you pull that out of?

excellent!..

[stop the bleeding]

11. good find btw

Uncovering such a deadly cargo on board would give George Bush and Tony Blair the much sought-after "smoking gun" needed to justify an attack on Saddam Hussein's regime, in the face of massive public opposition to war.



Well I'm all fuzzy inside now.

[AlamoDemoc]

12. WOW! Excellent find, Seafan

[Alacrat]

13. Does anyone know what became of the Iraq ships?

also Lil Kim is crazy, and seems to be looking for an excuse to do something, and IMO bush is hoping he will. If we board, harrass, or do anything toward those ships, it might be the straw that broke the camels back, as far as Lil Kim is concerned. In 2003 there was only one aggressor, now there are two.

[Union Thug]

9. North Korean TERROR SHIPS AT SEA!!!

Haven't I heard this someplace before???

oh yeah:

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


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. . . . <snip>

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."

. . . <snip>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
©2003 Associated New Media
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/3453118?source=Evening%20Standard

[Igel]

19. Libya, I believe.

On the other hand, I can't find an actual instance to cite. But nuclear-technology-based equipment was sent to Libya, so that probably involved a ship.

http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/NK/Missile/66_1287.html
1999, Intercepted; North Korea ship Ku Wŏl San detained by India and returns to North Korea without delivering cargo.

Or maybe Yemen.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/EL12Dg01.html
2003. But these Scuds were found to be bought, although not shipped in accordance with maritime law: undeclared on the manifest, hence a problem in case of accident, when the strawberry jelly that was declared instead blows up.

There was also a ship tracked in 1992, to Syria (allegedly, I'm not even going to track down the NYT article).

This happens from time to time.

[seafan]

14. These guys are just TOO predictable. n/t

[Skip Intro]

15. okey dokey - is this the October surprise? n/t

[populistdriven]

16. its full of aluminum irrigation tubes for an iranian mushroom farm

no way * could spin that is there?

[bullimiami]

17. full of kim-chee very dangerous must stop them.

[Truthiness Inspector]

18. What's wrong with tracking the ship?

It could be nothing, or it could be something. I suppose that's why it's being tracked--to find out.

[Toots]

26. Nothing wrong with tracking the ships but why the media hype?

Isn't that telling the bad guys we are watching them? Isn't that exactly what they were accusing the New York Times of doing?

[goforit]

20. how lovely. wtf is our military gonna do?

[daleo]

21. It's carrying baby incubators

NK is going to throw millions of babies out of incubators on the high seas!

[hogwyld]

22. Maybe it's a floating "Baby Milk Factory"

Just begging to be bombed.:hide:

[struggle4progress]

23. And then, faster than you could say "Gulf of Tonkin", ... eom

[burrowowl]

24. Tonkin anyone? eom

[HuffleClaw]

25. and here comes the prelude to WAR with Iran just as predicted

don't recall who, but some clever soul said they'd start with a naval blockade/incident to justify war with IRAN. cute too, it lets 'em control the timing.

[goforit]

27. kick