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| Terror Networks |
| Navy Given Right to Search Liberian Ships |
| 2004-02-13 |
| U.S. Navy forces may board thousands of commercial ships in international waters to search for weapons of mass destruction under a landmark deal signed this week between the United States and Liberia, the world’s No. 2 shipping registry. Gee, you don’t suppose this has anything to do with our little visit to Liberia last year, do you? The accord comes amid persistent fears that terror networks would use ships for attacks, and effectively hands oversight of vessels under the Liberian flag to the U.S. military, industry analysts say. Bwahahaha! "The boarding agreement provides authority on a bilateral basis to board sea vessels suspected of carrying illicit shipments of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems or related materials," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington. Boucher said the deal, signed Wednesday, is modeled on similar accords in counter-narcotics work. Now no one can say we are violating international law when we board Liberian ships on the high seas. Liberia, which is emerging from nearly 15 years of civil war, has hosted a U.S.-based shipping registry since 1949. It now ranks second to Panama in total shipping tonnage in U.S. ports, under so-called "flags of convenience." Liberia says more than 2,000 vessels worldwide are registered under its flag. One-third of imported oil arrives on Liberian-flagged tankers. Now we can search them far away from our ports before they deliver any surprises, excellent! |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 I don't like to quibble but I believe the US Navy has the right to search any and all ships any time and place of their choosing. We inheirited this right from the the United Kingdom and it is enforceable under the Law of the Sea. It is technically known as Rule Britannia. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-13 4:27:12 PM |
| #8 I doubt seriously that many ships will change registration, and I would be suspicious of those that do. Many ship-owners will welcome this, rather than feel threatened by it. They have as much (and perhaps more) to lose if one of their vessels is involved in anything resembling the use of WMDs. The ships that we all need to be worried about are the ones with fake registration. The number of those isn't small, and is probably growing. THERE are where the problems originate. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-13 4:22:30 PM |
| #7 Coasties gonna be busy. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-2-13 4:20:17 PM |
| #6 Wonder if we'll see Malaysia and Indonesia set up 'flags of convenience'? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-2-13 2:49:10 PM |
| #5 Arrrrr! Heave to, ye Liberian lubbers! |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-2-13 2:09:52 PM |
| #4 Expect a mass exodus of ships and shipowners from the Liberian flag to the |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-13 12:40:30 PM |
| #3 Gyude Bryant, the chairman of Liberia's National Transitional Government, described his recent trip to the United States as "highly successful" and expressed hope that U.S.-Liberian relations will soon "enter a new and more dynamic stage." After emerging from his February 10 talks with President Bush at the White House, Bryant told waiting reporters that he thanked Bush for helping Liberia "strengthen our fragile peace. ... We are very grateful..." Bryant also said he pledged to President Bush that U.S. resources would be spent wisely to build a new and peaceful Liberia that would be at peace with herself and her neighbors and would be a point of stability for all of West Africa. Well, well, well. I guess we know one thing that was discussed, don't we. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-2-13 12:18:36 PM |
| #2 "authority on a bilateral basis" Does this mean the Liberian Navy will be searching U.S. ships as well? |
| Posted by: Grunter 2004-2-13 12:04:54 PM |
| #1 The "big three" cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Princess) also register most ships under Liberian or Panamanian flags. "Excuse me, Miss, but I'll need to search your bikini for WMD." |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-2-13 11:27:40 AM |