U.S. to seize WMD on high seas

CNN ^ | Dec. 2, 2003 | David Ensor

[FairOpinion]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States and its allies are willing to use "robust techniques" to stop rogue nations from getting the materials they need to make weapons of mass destruction -- including interdicting and seizing such "illicit goods" on the high seas or in the air, a top U.S. official bluntly warned Tuesday.

[FairOpinion]

"If rogue states are not willing to follow the logic of non-proliferation norms, they must be prepared to face the logic of adverse consequences," Bolton said. "It is why we repeatedly caution that no option is off the table."

Bolton specifically cited Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya and Cuba as rogue nations "whose pursuit of weapons of mass destruction makes them hostile to U.S. interests."

He said those countries "will learn that their covert programs will not escape either detection or consequences."

===

That's more like it! The US is paper tiger NO MORE, thanks to President Bush.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

Unfortunately, cheap lead shielding will prevent the Navy from detecting radioactive material like naughty plutonium and without tips and really good spy satalite photos of cooperative, waving, foreign dockworkers, this policy won't work too well.

[FairOpinion]

I think they will be using all means to learn when and where such shipments are loaded, then intercept the ships at high seas.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

"I think they will be using all means to learn when and where such shipments are loaded, then intercept the ships at high seas."

Well...........to attempt to learn, anyway.

[FairOpinion]

This is not exactly "Iraq good news", but it's very important news that the US is willing to get really tough with rogue nations and is building a coalition to do that.

Maybe this can take the place of the hopefully soon-to-be-defunkt UN.

"If rogue states are not willing to follow the logic of non-proliferation norms, they must be prepared to face the logic of adverse consequences," Bolton said. "It is why we repeatedly caution that no option is off the table."

The under secretary said recent interdiction training exercises hosted by Australia, Britain, Spain and France will be followed by concerted action to stop trafficking in WMD and missile technologies. The activities are part of a new Proliferation Security Initiative announced by President Bush in Poland in May.

While 11 countries initially joined together to create the PSI, Bolton said more than 50 countries have now signaled that they are ready to participate with interdiction efforts. "

[FairOpinion]

Trying and succeeding some of the time is infinitely better, than not trying at all.

It sends a strong signal to all nations.

[LibWhacker]

That's more like it! The US is paper tiger NO MORE, thanks to President Bush.

I'm tellin' 'ya, you've got to be a traitor not to like George W. Bush. The man is GREAT! And he's doing exactly what needs to be done to win this war. AFAIC, it's proof the Lord still watches over this nation; He could've given us Gore.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

"Trying and succeeding some of the time is infinitely better, than not trying at all. It sends a strong signal to all nations."

True, just don't bank on it, that's all.

[Amerigomag]

including interdicting and seizing such "illicit goods" on the high seas or in the air

Funny. What we used to call piracy is now interdicting and seizing such "illicit goods"

Funny

[AngryJawa]

Heave to and prepare to be boarded, Achmed!

[FairOpinion]

do you think we should allow rogue nations to give/sell each other and the terrorists WMD and missile technology, to be used against us and do nothing about it?

[Enterprise]

"U.S. to seize WMD on high seas"

You can do that when you're Masters and Commanders.

[Indrid Cold]

My first thought was that these were the same reasons given for Kaiser Wilhelm's unrestricted submarine warfare of 90 years ago. Remember how mad that made everybody?

[tet68]

My first thought was that these were the same reasons given for Kaiser Wilhelm's unrestricted submarine warfare of 90 years ago.

Not quite the same thing.

The logic of adverse consequences........I like it,
it's real.

[m1-lightning]

Bording party!

[Indrid Cold]

No? WWI is not my area of specialty, but my understanding is that the Kaiser justified unrestricted submarine warfare by stating that other countries were shipping arms to his enemies (they were). Is the difference that we're not actually sinking these ships yet?

[July 4th]

What a coincedence that this happened this morning: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1032173/posts - "2-3 ocean surveillance spacecraft"

[doug from upland]

This is great. I have been saying since Clinton is elected that, if weapons are being moved on the high seas, I had no idea what Clinton would do. I knew what Reagan and Bush 41 would have done --- they would have boarded the vessel or sunk it if it was non-responsive.

[Amerigomag]

do you think we should allow rogue nations to give/sell each other and the terrorists WMD and missile technology, to be used against us and do nothing about it?

No. I think we should vote for Schwarzenegger.

[tet68]

No the difference is we will be boarding and inspecting not
sinking on sight.
The unrestricted part of the submarine war came later, at first the germans were required to stop and search and to allow crew and passengers to disembark before sinking a vessel.

This is from memory understand, I haven't pulled up the relevant sites.