U.S. and Allies Hold Maritime WMD Drill

ABOARD THE USNS SATURN (AP)--Masked U.S. Marines and their Spanish counterparts streamed out of military helicopters and stormed a naval vessel Saturday, part of a drill in halting traffic in weapons of mass destruction.

In minutes, the 26 U.S. Marines and 15 Spanish commandos were in full control of the USNS Saturn, a U.S. supply ship that was outfitted to mimic a merchant ship carrying concealed chemical and biological weapons.

More than a dozen Saturn crew were bound with plastic handcuffs. A search team of experts draped in yellow protective suits and armed with high-tech gadgetry screened the shipment for weapons of mass destruction. The troops were equipped with 70 pounds of gear, including bulletproof vests, machine guns, pistols and communication equipment.

``There is no doubt in my mind that we could stop trafficking (of weapons of mass destruction) anytime, anywhere,'' said Expeditionary Strike Group One commander Rear Adm. Bob Conway.

``It looked like a ballet to me. ... It was just superb,'' said Conway, who watched the drill from the USS Peleliu amphibious assault ship.

Conway, who is the commander of a seven-warship battle group and led the weeklong Sea Saber 2004 joint exercises in the Arabian Sea, spoke to reporters after the drill aboard the USS Peleliu.

``What I think is going to happen is more and more nations will join this coalition effort ... and the more and more this happens, that in itself is a deterrent,'' said Conway.

Spanish military observer Lt. Cmdr. Angel Gamboa agreed, saying ``I think we are already sending a strong signal to those trying to trade or acquire WMD, and if more nations join us, these elements will face a strong opposition.''

The drill is the fifth and largest in a series of maritime, air and land interdiction training exercises by 16 nations as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative.

The exercises are part of a U.S. administration effort to block shipments of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, the material and equipment needed to make them and missiles that could be used to carry them.

The United States, France, Singapore, Spain, Britain, Australia and Italy contributed equipment or observers to the Sea Saber drill. Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Turkey participated as observers.

The drill took place in the north Arabian Sea, near where a North Korean Scud missile shipment to Yemen was captured and later released in 2002.

Spanish forces acting on U.S. intelligence seized the ship and found 15 missiles and other military gear. They turned the ship over to American forces, who released it after several days when Yemen said it had bought the weapons and promised not to sell them to anyone else.

The temporary seizure was an embarrassment for the U.S. administration and highlighted the need for better cooperation.

I think these drills are not only exercises, but also a show of force to warn those who would engage in smuggling WMD-s.

Capturing uranium enriching centrifuges headed to Libya was one of the things that convinced Khadaffi to give up his WMD-s.

I think these drills are not only exercises, but also a show of force to warn those who would engage in smuggling WMD-s.

Good catch. They're referred to as, "demonstrations".

2 posted on 01/17/2004 10:11:33 PM PST by Old Sarge (Operation Noble Eagle - We Watch, So You Don't Have To.)

"...North Korean Scud missile shipment to Yemen was captured and later released in 2002.
Yemen said it had bought the weapons and promised not to sell them to anyone else.

The temporary seizure was an embarrassment for the U.S. administration."

The only embarrassment is that we let it sail to a bunch of fanatics who'll have them aimed at our troops in Africa

3 posted on 01/17/2004 11:06:45 PM PST by endthematrix (To enter my lane you must use your turn signal!)

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NON-UN-ilateral, ping!