Alert for ‘Iraqi tankers’ off Crete with top Iraqi government officials on board

ekathimerini.com ^ | Thursday April 10, 2003 | NEWS

[Destro]

Thursday April 10, 2003

Alert for ‘Iraqi tankers’ off Crete

The coast guard has been placed on high alert following a warning from US authorities that three fuel tankers believed to have sailed from a Middle Eastern port with top Iraqi government officials on board could be heading for Greek waters, sources said yesterday.

Also yesterday, US Ambassador Thomas Miller asked Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou for Greece to send military medical personnel and stores to US and British-occupied Iraq. Sources said Papantoniou avoided committing himself, arguing that participation in such a mission would hinge on whether the overall effort is organized by the United Nations.

Meanwhile, coast guard sources said air and sea patrols have been stepped up in response to the US tanker tip-off. It is believed that senior Baath party officials, together with members of their families, may have managed to escape US and British forces that entered Baghdad and Basra, and boarded the tankers in an unspecified port belonging to an Arab country.

The ships, according to information made available to the coast guard, are heading for a European Union port, and will probably pass through international waters south of Crete within the next few days.

However, if US and NATO warships patrolling the area manage to locate the tankers, it is believed that the ships could enter Greek territorial waters.

Coast guard vessels, including patrol boats equipped with state-of-the-art electronic tracking devices and manned with special forces, have already set off for Crete from the eastern Aegean. The coast guard is also in close cooperation with the Greek navy and NATO officials.

[Destro]

The S.S. Saddam Hussien?

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[Destro]

bump

[CholeraJoe]

Time for the boys from Abilene again.

[Destro]

You want to sink an oil tanker?

[Flint]

You know dang good and well that we don't have to go looking for these ships. We know were every piece of junk afloat is at any given time. Those CG ships are just going to the best location in order to intercept the vessels.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Actually according to rikitikitavi.com Saddam is fleeing in a luxurious shipping container.

[CholeraJoe]

Sure. Minimizes casualties.

[M. Thatcher]

US Ambassador Thomas Miller asked Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou for Greece to send military medical personnel and stores to US and British-occupied Iraq. Sources said Papantoniou avoided committing himself, arguing that participation in such a mission would hinge on whether the overall effort is organized by the United Nations.

Sigh.

Guck the Freeks.

[Destro]

Why say that? The Greeks have not hindered access to Greek airspace or bases by the coalition over the Iraq issue. While not participating in the mission they are not hindering the mission either.

[Fury]

. Sources said Papantoniou avoided committing himself, arguing that participation in such a mission would hinge on whether the overall effort is organized by the United Nations

Ah, the fickleness of the demos. I see the Greeks have learned little in 2400 years.

[Destro]

Freedom means the right to say no. See my 10.

[rhombus]

Bombing tankers!!! Oh no we couldn't do that -- think of the environmental damage -- all those Iraqis in the water!

[ClaireSolt]

Now what are we going to do about the amoralistes insisting on using the UN as if it is a legitimate cover?

[CholeraJoe]

think of the environmental damage

If we use incendiary bombs, all of the oil will burn off before it gets on the baby seals and penguins.

[Fury]

Freedom means the right to say no. See my 10.

Agreed. It's their choice, as it was the choice of France, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, etc to make the decisions they did. Me thinks the initial Greek response to a request for Iraqi aid is an incorrect one.

[wita]

Don't forget the "boys" from Rapid City,

[11B3]

Don't waste your time with Destro.

[Destro]

Not from the Greek point of view. Greece doesn't have the money for it nor does the public have the will to send troops over for said mission either if the money was found. Saying "no" or "maybe" is not the same as obstructing.

[AMNZ]

And the French.