Rand Corp. warns of shipping terror threat

The Washington Times ^ | 9/23/03 | UPI

[Nexus]

LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A Rand Corp. study released Tuesday in London warns terrorists might use container ships in terror attacks meant to cause massive casualties.

World Tribune.com says the report warns cargo ships or shipping containers could be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction for terror groups such as al-Qaida.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Because the refiners mark up the price 700%?

[Destructor]

It's probably already happened. I'd be willing to bet that weapons of mass destruction have already been smuggled into the country. There will be another attack. It's just a matter of "when" not "if."

[Cboldt]

Yeah, the math is funky somewhere. I doubt the "882,020 tonne" figure. That almost 2 billion pounds.

US Aircraft carriers displace less than 100,000 tons, fully loaded.

If I was to guess, I'd say that the tanker was holding 882.02 tonnes; about 300,000 gallons.

As for the article, DUH. Lots of people have pointed out the container shipping "vulnerability." It didn't take a RAND study to figure this one out.