Navy Given Right to Search Liberian Ships

[Khephra]

DAKAR, Senegal -- 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.

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.

"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.



more.............................

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-liberia-ship-searches,0,834017.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[bahrbearian]

1. AWOL Chimp says "We will not be the World's Policemen"

[prole_for_peace]

2. but what would librarians be doing ...

oh liberians.. ok never mind.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Boarding Liberian Ships? This Ought To Be Interesting?

this ought to be interesting. I should like to see the reaction when some Captain Queeg decides to board a cruise ship in International waters. Many of the cruise ships operated by the big cruise lines are Liberian-flagged.