SCUDs found on their way to Yemen

[dragon_lord]

A ship carrying 15 North Korean-made Scud missiles, which was seized by the Spanish navy and handed over to the US, has been freed and is headed for port in Yemen. Yemen lodged strong protests with the US and Spain demanding the release of the shipment. Yemeni foreign minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said, "It belongs to the Yemeni government and its army and is meant for defensive purposes." White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says there was no basis for holding the ship. "While there is authority to stop and search, in this instance, there is no clear authority to seize the shipment of Scud missiles from North Korea to Yemen and therefore the merchant vessel is being released," he said. The Spanish Navy stopped the So San in the Arabian Sea and discovered the missiles hidden under bags of cement. The US imposed sanctions on the North Korean company Changgwang Sinyong Corp in August for selling Scud missile parts to Yemen. Source: WorldNews - http://www.theworldnews.com.au/index.html?ArtID=48922

The Yemen Government claims the SCUDs are for 'defensive purposes' and are legally entitled to them. If thats true then why did they hide them beneath cement bags on an unflagged ship? Why the secrecy? Who do they need these SCUD missiles to defend them selves from anyway? It seems to me that they arent telling the whole truth. It was initially feared that these SCUDs were heading to terrorist organisations. Can the Yemen Government be trusted to keep them out of terrorist hands?

[johnny]

I'm curious how one uses a scud as a defensive weapon ? It has no intercepting capabilities. These missiles go straight to the wrong people and will probably be used against Israel once they have them. I've understood they are giving them back Yemen...well, that's just stupid. That country is one big pirates nest, you don't want them to have anything of that kind of stuff. Like all other Arabs, they do nothing but lie about their REAL intentions. A scud as a defensive weapon.....yeah right.

Morning Johnny! The Yemeni Government used their last batch of SCUDS defensively when their citizens revolted in civil war. The SCUDS were used to defensively blow the civilians to smithereens.

[Grojlach]

Originally posted by johnny: Like all other Arabs

*shakes head in disapproval*

[Ronn_Bman]

It was actually the North Koreans who hid the SCUDs on the unflagged ship.

[johnny]

Originally posted by Grojlach: quote: Originally posted by johnny: Like all other Arabs

*shakes head in disapproval*[/QUOTE]Shake all you want.

[johnny]

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: It was actually the North Koreans who hid the SCUDs on the unflagged ship.

Yeah, i know that, they are just as wrong. but it were probably the Yemenites who gave the orders to do so. Or do you think the North Koreans are trying to hide that they are selling these things ?

[dragon_lord]

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: It was actually the North Koreans who hid the SCUDs on the unflagged ship.

And the Yemen Government wouldnt have known about it? I think not. Why would they go along with that if they had nothing to hide?

[Ronn_Bman]

The North Koreans hid these items because they have and continue to deny proliferating ballastic weapons.

Yemen may or may not have known this shipment was being secretly transported without benefit of flag, but if they wanted to deny involvement, they easily could have because the items weren't listed on the ship's manifest, and it would have been their word against the North Korean's.

They stepped up and said, "hey, that's our crap." LOL!

Because they didn't deny involvement, I tend to believe the items are for their military(though defensive use is doubtful) and not for distribution to terrorists. Yemen has been working with us. Now, I do realize that doesn't automatically make them innocent.

It makes it difficult on relations because we were in negotiations with them on banning purchases like these, but no agreements were made yet.

[ 12-15-2002, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

[The Hunter of Jahanna]

If these scud missles work like the ones Saddam had for the gulf war then there is nothing to worry about. A kid with a pellet gun in both more accurate and more dangerous.