Comments on: Iran Caught Smuggling Chem Weapons to Africa?

By: Ravalli County News » Blog Archive » Iran Caught Smuggling Chem Weapons to Africa?

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:22:02 +0000

[...] “… mysterious cargo… strange health complications, skin burns and loss of hairR… [...]

By: Scott Malensek

Scott Malensek — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:02:38 +0000

Maybe it’s hazardous waste instead of chem weapons. That was a pretty logical suggestion from one of the commenters at the long War Journal article. There are industrial wastes that would have this effect, and it would explain why no one wants the ship. Still, that is a BIG ship. Something’s not right here.

By: crosspatch

crosspatch — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:37:39 +0000

“Iran’s DEYANAT, a 44,468 dwt bulk carrier laden with 40,000 tons of iron ore en route from China to the Netherlands, was attacked by pirates last week”

Something smells really fishy here. China doesn’t export iron, it imports it. In fact, China imports close to 50% of all the world’s iron exports.

By: Mike's America

Mike's America — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:05:09 +0000

It might be the cargo hold doors that require access codes. Not sure how typical that is on ships so maybe someone will tell us.

If the pirates are getting sick (where’s Wordsmith and his talking pirate routine?) I wonder about the crew. Aren’t they being held hostage?

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:51:17 +0000

Now, if George Bush hadn’t stolen the 2000 election, invaded Iraq to make his daddy happy and payback his corporate imperialist buddies by invading Iraq, then these poor unsuspecting pirates never would have been poisoned by Iranian weapons of mass destruction on their way to Islamic holy warriors in Eritrea for use against Somalia warlords.

Anyone else need aspirin?

By: Curt

Curt — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:44:25 +0000

the poor unsuspecting pirates

Love it!

Gotta agree, this is one strange story and worthy of a 24 episode.

By: WmdPhD

WmdPhD — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:31:55 +0000

….well I can share that it is no “Yellow Cake”. Kudos to the astute student who mentioned the fact that it was being shipped in, not out!

Doc

By: Scott Malensek

Scott Malensek — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:16:45 +0000

Whatever made the poor unsuspecting pirates sick and die was in the ship, it was headed TO Africa-not from it, and it was in containers that require “access codes”

How it got by the USN, whether or not the US has boarded it etc, I dunno.

I DO, however, think this would be the subject of a GREAT question at the debate on Friday night.

By: MataHarley

MataHarley — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:50:59 +0000

I’m unclear on something… was this (obviously toxic) cargo part of the regular crew shipment, and these poor unsuspecting pirates got ahold of more than they bargained for?

Or are these pirates trying to divert the toxic cargo for their own purposes, and knew about it?

It sounds like the former, but I’m having a hard time placing the players in their proper roles. Perhaps it’s just me, eh?

By: FrontRanger

FrontRanger — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:45:47 +0000

Is Al Queda a new cheese dip for Tostitos? Where exactly is CJSOTF-HA in all this? Most yellowcake will not allow you to develop those symptoms unless you are using it for baby powder, so it could be secondary chemicals for any type of wacko weapon system. I am wondering why we are not boarding said vessel with frogmen from little creek with NEST in tow…

By: cici

cici — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:17:45 +0000

When did this ship leave Iran ? How did ship get pasted US Navy? Are there other ships?

By: Gregory Dittman

Gregory Dittman — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:12:58 +0000

I doubt it’s chemical weapons to Africa. I’m thinking it’s yellow cake (uranium) from Africa.

By: Mike's America

Mike's America — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:56:24 +0000

Odd little story. I hope it’s not one of those stories that just drops out of sight after a while and that you will update it as events warrant.

By: Scott Malensek

Scott Malensek — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:44:06 +0000

Neo, questions:
Did the pirates have skin burns, get sick, and lose their hair on this ship too?
Was the iron ore on that ship stored in strange containers with digital access codes required to open?
Did anyone offer to pay the ransom for the ship?

Unbelievable…I still can’t get over this story.

By: Neo

Neo — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:24:57 +0000

Iran's DEYANAT, a 44,468 dwt bulk carrier laden with 40,000 tons of iron ore en route from China to the Netherlands, was attacked by pirates last week.