Oops give us our arms back. Oh Sorry okay then.

[The PIT]

I wonder if Bush is a bit blushie over this. Yemen (Dodgy country) ordered weapons from N Korea legally so America is going to have to give them back.
Just on BBC news.

[Wombat]

No, Bush has nothing to be embarrassed about over this.

Legitimate sales shouldn't be:

1. Run through a "nationless" vessel.
2. Said vessell should not try to outrun NATO forces when they request inspection.
3. Legitimate cargo should appear on the freight list, and not be smuggled underneath cement.

[James_D]

Quote: Martime law:


Article 87. Freedom of the high seas

1. The high seas are open to all States, whether coastal or land locked. Freedom of the high seas is exercised under the conditions laid down by this Convention and by other rules of international law. It comprises, inter alia, both for coastal and land-locked States:

(a) freedom of navigation;
(b) freedom of overflight;
(c) freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines, subject to Part VI;
(d) freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations permitted under international law, subject to Part VI;
(e) freedom of fishing, subject to the conditions laid down in section 2;
(f ) freedom of scientific research, subject to Parts VI and XIII.

2. These freedoms shall be exercised by all States with due regard for the interests of other States in their exercise of the freedom of the high seas, and also with due regard for the rights under this Con vention with respect to activities in the Area.

Unquote.





So the boarding that ship, could have been considered an act of war. But there is also an article about the right to Visit. Article 110. So either it can be either way. And also who in their right mind would start a war against the US.

According to Spanish news it had a Kambodian flag. But if it'S like the US media says, that it didn't have a flag. Iit was a fair move, for a ship without a flag is a ship without rights.

James.




Edit: Yuck my english suck today...

[Brian R.]

Article 91
Nationality of ships
1. Every State shall fix the conditions for the grant of its nationality to ships, for the registration of ships in its territory, and for the right to ny its flag. Ships have the nationality of the State whose flag they are entitled to fly. There must exist a genuine link between the State and the ship.

[Joel]

When the pirates reached the big ship, they saw another ship anchored alongside it. The flag looked exactly like the one from the big ship. But that was an old pirate trick. Every ship flew a flag. A pirate ship flew a flag called a Jolly Roger. A pirate flag was usually black and white, sometimes with a little red thrown in, the color of blood, and it usually had skeletons, skulls, or crossbones on it. But when a pirate ship wanted to fool a ship into thinking they weren't pirates, they would fly a regular flag to confuse people. It was the oldest trick in the book, but it worked almost everytime! It certainly seemed to work this time....

Found this little bit of info in a book of my son's titled, 'Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Milk' from The Rugrats Files.

Joel

[RedRed]

ouch! ahhh ouch! Hot potato!

1. Run through a "nationless" vessel.

I believe that the ship was carrying a flag - as is its right to.

2. Said vessell should not try to outrun NATO forces when they request inspection.

Yeah, right - an old freighter belonging to a third world country, probably can put out 15-20 knots - max Vs Spainish destroyer - 35-40 Knots & support craft - outrunning - I dont think so - exercising its right not to be boarded in INTERNATIONAL waters.

3. Legitimate cargo should appear on the freight list, and not be smuggled underneath cement.

If you were importing missiles, even for legitimate defense, would you publish how they were entering the country? Oh I dont think so! What business of the US OR ANY OF ITS POTENTIAL ENEMIES - is it a requirement for Yemen to declare how many scuds it has bought this week? - NO - its why countries have official secrets!

Yemen might be a dodgy country BUT it is one of the few states in the region that cooperates at least partly with the US. Wasnt it Yemen who offers Osama Binladen on a plate to Clinton when he was travelling through? Wasnt it Yemeni support which allowed the CIA to assissinate the 'terrorists' a couple of months ago with the hellfires?

This could have caused a major international incident - we might be lucky if Yemen lets it lie. The US cant afford more enemies in the gulf especially one so strategically placed (- find out where they are on the map, if you dont believe me).

RedRed

[Wombat]

The line in the news here is that it was not flying any flag.

Also, does this ship have that right? It came from N. Korea. Aren't all shipments from N. Korea covered by some treaty? I thought there was, but my research turns up nothing.

Also, Yemen has admitted that it initially denied it was their shipment.

<I>NATO: Hey, Yemen, are these your missiles?
Yemen: Uhh, no, no, we didn't call for any SCUDs.
NATO: Okay, we're snagging this thing while we look into it.

....time lapse....

Yemen: Actually, we bought those, legally. Give.
</I>

And <I>we're</I> supposed to be embarrassed?

[Wombat]

Okay, no such provisions to the treaties.

Still, the reports say that the ship was flying no flag, and had its name painted over, making it subject to search.

[Joel]

Considering the situation in the area I see no problem with stopping any vessel that seems and acts suspicious. You know, running without a flag, failing to heed orders to stop, and having the name and registry of the ship painted over, just to name a few.

Joel

[James_D]

Originally posted by Wombat
The line in the news here is that it was not flying any flag.

Also, does this ship have that right? It came from N. Korea. Aren't all shipments from N. Korea covered by some treaty? I thought there was, but my research turns up nothing.

Also, Yemen has admitted that it initially denied it was their shipment.

<I>NATO: Hey, Yemen, are these your missiles?
Yemen: Uhh, no, no, we didn't call for any SCUDs.
NATO: Okay, we're snagging this thing while we look into it.

....time lapse....

Yemen: Actually, we bought those, legally. Give.
</I>

And <I>we're</I> supposed to be embarrassed?

hehe rofl...

Good point..

James..