A week after the Israeli Navy captured an Antiguan ship off the coast of Cyprus, the Israeli government has released documents and photographs which it says prove that Iran was responsible for the ship, which was carrying weapons.
The documents included a ship’s manifest that said it was handled by “Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shipping Lines” and labels which say the the ship was in Isfahan, including a customs form stamped by Iran’s military.
Noteworthy in this claim is that Isfahan, a major Iranian city, is several hundred miles inland and doesn’t have a port. Nevertheless, experts say the documents prove that the ship was there, somehow.
Israel claims that 500 tons of arms found on board the ship were bound for Syria from Iran, and that they were probably to be smuggled into Lebanon for Hezbollah. Iran has denied this, and alternatively claims that the ship had left Syria and was bound for Iran.
What did Egypt get droped from the story?
frankly, i'm getting sick and tired by the constant war mongering of Americas Satellite state, Israel.
America, kick out the Lobbyists and hold all senators that ever accepted bribes responsible for their criminal actions. quit supporting israel in their quest to inflict Genocide upon the palestinians.
America, until you clean your own house, do not go all over the world and cause havock amongst the innocent. !
Jammy B
Dude they couldn't quit even if they tried….. it's not up to the American…. only Israel can give them the permission to do that….. and why would it?
Okay, clearly we've way underestimated the threat of those wily Iranians. The experts say the ship was in landlocked Isfahan and yet it was captured at sea hundreds of miles away! – OMG! The evidence makes it plain! They've perfected a transporter!! Just like Star Trek! Whaterwegonnado?!? We'd better attack Iran immediately, suspend the constitution, and declare martial law! It's the only way to save the country. Thank goodness those honest, faithful, law-abiding, peace-loving Israelis warned us about this imminent threat. They're always looking out for America's best interest. We can always just take them at their word. Even if the whole world doubts, if Israel says it, it's true. It's great to have friends like that! And so convenient!
I love the 'even hand' reporting, are you so twisted in your belief that Israel can do no 'Right' that even when black and white proof is shown to you, you have to deny it on nonsense. Sure there no port in Isfahan but what are you really trying to say here? That Israeli security is skilled enough to somehow fake this ship, yet they don't have the skill to read a map when 'faking' the documents? Are you that credible?
The most logical explanation is the shipping company or business office that organized the shipping is based out of Isfahan and used that address on the forms. That's much more believable than the Israelis picking an Iranian city with a dart board for their 'faked' documents.
Lieing is what Israelis and US neo cons are notorious for doing. They lied us into the Iraq war , they lied about the assault on the USS Liberty, and they are trying to lie us into war with Iran. Once a habitual liar has been exposed you can not trust anything they say.
Steve, let me be literal. It is not a question of if “Israel can do no right.” (BTW, that whiny wounded victim bs doesn’t work with me. I have kids.) Israel has a well-established record of doing what it thinks best serves its purpose of the moment, regardless of “right” or “wrong”, regardless of the consequences, regardless of who it hurts; what it wants the US to do in this moment regarding Iran is basically self-destruction, at least as the country exists today. While Israel certainly has the right to further its interests using its strategy of choice, given Israel’s track record from that strategy, I approach any alleged “information” from Israel with the appropriate amount of skepticism.
Okay, so here’s where you start up saying “well, the US does the same thing” like that has any relevance to the point at hand. go ahead – take it away…
I remember, I believe it was Ray McGovern, former CIA and a contributor here at antiwar.com, saying that the Niger yellowcake documents were so poorly forged that it could only be Israel's Mossad.
He said, and again I'm pretty sure it was McGovern, but don't kill me if it wasn't him, that Mossad usually does such a professional job in things like this that he felt the Niger uranium documents were deliberately sloppy in order to throw investigators off of Israel's trail.
You know what?? So what!!! Somebody should help Hizballah, which is not a terrorist organization any more than any other military force. They defend Lebanon from the Israelis. If we can fund Israel, the obvious aggressor who stole a country based on the old testament and then cried victim, then I applaud other's bravery for arming those who defend against them. Let me make this clear, however for the spooks who roam the net. I DO NOT support violence toward civilians, only defense from attacking forces. When we stop arming Israel, then I'll change my tune as well.
From the AP Wire story:
The containers were stuffed with sacks of polyethylene pellets used to conceal the munitions, Israel said. According to the markings, the polyethylene was produced by Iran's National Petrochemical Co. It included a telephone number that begins with 98 — which is Iran's international dialing code.
Whenever I'm involved in covert or secretive action I like to leave my phone number as well, just in case!