Terrorism And Weapons Proliferation On The High Seas

Summary

U.S. and Liberian officials have signed an agreement that gives the United States authority to board and search ships registered in Liberia that U.S. intelligence suspects are transporting illicit weapons.

This marks the beginning of the end for the blank-check flags of convenience -- a term given to nations that register ships with little institutional oversight -- whose low fees and lax rules have attracted smugglers of all sorts to Liberia for decades.

Analysis

U.S. and...