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The ship is now flying a flag….Wow did somebody important read my previous post?
Madeira suits us a holiday destination, a timeshare in the Royal Savoy Vacation Club, right at the sea, yet close by the amenities of Funchal itself. The weather at this time of year is balmy rather than hot, and so far there has been no rain. There is enough activity to be interesting without the crowds of young boisterous youngsters to make us oldies irritated.
An excursion on a large catamaran during which we saw pilot whales and dolphins was a memorable morning. The food has been good and the scenery is magnificent.
Anchored out in the bay is a sinister ship, an American military support vessel, its deck cargo shrouded in white canvas. There is little sign of life on board and there appears to be no traffic with the shore, although at night it is brightly lit. The locals say that similar ships are fairly regular visitors which often stay several weeks. Presumably there is some strategic significance in its presence here off out-of-the-way Madeira. What makes it sinister in my eyes is that it flies no flag. The smallest pleasure craft flies its national flag and navies have always gone into battle with ensigns aloft. In fact the lack of an ensign is regarded as a dubious ruse de guerre. But here we have an US Navy auxiliary ship reduced to skulking in friendly waters. Failure to reveal its true colours is not I think a matter of economic necessity for a cash-strapped Defense Department but rather some tactic in the War on Terror. Surely a great nation should not have to adopt the tactics of stealth and subterfuge practised by its enemies?
war on terror
