La Spezia, Italy - Twelve years ago, under an arms embargo
imposed by the United Nations, Italy impounded two of Iraq's
most modern warships. Today, those warships sit docked at La
Spezia's naval base, and the Iraqi sailors sent to man them
sit docked at the local cafe, sipping espresso. "They started
the engines once for about 15 minutes about 12 years ago. Un-
til the embargo is lifted they are not leaving," said La Spe-
zia spokesman Francesco Pilato. At the time of the embargo
(following the Gulf war), an Italian firm had finished build-
ing the ships but did not get them delivered before the emba-
rgo came into force. Iraq's navy sends 12 sailors a year to
sit in the waterfront cafes...I mean, man the vessels.