The United States does not believe the Iraqi government sanctioned the smuggling . There were secret orders to be ` ` prepared '' to stop a tanker ship loaded with arms . The U.S. and Israel had the ship in the Persian Gulf diverted to Iraq to load up . Israel wound up destroying the ship and its cargo , identified as arms and missiles .
There were secret orders to be ` ` prepared '' to stop a tanker ship loaded with arms . The U.S. and Israel had the ship in the Persian Gulf diverted to Iraq to load up . Israel wound up destroying the ship and its cargo , identified as arms and missiles .