Immediately before the President’s speech on Iraq, a United Nations tool in Austria releases (through Agence France Presse, natch) a breathless report of secret prisons! on warships!

The horror!

These are very very serious, well-based allegations, that must be investigated right away!

Well, they’re rumors, actually.

But horrible rumors!

US suspected of keeping secret prisoners on warships: UN official.

VIENNA (AFP) - The UN has learned of “very, very serious” allegations that the United States is secretly detaining terrorism suspects in various locations around the world, notably aboard prison ships, the UN’s special rapporteur on terrorism said.

While the accusations were rumours, rapporteur Manfred Nowak said the situation was sufficiently serious to merit an official inquiry.

“There are very, very serious accusations that the United States is maintaining secret camps, notably on ships,” the Austrian UN official told AFP, adding that the vessels were believed to be in the Indian Ocean region.

“They are only rumours, but they appear sufficiently well-based to merit an official inquiry,” he added.