What began as a gleeful debate over the disappearance of the
Arctic Sea, a Russian-operated freighter that went off the radar
for weeks has turned into a serious question of international
security. At first, in late July, the notion that a timber-
carrying ship was the first victim of European piracy in
centuries was dynamite. But as weeks wore on without radio
contact, speculation turned to darker concerns. Was it a cover
up? A mafia hit? A bungled act of nuclear smuggling?  The ship's
recovery this week has only swelled the speculation. Russian
officials' claim that it was all a simple matter of pirates
demanding ransom is being greeted with deep suspicion on the
Continent.  Until the debate is resolved, it's worth reviewing
the principal theories. If the ship didn't actually disappear,
what's the story?    • Ransom, insist Russian authorities,
waving off suspicions that the government covered up illicit
smuggling. "Crew members confirm that a ransom demand was made
by the hijackers and if their demands were