Somali pirates hijack ship; 20 Americans aboard

[Parkbandit]

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 20 American crew members onboard, hundreds of miles from the nearest American military vessel in some of the most dangerous waters in the world.

United Kingdom maritime officials have been able to contact the vessel and were told "everyone is OK," according to a U.S. defense official in Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

British maritime and defense officials did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

The 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama was carrying emergency relief to Mombasa, Kenya, when it was hijacked, said Peter Beck-Bang, spokesman for the Copenhagen-based container shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk. It was the sixth ship seized within a week, a rise that analysts attribute to a new strategy by Somali pirates who are operating far from the warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden.

The company confirmed that the U.S.-flagged vessel has 20 U.S. nationals onboard.

Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said that it was the first pirate attack "involving U.S. nationals and a U.S.-flagged vessel in recent memory." She did not give an exact timeframe.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs said the White House was monitoring the incident closely and "assessing a course of action."

"Our top priority is the personal safety of the crew members on board," Gibbs said.

When asked how the U.S. Navy plans to deal with the hijacking, Campbell said she would "not discuss nor speculate on current and future military operations."

It was not clear whether the pirates knew they were hijacking a ship with American crew.

"It's a very significant foreign policy challenge for the Obama administration," said Graeme Gibbon Brooks, managing director of the British company Dryad Maritime Intelligence Service Ltd. "Their citizens are in the hands of criminals and people are waiting to see what happens."

Brooks and other analysts interviewed by the AP declined to speculate on whether American military forces might attempt a rescue operation. A senior Navy official in Washington said the Obama administration was talking to the shipping company to learn "the who, what, why, where and when" of the hijacking.

The U.S. Navy confirmed that the ship was hijacked early Wednesday about 280 miles (450 kilometers) southeast of Eyl, a town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia.

Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau, a piracy watchdog group in Kuala Lumpur, said depending on the speed of the ship, and where the pirates wanted to take it, it could take a day or two to reach shore.

U.S. Navy spokesman Lt. Nathan Christensen said the closest U.S. ship at the time of the hijacking was 345 miles (555 kilometers)away.

"The area, the ship was taken in, is not where the focus of our ships has been," Christensen told The Associated Press by phone from the 5th Fleet's Mideast headquarters in Bahrain. "The area we're patrolling is more than a million miles in size. Our ships cannot be everywhere at every time."

Somali pirates are trained fighters who frequently dress in military fatigues and use speedboats equipped with satellite phones and GPS equipment. They are typically armed with automatic weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and various types of grenades. Far out to sea, their speedboats operate from larger mother ships.

Most hijackings end with million-dollar payouts. Piracy is considered the biggest moneymaker in Somalia, a country that has had no stable government for decades. Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think-tank Chatham House, said pirates took up to $80 million in ransoms last year.

A NATO official said from Brussels that the alliance's five warships were patrolling the Gulf of Aden at the time of attack.

"That's where most of the shipping goes through and we can provide most of the protection in that vital trade route," said the official who asked not to be identified under standing rules.

The official said the taking of the crude-filled Saudi supertanker Sirius Star also happened in open water far off the Somali coastline. The Sirius Star was released in January,

NATO has five warships that patrol the region alongside three frigates from the European Union. The U.S. Navy normally keeps between five to 10 ships on station off the Somali coast. The navies of India, China, Japan, Russia and other nations also cooperate in the international patrols.

NATO sees piracy as a long-term problem and is planning to deploy a permanent flotilla to the region this summer. On March 29, a NATO supply ship itself came under attack by Somali pirates who appear to have mistaken it for a merchant ship. The crew quickly overcame the attackers, boarded their boat and captured seven.

This is the second time that Somali pirates have seized a ship belonging to the privately held shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk. In February 2008, the towing vessel Svitzer Korsakov from the A.P. Moller-Maersk company Svitzer was briefly seized by pirates.

Before this latest hijacking, Somali pirates were holding 14 vessels and about 200 crew members, according to the International Maritime Bureau.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB7YMEDuCwwY9ncDOtPAkEI4-H2wD97EB8F00

Hopefully, we drop in some Special Ops and kill all the pirates. I can't imagine not carrying a pretty large arsenal if I'm sailing a ship anywhere near Somalia.

They've lost their minds if they think they can hold an American ship without severe retribution. This will be over by tonight.

[BriarFox]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PIRACY?SITE=OHCOL

Might have been a short hijacking. Reports say the crew may have retaken it already.

[Fallen]

America, FUCK YEAH!

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

US Special forces has a navy gunship that has more armament than anything on the planet per square inch. I read the article a couple of months back in Popular Mechanics, and this made me think of it. It's actually a great article, and really explains how if you are on the other end of this thing, you are dead. Pretty amazing stuff, I recommend you read it.

The guns alone are intimidating, then you add all the technology that's also on the boat... wow.

and here is the article
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4303591.html

[Latrinsorm]

"Let me get this straight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands... and your plan is to blackmail this person?"

I'm not condoning, endorsing, or excusing the pirates' behavior in any way: despair and lunacy make for truly baffling decision-making.

[Clove]

"Why so serious?"

People do crazy things when they're desperate, though I'm pretty sure the pirates avoid targetting ships/crew under US protection. That just ends in tears.

[Sean of the Thread]

S.E.A.L

[Danical]

US Special forces has a navy gunship that has more armament than anything on the planet per square inch. I read the article a couple of months back in Popular Mechanics, and this made me think of it. It's actually a great article, and really explains how if you are on the other end of this thing, you are dead. Pretty amazing stuff, I recommend you read it.

The guns alone are intimidating, then you add all the technology that's also on the boat... wow.

and here is the article
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4303591.html

Holy Fuck.

That's one brutal boat.

[Methais]

Hopefully, we drop in some Special Ops and kill all the pirates. I can't imagine not carrying a pretty large arsenal if I'm sailing a ship anywhere near Somalia.

They've lost their minds if they think they can hold an American ship without severe retribution. This will be over by tonight.

Clearly it's time for Obama to reach out and offer friendship to Somali pirates, because retaliating would just make America look even more arrogant.

[Jorddyn]

Clearly it's time for Obama to reach out and offer friendship to Somali pirates, because retaliating would just make America look even more arrogant.

Who on earth said this? Well, besides you.

[BriarFox]

From what I'm hearing now, it looks like the ship captain surrendered himself to the pirates and is being held hostage on a separate boat. I'm not sure of the context of all that, but I'll bet the pirates got on the boat, noticed it was a US one, realized they were probably fucked, and then took the captain with them hoping that they could get away and/or trade him for their own release. It's possible the captain offered himself up for that reason, too - if so, he's a brave man, and deserves to be commended.

[Methais]

Who on earth said this? Well, besides you.

I don't know but I'm sure it's crossed at least one liberal's mind.

[BriarFox]

I don't know but I'm sure it's crossed at least one liberal's mind.

You need to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.

[Methais]

I sleep too late to listen to Rush.

[Parkbandit]

You need to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.

Because Rush wants Obama to FAIL!!!

Why is it when you criticize Obama, you suddenly must be brainwashed by Rush Limbaugh? Is that the only way you can justify it in your mind? I mean, why on Earth would anyone ever disagree with The One?!!?

[Ignot]

From what I'm hearing now, it looks like the ship captain surrendered himself to the pirates and is being held hostage on a separate boat. I'm not sure of the context of all that, but I'll bet the pirates got on the boat, noticed it was a US one, realized they were probably fucked, and then took the captain with them hoping that they could get away and/or trade him for their own release. It's possible the captain offered himself up for that reason, too - if so, he's a brave man, and deserves to be commended.

Yeah that's what I heard last, also. The last report I was able to watch was like an hour ago and they said the gunship was about 3 hours away. I think those pirates fucked up on this one.

[BriarFox]

Because Rush wants Obama to FAIL!!!

Why is it when you criticize Obama, you suddenly must be brainwashed by Rush Limbaugh? Is that the only way you can justify it in your mind? I mean, why on Earth would anyone ever disagree with The One?!!?

Err ... no, I said that because Limbaugh's logic is as inconsistent as Methais's last comment about liberalism. Your comment is a total non-sequitur.

[radamanthys]

Yea. They just pulled a Pearl Harbor.

[TheLastShamurai]

Holy Fuck.

That's one brutal boat.

Haha, yeah. That's a SWCC boat. SWCC's are the shit.

[Sean]

US Special forces has a navy gunship that has more armament than anything on the planet per square inch. I read the article a couple of months back in Popular Mechanics, and this made me think of it. It's actually a great article, and really explains how if you are on the other end of this thing, you are dead. Pretty amazing stuff, I recommend you read it.

The guns alone are intimidating, then you add all the technology that's also on the boat... wow.

and here is the article
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4303591.html

Perhaps you've never seen a little documentary called "Thunder in Paradise" starring Hulk Hogan.

[Warriorbird]

Seemed like less a real criticism of Obama and more a deluded Republican-framed perception of what a liberal was. I'd dare Methais to say something like that to somebody like Jim Webb in person.

If the boat hasn't already been retaken (I think it has) we should eradicate the pirates.

Thomas Jefferson had the right idea about what to do about piracy from lawless countries.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

I can just see a very similar conversation to this from Captain Ron...

"Stay on the path, Boss!
There's gorillas in the woods."
If there's one single gorilla around here, I'll eat it.
Gorillas. Right.

He could have said "revolutionaries", "freedom fighters". No. "Gorillas". He did it on purpose. You can see it in his eyes...eye.

[Gan]

Holy Fuck.

That's one brutal boat.


http://granitegrok.com/pix/New_Coast_Guard_via_Democratic_leadership.jpg

[Mabus]

I was pondering what could happen with this incident.


I. We could bargain for the captain's release.
A. We could give them safe passage away.
B. We could pay them.
C. We could make other pirates want to capture US ships.
II. We could not bargain for the captain's release.
A. We could kill them.
1. Multiple snipers, timed action.
2. SEAL team takes lifeboat.
3. Possibly leads to other pirates killing their hostages.
a. US ends up taking blame internationally.
B. We could demand and accept their surrender.
C. We could capture them.
1. Quickly capsize/sink lifeboat.
a. Hard to fight and use weapons while trying to swim.

Just examining possibilities. How do you see this panning out?

[BriarFox]

I was pondering what could happen with this incident.


I. We could bargain for the captain's release.
A. We could give them safe passage away.
B. We could pay them.
C. We could make other pirates want to capture US ships.
II. We could not bargain for the captain's release.
A. We could kill them.
1. Multiple snipers, timed action.
2. SEAL team takes lifeboat.
3. Possibly leads to other pirates killing their hostages.
a. US ends up taking blame internationally.
B. We could demand and accept their surrender.
C. We could capture them.
1. Quickly capsize/sink lifeboat.
a. Hard to fight and use weapons while trying to swim.

Just examining possibilities. How do you see this panning out?

I'm not sure what the US policy on negotiating with pirates is, but I suspect option A will be to send in a SEAL strike team. I doubt that would lead to other pirates killing their hostages - it'd probably discourage them from doing it in the first place. If they DO kill the guy, then there's no reason for us not to just blow them out of the water.

[Parkbandit]

The pirates are out of options at this point. They are in a 12' boat with the US Navy surrounding them. Their best bet is to release the hostage and hope the Navy has enough patience with them not to simply put a bullet through their skulls.

[Mabus]

I'm not sure what the US policy on negotiating with pirates is, but I suspect option A will be to send in a SEAL strike team.
From what I have heard (and the information could be incorrect) there are only 5 pirates. If so a timed strike by 5-10 snipers (each with a target) at night would be quick and clean.


I doubt that would lead to other pirates killing their hostages - it'd probably discourage them from doing it in the first place.
I could see pirates ashore killing the hostages they hold from other seized ships and blaming it on the death of their comrades at the hands of the USA. I can also see other nations agreeing with the pirates, and blaming the USA for not negotiating.


If they DO kill the guy, then there's no reason for us not to just blow them out of the water.
Agreed.

[Mabus]

The pirates are out of options at this point. They are in a 12' boat with the US Navy surrounding them. Their best bet is to release the hostage and hope the Navy has enough patience with them not to simply put a bullet through their skulls.
If they release the hostage and surrender they will be taken into custody and held for trial on the charges of piracy (and likely kidnapping, etc.). Hopefully, they will be tried by us, rather then handed off to some international court.

I have faith that our Navy will not murder them if they do surrender.

[BriarFox]

could see pirates ashore killing the hostages they hold from other seized ships and blaming it on the death of their comrades at the hands of the USA. I can also see other nations agreeing with the pirates, and blaming the USA for not negotiating. .

That's possible, but they'd just be escalating the conflict, which probably end up badly for them. Also, I don't know that they have a central organization that would make a decision like that. I'm curious to see how this all plays out.

[Kembal]

That's possible, but they'd just be escalating the conflict, which probably end up badly for them. Also, I don't know that they have a central organization that would make a decision like that. I'm curious to see how this all plays out.

That. The pirates are not centrally organized by any means. None of them are stupid enough to risk their negotiations with other countries over that.

Interesting question: If the U.S. does completely beat down these pirates, how many shipping companies might consider putting their boats under a U.S. flag again?

[Parkbandit]

Interesting question: If the U.S. does completely beat down these pirates, how many shipping companies might consider putting their boats under a U.S. flag again?

Still very few since it's far less expensive and far less of a hassle to put ships under other flags.

[Clove]

Still very few since it's far less expensive and far less of a hassle to put ships under other flags.Yes, given the expense it's simpler and cheaper just to stick to well-protected shipping lanes, or even just "take your chances" the ocean is big and these pirates, while very active, are really only effecting a very small number of ships.

[Stanley Burrell]

We should all smoke Newports so the economy gets refurbished and we summon a big ol' CO2 tidal wave to decimate the evil anti-Christian anti-God anti-heterosexual anti-ClydeR Somali Armada. For great justice.

I might or might not read this later. You always notice how I make these two-liners with justification in the second line? No? Alright. I love you too. Just not in that gay Somali pirate way.

[ClydeR]

I was pondering what could happen with this incident.


I. We could bargain for the captain's release.
A. We could give them safe passage away.
B. We could pay them.
C. We could make other pirates want to capture US ships.
II. We could not bargain for the captain's release.
A. We could kill them.
1. Multiple snipers, timed action.
2. SEAL team takes lifeboat.
3. Possibly leads to other pirates killing their hostages.
a. US ends up taking blame internationally.
B. We could demand and accept their surrender.
C. We could capture them.
1. Quickly capsize/sink lifeboat.
a. Hard to fight and use weapons while trying to swim.

Just examining possibilities. How do you see this panning out?

We tried I. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War) in the late 18th century, and it made matters much worse. It has to be II. We don't negotiate with terrorists or kidnappers.

If we do capture the pirates, we are required by our treaty obligations to turn them over to Kenya (http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-08-voa67.cfm), which has a corrupt judicial system and insufficient laws for prosecuting pirates.

So says Clyde.

[Latrinsorm]

<<Also, I don't know that they have a central organization that would make a decision like that.>>

It's attitudes like that that get you shot by geriatric members of the Rolling Stones.

http://st.blog.cz/p/piratess.blog.cz/obrazky/12900591.jpg

[Clove]

It would pretty hilarious if they sent a fast-attack sub out there... while they were paying attention to the destroyer. Just surface underneath them; instant capsized boat. Fish 'em out.

[Kuyuk]

I'll be disappointed if we don't either blow them out of the water or capture them.


Just blow up the boat and say they shot the cap't.



K.

[Gan]

Latest news: Other pirate friends, using a captured boat, are enroute to the lifeboat with the pirates & captain.

Its going to be a party.

Oh, and the friends supposedly have hostages from previous raidings on board as human shields.

[Apotheosis]

I would assume that there's appropriate non-lethal weaponry that would do the trick.. I assume there'll be a night-time strike of some sort...

or they could drug the food.

[Ashlander]

Where's the A-Team when we really need them?

[Tolwynn]

After this gets resolved, they should trail the pirates back to their haven and share some fuel-air explosive loving with the lot of them.

[Kuyuk]

<After this gets resolved, they should trail the pirates back to their haven and share some fuel-air explosive loving with the lot of them.>

While an awesome idea, it would be on the soil of <Kenya> or <whoever> and wouldnt be a very nice thing.

But I'm all for it.

[Parkbandit]

I would assume that there's appropriate non-lethal weaponry that would do the trick.. I assume there'll be a night-time strike of some sort...

or they could drug the food.

I would assume that there's appropriate lethal weaponry that would do the trick much quicker and easier.

[Clove]

Just one LA, Seawolf or Virginia submarine and a SEAL team and the party will be over, hostages or not.

[Kuyuk]

<<Other analysts say the U.S. will be reluctant to use force as long as one of its citizens remains hostage. French commandos, for example, have mounted two military operations against pirates once the ransom had been paid and its citizens were safe.>>

If the french do it, and we don't... oh man.. how shameful.


K.

[Apotheosis]

I would assume that there's appropriate lethal weaponry that would do the trick much quicker and easier.

True, but umm, let's think about keeping the captain alive, if not somewhat bruised.

=D

[Fallen]

I heard on the news the captain tried to jump out of the boat and swim away but they caught his ass. Too bad the Navy wasn't all over that. Perfect time to snipe the shit out of them.

[Apotheosis]

Seriously, though, what would it take for a small team of SEALs to come up under the boat from underwater and take it?

[Kuyuk]

As much as that idea would be awesome..

a) Is there proper equipment on the vessel for said assault?

b) Do they have trained people to do it?

c) What weapons will they use? - I'm not a gun person, so I dont know if guns can be swam with and then fired these days..

d) if they do that, there's still the possibility of the cap't bein capp'd


I think it'd be funny if a sniper put a hole in the raft using some sort of silenced gun so they wouldnt hear the gunshot, so they would then all be stranded and need our leet skillz to save them

[Kuyuk]

<<http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/10/somalia.france/index.html>>

The french are not afraid to lose 1 person.

And this is from the cheese eating surrender monkeys

[phantasm]

You are standing on a life boat. Your hands are tied behind your back. You are surrounded by pirates. You see a small knife, and are surrounded on all sides by ocean. Obvious exits: none.

>

[Clove]

Seriously, though, what would it take for a small team of SEALs to come up under the boat from underwater and take it?Just the time it takes to assemble, plan and deploy.

[Methais]

Seriously, though, what would it take for a small team of SEALs to come up under the boat from underwater and take it?

What they should do is spring out of the water with pictures of goatse right in the pirates' faces. By the time the shock wears off, the captain will be safely rescued.

[Ignot]

Last news report I saw was that the pirate mother ships were coming to confront the U.S warships. Anyone else hear something like this?


What they should do is spring out of the water with pictures of goatse right in the pirates' faces. By the time the shock wears off, the captain will be safely rescued.

This is good.

[Clove]

Pirates warn US against hostage rescue attempt

6 hours ago

MOGADISHU (AFP) — Somali pirates holding a US captain hostage warned on Saturday that using force to free him would end in "disaster," as they prepared to move him following a deadly French raid on a separate boat.

After French commandos stormed a yacht held by other pirates in a raid that left one hostage and two gunmen dead, pirate commander Abdi Garad told AFP the American captive would be moved from the lifeboat where he was being held.

Only four pirates have been guarding Captain Richard Phillips on the lifeboat, and transferring him to a larger ship could give them better defences as the US military seeks to free him.

"There are not any developments still on the standoff with the American officials," Garad said by phone from the northern Somali pirate lair of Eyl.

"We are planning to transfer the hostage on to one of the ships our friends are holding around Garacad area so that we can wait," he added, referring to an area along Somalia's coast, though he did not specify which ship.

US Navy forces have been pouring into the region amid the standoff over the American, who was captain of a Danish-operated container ship carrying international aid that pirates tried to take this week.

"I'm afraid this matter is likely to create disaster because it's taking too long and we are getting information that the Americans are planning rescue tricks like the French commandos did," Garad said.

The attacks on the French yacht and the aid ship have further highlighted the hijackings wreaking havoc on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Phillips has been held since Wednesday, when four pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama, which was carrying 5,000 tonnes of UN aid destined for African refugees. They are demanding a ransom for his release.

The abductors were overpowered by the unarmed American crew, but they bundled Phillips onto the lifeboat.

On Friday, Phillips jumped into the water and tried to swim towards the nearby US destroyer the USS Bainbridge, prompting the pirates to jump in and recapture him.

Somali elders and parents of pirates holding the American were seeking to free the American on Saturday "without any guns or ransom," according to Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

"They have already travelled from inland Galkayo to Garacad at the seashore and are ready to travel by boat towards the scene," he said in a statement.

But a spokesman for Somalia's hardline Islamist group Shebab backed the recent rash of pirate attacks, blaming the international community for depleting the country's marine resources and dumping their waste here.

"I believe that the pirates are not wrong to hijack the ships because there is no reason for the international ships to use Somalia's waters," Sheikh Muktar Robow told reporters in the south-central Somali city of Baidoa.

The separate French raid came six days after the yacht, the Tanit, was seized in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden and the operation freed three adults and a three-year-old child.

Florent Lemacon, owner of the yacht and the child's father, was killed.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin said ON Saturday an autopsy and investigation would determine what happened and "we cannot rule out" that the shot that killed Lemacon came from French commandos.

"I believe that it was the best possible decision," Morin said on French radio of the raid. "We did everything to save the hostages' lives."

The four ex-hostages -- Lemacon's wife Chloe, their three-year-old son Colin and two other adults -- were due in Paris on Sunday aboard a French-chartered plane, Morin told AFP.

A French presidential spokesman said earlier that the Tanit had been heading toward the coast and the pirates' threats were "becoming more and more specific."

Somali pirates have defied an international naval presence in the region to carry out hijackings.It's gonna get ugly. I mean if the French can show force... we gotta.

[Clove]

What they should do is spring out of the water with pictures of goatse right in the pirates' faces. By the time the shock wears off, the captain will be safely rescued.OMG STFU Methais!!!!! You're going to tip them off motherfucker!!!!!!!

[Apotheosis]

I wonder if this means that having private security companies, ie mercenaries, would be a viable option for protecting shipments.

I would totally sign up for the job.

[Kuyuk]

<<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_on_re_af/piracy>>

Now they hijack a US tugboat as we're sending more troops into the region?

lulz.


K.

[Clove]

I wonder if this means that having private security companies, ie mercenaries, would be a viable option for protecting shipments.

I would totally sign up for the job.Or just avoid the area entirely.

[Stanley Burrell]

It's gonna get ugly. I mean if the French can show force... we gotta.

This is where I would post a video clip from Kung Pow where the Evil Council is French. But stupid copyright laws and my lack of search engine l33tness has caused me to post a simpler image link:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2308770891_58cf48cc91.jpg

Also, La Marseillaise is a dope beat and that's what I would rip people's faces off to if I were a stealthy French commando in charge of beating up Somali pirates. On my iPod.

[Back]

<<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_on_re_af/piracy>>

Now they hijack a US tugboat as we're sending more troops into the region?

lulz.


K.

It was a US tugboat with an Italian flag.

Those pirates are going to get a lot more than they bargained for.

[Stanley Burrell]

The captain of the Maersk Alabama was freed Sunday after being held captive since Wednesday by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation told CNN.

The official said Capt. Richard Phillips is uninjured and in good condition, and that three of the four pirates were killed. The fourth pirate is in custody. Phillips was taken aboard the USS Bainbridge, a nearby naval warship.

Earlier Sunday afternoon Maersk Line Limited, owner of the Maersk Alabama, said the U.S. Navy informed the company that it had sighted Phillips in a lifeboat where pirates are holding him.

Phillips was spotted another time earlier in the day, the Navy said.

On Saturday, the FBI launched a criminal investigation into the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship by Somali pirates, two law enforcement officials told CNN. The probe will be led by the FBI's New York field office, which is responsible for looking into cases involving U.S. citizens in the African region, the officials said.

The Maersk Alabama reached port in Mombasa, Kenya, on Saturday. Crew members aboard the freed cargo ship described how some of their colleagues attempted to "jump" their pirate captors.

A scuffle ensued and one of the sailors stabbed a pirate in the hand in the battle to retake the container ship, one of the sailors told CNN.

Snippets of information are starting to emerge about how the Alabama's crew managed to retake the ship after it was hijacked by pirates Wednesday about 350 miles off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean.

Crew members smiled broadly as they stood on the ship's deck under the watchful eyes of security teams. Although the crew was kept away from the media, CNN's Stan Grant got close enough to ask crew members what happened after the pirates climbed aboard the ship.

One crew member said he recalled being awakened around 7 a.m. as the hijacking began.

"I was scared," Grant quoted the man as saying.

Some of the crew managed to hide in a secure part of the Alabama as the pirates stormed the ship, the sailor said.

As the sailors described their clash with the pirates, a crew member pointed to one shipmate and said, "This guy is a hero. He and the chief engineer, they took down the pirate. ... He led him down there to the engine room and then they jumped him."

The shipmate added that he stabbed the pirate's hand and tied him up.

"Capt. Phillips is a hero," another crew member shouted from the deck of the freed ship.

Since Phillips was captured Wednesday, the destroyer USS Bainbridge has been in the area of the lifeboat, trying to free him.

An attempt by Phillips to escape from the 28-foot covered lifeboat was thwarted by a pirate, who dove into the Indian Ocean after him. Phillips' captors appear to have tied him up afterward, Pentagon officials said.
The Alabama resumed its course on Thursday for Mombasa, its original destination, carrying food aid and an armed 18-person security detail.

Maersk president and CEO John Reinhart told reporters Saturday that the crew will stay on board in Mombasa while the FBI conducts an investigation.

No French commandos were hurt during the incident.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/12/somalia.pirates/index.html

I really wanted to bomb Somalia, too :(

[Ashlander]

So how did they get him out?

[Gan]

So it was a naval operation that freed the captain?

The article is somewhat vague on that detail, other than 3 of the 4 pirates were killed - which gives the impression that the captain was freed by force.

Too bad they did not get the 4th... oh wait, we have him in custody.

Too bad we cant waterboard the fucker. On the other hand, we could STICK TO THE CODE!!!

http://st.blog.cz/p/piratess.blog.cz/obrazky/16026492.jpg

[Beguiler]

According to the latest, Phillips once again jumped out of the lifeboat four Somali pirates were holding him on, and the US took advantage of that and killed three of the four pirates, took the fourth in custody, and Phillips was en route to the USS Bainbridge.

Go Navy!

[Methais]

.................................................. AND THEN NINJAS!..,-~''''''''''''''''~~~~~~~--------,,,,___..,-~~~~,...................
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.......................\.\........................ ....................THOUSANDS OF THEM!..,-`;;;;;;;;;;;¯`-,\........./--,_/..XIF.......
.........................\.\...................... .................................................. ......./,,------,;;;;;;;;;'\`~-,,-~`¯`-,..............
...........................\.\.................... .................................................. ......|.• \ / •..|;;;;;;;;'|.....`~,;;;;;;¯`-,..........
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.................................................. ............................................¯`~--,_;;;;;;;;;;;,-`........................................

[LMingrone]

Good job Navy, good job SEALs, and welcome back Captain. Ninjas are better than pirates.

[Beguiler]

Shhhh..little known secret! SEALs giggle when you call them Ninjas...really!

[LMingrone]

Shhhh..little known secret! SEALs giggle when you call them Ninjas...really!

In that case, I'm glad they get a giggle out of it. They deserve a laugh sometimes. They can laugh at my expense any day.

Now all we need to finish the trifecta is a group of ninjas to kidnap someone. Then send in the robots.

[Clove]

Shhhh..little known secret! SEALs giggle when you call them Ninjas...really!I prefer to call them "Frogmen" :D

[Sean of the Thread]

S.E.A.L


Win

[Stanley Burrell]

Now all we need to finish the trifecta is a group of ninjas to kidnap someone. Then send in the robots.

Armageddon.


Win

Word. You ever notice these guys always get their rescue missions clockwork? I only know one SEAL, but anyone who goes skydiving as a job activity and a pass-time is pretty loco, esse. In a good way.

[Ignot]

Win

Did you just post a win to your own quote?

[Sean of the Thread]

Did you just post a win to your own quote?


Yep. Oh now it's time to hit their den rescue the 200 some odd captives there and then drop their ransom in the form of multimillion denominations with fins and rocket propulsion.

[Proxy]

Yep. Oh now it's time to hit their den rescue the 200 some odd captives there and then drop their ransom in the form of multimillion denominations with fins and rocket propulsion.

The BIGGG Fire!!!

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

I wonder if the snipers were like "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMB, headshot!" as they were picking off the pirates.

[Parkbandit]

It's BOOM headshot.. you fucking n00b.

[Sean of the Thread]

It's just remarkable however.

I'm sure they had their sights on melons for hours but to take that shot in rolling seas on two moving ships if the cap'n didn't shit his pants when 3 heads exploded simultaneously around him he deserves a I didn't shit my pants medal.

I didn't know it was one of the ships 28 foot enclosed lifeboats I thought it was some piece of shit row boat or something. Was wondering what took so long but there was only a small point of view to take a simu shot like that.

AMERICA FUCK YEAH.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/boomheadshot.gif

[Gan]

I heard it was pretty choppy when it all went down.

SEALs got mad skillz.

[Sean of the Thread]

http://www.phawker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/americafuckyeah.jpg

[Back]

It was a US tugboat with an Italian flag.

Those pirates are going to get a lot more than they bargained for.

If SotT can, so can I.

Pirates used to be cool, but now its SEALs. Savvy?

[Parkbandit]

It's just remarkable however.

I'm sure they had their sights on melons for hours but to take that shot in rolling seas on two moving ships if the cap'n didn't shit his pants when 3 heads exploded simultaneously around him he deserves a I didn't shit my pants medal.

I didn't know it was one of the ships 28 foot enclosed lifeboats I thought it was some piece of shit row boat or something. Was wondering what took so long but there was only a small point of view to take a simu shot like that.

AMERICA FUCK YEAH.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/boomheadshot.gif


I'll be honest.. I don't know for sure because I've never been in that situation before.. but you have GOT to have some deep seeded hatred for 4 fucks who have you hostage for 5 days in a lifeboat.. and the site of their heads asplodin all over would make me yell "HELL FUCKING YEA FUCKERS!"

I mean seriously.. except maybe the retarded pirates, who didn't see this playing out like this? I thought all 4 would be taken out, but I guess one surrendered?

[Sean of the Thread]

One injured his hand and was on the Bainbridge for treatment and acting as the negotiator. Now he's going to fuck me in the ass federal prison for life.

[Tolwynn]

You really could have worded the last sentence a little better than that, heh.

[Proxy]

what? you object to feeding pirates and terrorists cockmeatsanmiches 4 life?

[Tisket]

I really wanted to bomb Somalia, too :(

I'm pretty sure you were joking but...these are just criminal individuals out to make a buck. Not that I'm at all opposed to kicking some pirate ass but this is NOT Somalia as a whole engaging in piracy. We are not at war. We haven't been attacked by a sovereign nation.

[Tisket]

what? you object to feeding pirates and terrorists cockmeatsanmiches 4 life?

Your comprehension of the word "terrorist" is nonexistent. Hint: If it's about personal monetary profit or gain, then an act of violence is NOT terrorism. It's robbery.

Maybe it's the hostage-taking that's confusing you. Hostage-taking for POLITICAL purposes, to manipulate governments, that's terrorism. Hostage-taking for personal MONETARY gain, where a ransom is the primary goal, is simply greed.

[Proxy]

lol Tisket :)

[Stanley Burrell]

I'm pretty sure you were joking but...these are just criminal individuals out to make a buck. Not that I'm at all opposed to kicking some pirate ass but this is NOT Somalia as a whole engaging in piracy. We are not at war. We haven't been attacked by a sovereign nation.

I totally am.

I think stopping these guys though, as a whole, is ultimately going to be like ... Stopping gypsies from stealing.

[Warriorbird]

Watch out Stan. Gypsy curses are even more potent over the Internet!

http://i43.tinypic.com/2jb4eao.jpg

[Apotheosis]

Always make sure you have a vial of gypsy tears, you know, to protect you from the AIDS...

[Numbers]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/13/somalia.pirates.revenge/

[Methais]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/13/somalia.pirates.revenge/

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/DoyleHargraves/blowem_up.jpg

[Back]

http://www.spike.com/video/borat-gypsy-yard/2829273

[Back]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/13/somalia.pirates.revenge/

lol. Uh, are we supposed to be skurd?

[Tolwynn]

So, if they're going to kill American sailors now, why not pre-emptively strike the little bastards and save everyone a lot of trouble?

[Miscast]

I thought all 4 would be taken out, but I guess one surrendered?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UfBePUbn2Us/SDpID11OjaI/AAAAAAAACTs/Ppnh39mLbtA/s1600/puffyshirt.jpg

[Ignot]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy


Somali pirates hijack 4 ships, take 60 hostages

Associated Press Writer – 10 mins ago

MOMBASA, Kenya – Somali pirates captured four ships and took more than 60 crew members hostage in a brazen hijacking spree, while the American captain freed from their grip planned to reunite with his crew and fly home Wednesday to the United States.

Pirates have vowed revenge for the deaths of three colleagues at the hands of U.S. snipers rescuing Capt. Richard Phillips, as well as for two others slain by French forces in a separate rescue last week.

"Our latest hijackings were meant to show that no one can deter us from protecting our waters from the enemy because we believe in dying for our land," Omar Dahir Idle, a pirate based in the coastal town of Harardhere, told The Associated Press by telephone. "The recent American operation, French navy attack on our colleagues or any other operation mean nothing to us."

The top U.S. military officer said Tuesday he takes such comments seriously.

But Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that "we're very well prepared to deal with anything like that."

Phillips, who offered himself up as a hostage to save the crew of the Maersk Alabama, was rescued Sunday when U.S. Navy SEALs shot three pirates dead after a five-day standoff.

The commander of the USS Bainbridge, the American destroyer from which the SEALs took their shots at the pirates, said the captain's life was repeatedly threatened. Cmdr. Frank Castellano of the destroyer USS Bainbridge told The Associated Press the pirates repeatedly stated "it was their intention to kill him."

Special forces on the warship, believing Capt. Richard Phillips' life was in immediate danger, ended the standoff Sunday with three well placed shots, killing the pirates.

Castellano did not give further details about where Phillips is now.

The captain and his 19-man crew will reunite in the Kenyan port of Mombasa on Wednesday and fly from there to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on a chartered flight, according to the shipping company Maersk. They will be reunited with loved ones at Andrews in a private reception area.

Despite Mullen's confident statement and President Barack Obama's warning of further U.S. action, Somali pirates captured two more nautical trophies Tuesday to match the two ships they seized a day or two earlier.

The latest seizures were the Lebanese-owned cargo ship MV Sea Horse, the Greek-managed bulk carrier MV Irene E.M. and two Egyptian fishing boats. Maritime officials said the Irene carried 21 to 23 Filipino crew and the International Maritime Bureau reported 36 fishermen, all believed to be Egyptian, on the two boats.

It was not known exactly how many crew the Sea Horse had, but a ship that size would probably need at least a dozen sailors.

NATO spokeswoman Shona Lowe said pirates in three or four speedboats captured the Sea Horse off Somalia's eastern coast on Tuesday — an attack that came only hours after the Irene was seized in a rare overnight raid in the nearby Gulf of Aden.

The two Egyptian fishing boats were hijacked in the gulf off Somalia's northern coast but it was not clear if those attacks came Monday or Sunday.

The Gulf of Aden, which links the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, is one of the world's busiest and most vital shipping lanes, crossed by over 20,000 ships each year. It has been at the center of the world's fight against piracy.

A flotilla of warships from nearly a dozen countries has patrolled the Gulf of Aden and nearby Indian Ocean waters for months. They have halted many attacks on ships this year, but say the area is so vast they can't stop all hijackings.

Pirates have attacked 78 ships this year, hijacking 19 of them, and about 17 ships with more than 300 crew still remain in pirates' hands, according to Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur.

Each boat carries the potential of a million-dollar ransom.

A senior U.S. defense official in Washington said Phillips was being debriefed Tuesday on the USS Bainbridge. Among other questions, FBI officials and maritime experts are keen to know exactly what each hostage-taker did, to gather evidence for possible criminal investigations or to better prepare for future hostage situations.

It was not clear exactly who was interviewing Phillips. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

A fourth pirate who had been holding Phillips was in U.S. custody after surrendering.

The Irene, flagged in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was sailing from the Middle East to South Asia, Choong said.

U.S. Navy Lt. Nathan Christensen, spokesman for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said the Irene carried 23 Filipino crew, while Choong reported it had 21 and Greek marine officials said it carried 22. There was no immediate way to reconcile the figures.

A maritime security contractor, speaking on condition of anonymity because it is a sensitive security issue, said the Irene put out a distress signal "to say they had a suspicious vessel approaching. That rapidly turned into an attack and then a hijacking."

"They tried to call in support on the emergency channels, but they never got any response," the contractor said.

In Washington, Obama appeared to move the piracy issue higher on his agenda, vowing the United States would work with nations around the world to fight the problem.

"I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region and to achieve that goal, we're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks," Obama told reporters Monday.

The 19 crew members of the Alabama celebrated their skipper's freedom with beer and an evening barbecue Monday in Mombasa.

The U.S. is considering new options to fight piracy, including adding Navy gunships along the Somali coastline and launching a campaign to disable pirate "mother ships."

The four pirates who attacked the Alabama were between 17 and 19 years old, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

"Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons," Gates told students and faculty at the Marine Corps War College. "Everybody in the room knows the consequences of that."

U.S. officials were now considering whether to bring the fourth pirate, who surrendered shortly before the sniper shootings, to the United States or turn him over to Kenya. Both piracy and hostage-taking carry life prison sentences under U.S. law.

[Methais]

Send Jack Bauer to Somalia.

Problem solved.

[Jorddyn]

"Our latest hijackings were meant to show that no one can deter us from protecting our waters from the enemy because we believe in dying for our land," Omar Dahir Idle, a pirate based in the coastal town of Harardhere, told The Associated Press by telephone. "The recent American operation, French navy attack on our colleagues or any other operation mean nothing to us."


This guy is obviously on drugs. "Protecting our waters"? "Dying for our land"? No, you're a bunch of thieves.

Oh, and I say at least give the captain a handgun.

[Clove]

This guy is obviously on drugs. "Protecting our waters"? "Dying for our land"? No, you're a bunch of thieves.

Oh, and I say at least give the captain a handgun.I'm betting many of the estates bought with the pirating profits are within naval bombardment range. Since they are willing to die for their land and waters, maybe we should flatten a few mansions and see if it's still worth it.

[Parkbandit]

The laws need to be changed to allow ships to defend themselves. You will find the pirates less inclined to get into their tiny boats and try to board these massive ships if there's a chance they will get shot in the face.

Don't bother looking for the pirates, let the pirates come to you.. and have a handful of mercs on your ship, ready to chum the water with pirate parts.

[Mabus]

Don't bother looking for the pirates, let the pirates come to you.. and have a handful of mercs on your ship, ready to chum the water with pirate parts.
Those "pirate parts" will be on all the news media, thanks to our Dear Leader:

The Great Speaker, in his own words? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoGPfXai0b0&)

Soon as we can halt their "privacy" all will be revealed!

;)

[Methais]

Those "pirate parts" will be on all the news media, thanks to our Dear Leader:

The Great Speaker, in his own words? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoGPfXai0b0&)

Soon as we can halt their "privacy" all will be revealed!

;)

I can see the uproar now if Bush had said that instead.

[Clove]

The laws need to be changed to allow ships to defend themselves. You will find the pirates less inclined to get into their tiny boats and try to board these massive ships if there's a chance they will get shot in the face.

Don't bother looking for the pirates, let the pirates come to you.. and have a handful of mercs on your ship, ready to chum the water with pirate parts.These ships don't need to be in Somali waters in the first place. They're travelling through known pirate waters to save money on fuel and taking advantage of the fact that the ocean is a huge place and for every 1 ship that gets intercepted by pirates 100 or more go through without incident. They're playing odds to save cash; paying to train and equip sailors to repel organized attacks may not be an attractive solution to penny pinchers.

Like I said destroy some of the real property being bought with the profits and suddenly it won't be such an attractive enterprise anymore.

[Parkbandit]

These ships don't need to be in Somali waters in the first place. They're travelling through known pirate waters to save money on fuel and taking advantage of the fact that the ocean is a huge place and for every 1 ship that gets intercepted by pirates 100 or more go through without incident. They're playing odds to save cash; paying to train and equip sailors to repel organized attacks may not be an attractive solution to penny pinchers.

Like I said destroy some of the real property being bought with the profits and suddenly it won't be such an attractive enterprise anymore.

I like my idea better.. chum the waters bitches!

Or actually, I like Ron Paul's idea.. let private enterprise seize the pirate ships and keep the booty. Legalized piracy against the pirates! HELL YEA!

[Warriorbird]

All entertainment aside... do we really want the stuff of a bunch of Somali pirates?

I hear they drop no good loot.

[Sean of the Thread]

Or actually, I like Ron Paul's idea.. let private enterprise seize the pirate ships and keep the booty. Legalized piracy against the pirates! HELL YEA!


I'd be down for that in a heartbeat and four 225 evinrudes in the back.

[Clove]

I like my idea better.. chum the waters bitches!

Or actually, I like Ron Paul's idea.. let private enterprise seize the pirate ships and keep the booty. Legalized piracy against the pirates! HELL YEA!


All entertainment aside... do we really want the stuff of a bunch of Somali pirates?

I hear they drop no good loot.Somali Gold Farmers FTW. I hear that some of the cruise lines use some sort of ultra or sub-sonic based perimeter defense that makes people vomit as they approach the ship. I'd love to see some merchant ships with that... then at least if the pirates still had the GUTS to board and command the vessel, well, they'd deserve it.

[Mabus]

US unveils plan to tackle piracy - BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8001102.stm)


Mrs Clinton called for continued work on releasing captured vessels, as several ships and their crews remain in the hands of pirates.

She also said the international group had to consider ways to track and freeze pirate assets.

"It is time to eliminate the financial payoff of piracy," she told reporters.

"We will also reiterate to all concerned the US policy of making no concessions or ransom payments to hostage takers."
(bold my own)

That's right, bitches. If you are under a USA flag you better fight off the pirates, because we will not be paying a ransom. Bailing out corporations is still alright, but your merchant marine ass will rot before we send a dime.

[Parkbandit]

All entertainment aside... do we really want the stuff of a bunch of Somali pirates?

I hear they drop no good loot.

Actually, they are pretty well financed by the millions of dollars they've collected via ransoms. I bet they have at least green gear.. maybe even the occasional blue item.

[Gan]

Somali Gold Farmers FTW. I hear that some of the cruise lines use some sort of ultra or sub-sonic based perimeter defense that makes people vomit as they approach the ship. I'd love to see some merchant ships with that... then at least if the pirates still had the GUTS to board and command the vessel, well, they'd deserve it.

Those systems are hard to focus on smaller, faster watercraft and thus they're not as effective as a few guys hanging off the railing with M-16's and grenade launchers.

Companies are going to have to start hiring their own security detail that can be used to fight off the pirates, IMO. This would be a great use for the private security companies that are now being encouraged to leave Iraq.

[Clove]

Those systems are hard to focus on smaller, faster watercraft and thus they're not as effective as a few guys hanging off the railing with M-16's and grenade launchers.

Companies are going to have to start hiring their own security detail that can be used to fight off the pirates, IMO. This would be a great use for the private security companies that are now being encouraged to leave Iraq.Like I said, if they have to spend money on extra skilled crew (who are essentially unnecessary for most of their voyage) they can just put the dough into more fuel and travel the safer lanes further from the Somali coast.

[Parkbandit]

Like I said, if they have to spend money on extra skilled crew (who are essentially unnecessary for most of their voyage) they can just put the dough into more fuel and travel the safer lanes further from the Somali coast.

What's the average mpg for these giant cargo ships?

[Clove]

What's the average mpg for these giant cargo ships?Not good, but the piracy in that area isn't something new. The ships going through it are playing the odds to save money. Nothing was stopping them from hiring armed security in the past; except sticker shock. Companies that aren't interested in the hassle of hijacked ships (or explaining dead pirates/crew resulting from firefights at sea) will just change their routes.

[Celephais]

I dunno... as a nation I don't think we should be messing with them, they don't exactly have anything to lose and they use children to wage war.
http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/41/kid_with_gun.jpg
</italics>

[Parkbandit]

Not good, but the piracy in that area isn't something new. The ships going through it are playing the odds to save money. Nothing was stopping them from hiring armed security in the past; except sticker shock. Companies that aren't interested in the hassle of hijacked ships (or explaining dead pirates/crew resulting from firefights at sea) will just change their routes.

Yea.. which is why I'm not sure your solution to just throw more gas in the tank is a good business decision vs hiring some mercs to protect your cargo.

[Clove]

Yea.. which is why I'm not sure your solution to just throw more gas in the tank is a good business decision vs hiring some mercs to protect your cargo.It's been a good decision for all the other ships that are staying within well protected shipping lanes, and therefore aren't being hijacked.

But back to my original question; nothing has prevented them from hiring armed security up until now, why haven't they done it?

[Parkbandit]

It's been a good decision for all the other ships that are staying within well protected shipping lanes, and therefore aren't being hijacked.

But back to my original question; nothing has prevented them from hiring armed security up until now, why haven't they done it?

My understanding is that the ship cannot come into many ports with weapons aboard. I'm not that familiar with the maritime laws governing these big cargo vessels, so it's merely speculation.

[Rocktar]

I am pretty sure that there are a lot of international maritime laws and I KNOW there are local laws about allowing the private arming of merchant ships and crews.

Personally, I think it would be a neat idea to place a couple of technologically out of date, but still quite seaworthy oil rigs off their coast, mount some radar, a helipad for some fast response choppers and a boat dock along with perhaps some coast guard and/or special forces personel to man the things and then tell them "You take a boat, we will take it back, plain and simple and you will all be fish food. We see any suspicious boats, they will be fish food." And then simply charge a fee to the shipping companies that ply those waters. Perhaps something like 1/3 of the fuel costs for going around those waters should do it.

Hell, take it a step farther, charge the rest of the world for their defense with billing for services rendered and a modest 5% APR on all debts over 5 years old. Seek repayment of foreign aid as well. Go back to say, WWII for the billing records. Would make a huge dent in our national debt to have everyone pay us back for all the defense services and aid we have provided.

[AnticorRifling]

I am pretty sure that there are a lot of international maritime laws and I KNOW there are local laws about allowing the private arming of merchant ships and crews.

Personally, I think it would be a neat idea to place a couple of technologically out of date, but still quite seaworthy oil rigs off their coast, mount some radar, a helipad for some fast response choppers and a boat dock along with perhaps some coast guard and/or special forces personel to man the things and then tell them "You take a boat, we will take it back, plain and simple and you will all be fish food. We see any suspicious boats, they will be fish food." And then simply charge a fee to the shipping companies that ply those waters. Perhaps something like 1/3 of the fuel costs for going around those waters should do it.

Hell, take it a step farther, charge the rest of the world for their defense with billing for services rendered and a modest 5% APR on all debts over 5 years old. Seek repayment of foreign aid as well. Go back to say, WWII for the billing records. Would make a huge dent in our national debt to have everyone pay us back for all the defense services and aid we have provided.


Normal people flush their shit, you post it.

[Keller]

I am pretty sure that there are a lot of international maritime laws and I KNOW there are local laws about allowing the private arming of merchant ships and crews.

Personally, I think it would be a neat idea to place a couple of technologically out of date, but still quite seaworthy oil rigs off their coast, mount some radar, a helipad for some fast response choppers and a boat dock along with perhaps some coast guard and/or special forces personel to man the things and then tell them "You take a boat, we will take it back, plain and simple and you will all be fish food. We see any suspicious boats, they will be fish food." And then simply charge a fee to the shipping companies that ply those waters. Perhaps something like 1/3 of the fuel costs for going around those waters should do it.

Hell, take it a step farther, charge the rest of the world for their defense with billing for services rendered and a modest 5% APR on all debts over 5 years old. Seek repayment of foreign aid as well. Go back to say, WWII for the billing records. Would make a huge dent in our national debt to have everyone pay us back for all the defense services and aid we have provided.

When you say words like "pretty sure" and "know", I hope you say them with the knowledge that you have zero credibility.

And your ideas are pretty dumb. First, you can't just provide a service to someone and bill them. Second, make countries pay us back for defense services? What defense services? Before I lambast you, I want to be clear what exactly your inarticulate thoughts were meant to convey. Third, seek repayment of foreign aid? You can't squeeze blood out of a rock.

[Clove]

Normal people flush their shit, you post it.


When you say words like "pretty sure" and "know", I hope you say them with the knowledge that you have zero credibility.

And your ideas are pretty dumb. First, you can't just provide a service to someone and bill them. Second, make countries pay us back for defense services? What defense services? Before I lambast you, I want to be clear what exactly your inarticulate thoughts were meant to convey. Third, seek repayment of foreign aid? You can't squeeze blood out of a rock.Solid fucking gold.

I'll add that your idea would essentially be conducting a war against pirates in Somali waters and we did such a good job fighting Somali gangs last time we were there.

[Clove]

My understanding is that the ship cannot come into many ports with weapons aboard. I'm not that familiar with the maritime laws governing these big cargo vessels, so it's merely speculation.Well it's all speculation (on both our parts) whether or not it would be smarter to hire mercenaries or take a longer route without at least a general understanding of the specific costs involved in each.

I'm merely pointing out that if piracy gets so frequent that travelling through Somali waters makes your odds of getting hijacked high, a smarter choice might be to travel through waters they won't pirate in, rather than to spend more money on "mercenaries" that may or may not successfully prevent a hijacking. Just don't go there.

[Rocktar]

Ooooo, arming civilian ships, like this is a new, original or even modern idea. Fucking DUH, if it was such a good idea, effective or legal, I would bet that a lot of people would have done it long before now.

Ever been to a port of entry in the US? I have, they are very strict about things like security, weapon and explosive checkpoints and so on. They also like to search ships and cargo for those kinds of things so I am pretty sure, call me crazy all you want, that having them on a ship in a US port is a serious no no.

To address other points, no, we didn’t wage war on Somalia last time; we went there to guard some grain. Had a friend that volunteered to do that and got his altruistic notions quashed real fast too. In the one incident where we actually DID use some level of genuine military force, the outcome was amazingly one sided. Even though the “Blackhawk Down” incident was sensationalized, the fact remains that we lost 18 soldiers killed, 83 injured and the opposing force suffered from a conservative estimate of over 300 killed to as many as 2000 dead and injured numbering as high as twice that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_(1993)

Yeah, I think we should wage war on pirates. I also think that other people who benefit should help pay for it. I also think it would be a neat idea if we charged all the countries that we have helped support and protect with our military the bill for that defense. Including but not limited too:

NATO countries
Western European countries
Japan
South Korea
several south East Asian countries
India
Iran (yeah, we defended them at one time)
Iraq (them too)
Saudi Arabia
Most other Middle Eastern countries
Israel (yeah, I am equal opportunity in the billing people department)
And anyone else I left off the list.

I also would like to see a repayment of our loans, aid and help world wide. We hold up the world and get reviled for it. We are called “Imperialist Empire Builders” by some and to quote Colin Powell in a speech as Secretary of State

“The world remembers well that several times in the course of this century, the United States was at the height of the world, the height of power. After World War I, or World War II, or even at the end of the Cold War, we could have imposed our will on the world but we didn’t. All we ever asked for was the opportunity to raise up our former enemies, and to get back to the business of peace and democracy. The only other thing we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead. We never wanted anyone else’s land or sovereignty over anyone.”

http://www.westpointaog.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=496

I think we should have asked for more.

We have done so much for the rest of the world, I want to see some payback and more than just idle lipservice and French punk vandals defacing graves of Americans who died so the punks could bitch and complain.

http://inspire21.com/site/stories/America_good.html

Oh, and just for Keller and Jorddyn I made sure and used short sentences and words and tried to avoid grammatically correct comma splices and just went for the dumbed down sentence structure.

So blow me.

[Fallen]

I guess the solution to the weapon problem would be to have them locked up whenever you're sailing into port, but once you hit international waters, or ..you know, shit-hole country waters, you have them worn by the crewmen. The harbor master or whomever checks the inventory of the cabinet before allowing them to dock, etc.

[Sean of the Thread]

Take it old school and mount a couple 20mms around and a 5 incher aft and forward with like destruct mechanisms. See how eager they'd be to take on a U.S. flagged vessel.

I personally know several people who yacht/sail to mexico out from the tampa area that keep shotguns and assault rifles on board. Hell my oceanography professor kept a m14 on board even with students.

We're America can't we do whatever we want anyways?

[Back]

I’ve read that companies don’t arm their crew because their insurance liability would skyrocket. It’s cheaper just to steer a few hundred miles out of the way.

[Jack]

The only choice to avoid going near Somalia is to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, rather than use the Suez Canal. It's not a matter of a hundres of miles, its a matter of thousands.

[Keller]

The only choice to avoid going near Somalia is to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, rather than use the Suez Canal. It's not a matter of a hundres of miles, its a matter of thousands.

I've never noticed your posts in other threads and I really, REALLY hoped that you were a character handle that would be Jack Bauer.

:(

I like you anyways.

[Stanley Burrell]

The only choice to avoid going near Somalia is to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, rather than use the Suez Canal. It's not a matter of a hundres of miles, its a matter of thousands.

Or we could just invent the goddamn fucking teleporter for fucking fuck's sake.

Shit.

[Ignot]

Or we could just invent the goddamn fucking teleporter for fucking fuck's sake.

Shit.

I would prefer the tube technology like in Futurama but only because I am scared of Teleporters, we all saw Spaceballs...

[Trouble]

The only choice to avoid going near Somalia is to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, rather than use the Suez Canal. It's not a matter of a hundres of miles, its a matter of thousands.
They could stay closer to the Yemeni coast once they enter the Gulf of Aden and then go farther out into the Indian Ocean once they pass the Horn. This way they could stay out of range of the small pirate boats.

[Jack]

The straight between the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea is something like twenty or twenty five miles wide, and the Gulf of Aden itself, between Yemen and Somalia is a couple hundred miles wide at the most. These ships aren't being hijacked in Somalian territorial waters, they're being hit in International Waters, along a well known and well travelled shipping lane. These pirates are using ocean going tugs as mother ships for their little rubber speed boats. They're heavily armed, and poorly trained, that combination makes them dangerous, as someone without any sort of real training is far more likely to resort to emptying a magazine when confronted with any sort of resistance. I'm not sure mercenaries are the answer, quite frankly I don't have a good answer to the problem, short of making the consequences for piracy so horrible that it is no longer a viable or attractive option to make a living.

[Methais]

I would prefer the tube technology like in Futurama but only because I am scared of Teleporters, we all saw Spaceballs...

If a Spaceballs teleporter will make fat women who wear thongs to the beach realize how fat their ass is, I'm all for it.

[Jorddyn]

I'm not sure mercenaries are the answer, quite frankly I don't have a good answer to the problem, short of making the consequences for piracy so horrible that it is no longer a viable or attractive option to make a living.

I basically picture a nice big safe room for the crew to flee to, and a large number of remote controlled booby traps and cameras on the bridge.

I have no idea if this is feasible, but it's a beautiful idea in my own head.

[Gan]

AP - A member of the crew on the U.S.-flagged ship hijacked by African pirates sued the owner and another company Monday, accusing them of knowingly putting sailors in danger. Richard E. Hicks alleges in the suit that owner Maersk Line Limited and Waterman Steamship Corp., which provided the crew, ignored requests to improve safety measures for vessels sailing along the Somali coast.

All of a sudden, mercenaries might not be so expensive...

[Warriorbird]

I would prefer the tube technology like in Futurama but only because I am scared of Teleporters, we all saw Spaceballs...

http://www.bivingsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/WindowsLiveWriter/Kidsvs.S.StevensAWebShowdownoraNoBrainer_C241/series%20of%5B2%5D.gif