Sources: No rescue planned for American kidnapped in Somalia

[Robb]

WASHINGTON - American officials told NBC News on Friday that they were "aware" of Somali pirates' threats to kill an American hostage they had grabbed over the weekend, but for now the Pentagon and U.S. military has no plans to try and rescue him.

The American, Michael Scott Moore, who wrote a book on surfing, was in Somalia gathering material for another book on modern-day pirates when he was kidnapped by 15 armed men on Saturday.

A pirate commander was reportedly in charge of negotiating Moore's release, although it was unclear whether a precise ransom demand had been made.

Following the rescue of American aid worker Jessica Buchanan and her Danish colleague Poul Thisted this week, Moore's kidnappers threatened to kill him if the United States tried something similar.

Read More:

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/27/10251033-sources-no-rescue-planned-for-american-kidnapped-in-somalia
http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=14834

[Scuba]

1. That's what I'd say.

[gateley]

2. Would they announce it if they had plans? Sheesh. nt

[DCKit]

6. Sure, what's the worst that could happen?

[gratuitous]

3. The pirates grabbed another American?

I don't think anyone could have foreseen that!

[Evoman]

4. Holy shit, how dumb or desperate do you have to be to go looking for pirates!

I mean.....I hope the guy gets rescued and returns nice and safe.......but hot damn. I'm a fucking idiot who does stupid shit all the time, but even I'm not that dumb.

[nyy1998]

12. lol +1 to everything you said

[Quantess]

17. Well said.

[snagglepuss]

5. It is reprehensible that people throw caution to the wind and travel to places such as Somalia.

Publishers should hire a Somali to write a book about pirates as any Caucasian will be targeted.

[JI7]

9. Somalis would be targeted also if they do the same

[renegade000]

7. it took about 3 months for the other hostages to be

rescued. kind of need to plan these things with good intelligence at what not... he's going to be there for a bit...

[cbayer]

8. While usually very sympathetic to those kidnapped,

this guy appears to be a freaking idiot.

It's one thing to be in the area as a relief worker or because you are trying to transit to the Suez Canal.

It's quite another to be there to write a story about pirates.

[Robb]

10. If he lives it'll be one hell of a book.

[cbayer]

11. I heard (somewhere) that the captors said if they were attacked in

a rescue mission, they would take him out before they got taken out.

I think he's a goner.

I was recently in Kenya and we rearranged a coastal trip because we didn't want to get anywhere near Somalia. Surfer dude had a death wish, imo.

But it would make one helluva book.

[uncle ray]

13. sounds like he fancied himself as Michael Moore.

unfortunately it turns out he's more of a Michael Scott.

[former9thward]

14. No taxpayer dollars should be used to rescue him.

He made his bed now let him lie in it. I would say that about relief workers also. They have no business being in that area.

[Robb]

15. Nonsense. I'd think the safety of Americans abroad is an excellent use of tax dollars.

Especially easy choice to make if I happen to agree with what they're up to -- such as relief workers -- but all Americans deserve it.

Where exactly would you prefer relief workers do their work?

[former9thward]

16. Relief workers should go where they are wanted.

They are not wanted in Somalia. In that area they are intentionally putting themselves in danger. To then ask our troops to put themselves in danger to rescue people who put themselves purposely in that situation is wrong.