Pirate ships converge on US hostage at sea

[cboy4]

Source: Associated Press

By KATHARINE HOURELD and MALKHADIR M. MUHUMED, Associated Press Writers

NAIROBI, Kenya – Escalating a dramatic Indian Ocean standoff, more U.S. warships — as well as pirate reinforcements with an international gallery of hostages — rushed Friday toward the spot where four Somali bandits are holding a U.S. sea captain aboard a drifting lifeboat.

The pirates apparently fear being shot or arrested if they hand over Capt. Richard Phillips — captured in a failed effort to seize the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday — and hope to link up with their colleagues who are using Russian, German, Filipino and other hostages captured in recent days as human shields.

U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus said U.S. warships also are headed to the area, more than 300 miles (480 kilometers) off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast.

<snip>

Mohamed Samaw, a Somali resident of the pirate stronghold in central Eyl town, who claims to have a "share" in a British-owned ship hijacked Monday, said four foreign ships previously captured by pirates are heading toward the lifeboat. A total of 54 hostages are on two of the ships, citizens of China, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Tuvalu, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090410/ap_on_re_af/piracy

---

Here we go.

The Navy is only going to let them get so close before they start sinking ships out of safety concerns.

That's my prediction.

[PearliePoo2]

1. MSNBC is reporting.......

The Captain being held hostage on a ship's lifeboat tried to escape by jumping overboard and swimming away. He was re-captured by the pirates.
There is speculation this escape attempt might have been orchestrated by the US forces.

[cboy4]

2. That's not good. I'm waiting for some nightime US Navy SEALS

rescue effort.

[zonkers]

51. nighttime scuba attack from the murky depths. like it.

[Skink]

66. Depth charges.

Knock the wind out of em.

[sam sarrha]

3. ..orchestrated by the US forces.? If so where were the snipers to take out the bad guys, and if not

where were the snipers.. sounds like they messed up way bad

[cboy4]

5. Here's the problem with using snipers.

The lifeboats are covered and Murphy, speaking after a briefing by the shipping company, said he suspects the pirates have closed the ports to avoid sniper fire.

[sam sarrha]

7. he was in the water.. life boat hull wont stop a mini gun or 50 cal M107

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWJp14tkBlU

[cboy4]

9. Right. I hadn't heard he reached the water .. I thought

it was only an attempt.

But now the Navy is saying it happened too fast for them to react. :shrug:

[sam sarrha]

17. link>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5426414

[slackmaster]

16. I have seen video footage of what 300 rounds from a CIWS does to a small pirate boat

It's pretty amazing. ;-)

[FlaGranny]

4. If I were in charge

I would send scuba divers with those bubble-free oxygen tanks and have them silently start punching a few holes in that lifeboat. I'm sure they could do it.

[pinniped]

57. The Turtle is outfitted for the job.

[cloudbase]

59. The boat won't sink.

The lifeboats have reserve buoyancy to spare. It might drop to the gunwales, but that's about it.


I think the navy should fire into the propellor of any ship that comes near, disabling it.

[fortyfeetunder]

60. Yeah an army of rebreathers

Now that would be a big surprise!!!

[pampango]

6. Bringing more hostages to the scene (if they get there) helps the pirates with

threats and negotiations. With just one hostage on the scene, they can't kill him or they are all dead. With many hostages they can threaten (or actually) kill a few and still have others to prevent an attack by the Navy.

[sam sarrha]

8. sounds like Carl Rove is work'n for em

[Mike Daniels]

10. Wow....human shields. Let's see people continue to justify these thugs as noble

[jpak]

11. Buckets of Blood and Pieces of Eight

not much has changed in Pirate World since Barbary times....

[Mike Daniels]

12. Nope and you have the idiot who wrote that Huffington post article

that people like to pass around here trying to pass pirates off as some utopian ideal for equality and democracy.

The only "democracy" pirates promoted was on their own ship. They sure as hell didn't give their captives (esp. women) many options and they were more likely to sell or maroon captured slaves than to treat them as equals.

[Pharlo]

13. Idiot move by the pirates.

The Bainbridge may not have special forces aboard, but those US warships sure as hell will. Now, the pirates are merely increasing the size of the 'rescue operation'. They should keep as many hostages as spread out as possible to avoid this type of situation. Now, the military knows where a large number of hostages are and has the personnel and opportunity to respond.

Personally, I think many governments feel that the entire pirate situation has gotten out of hand. I think there will probably be some type of under the table agreement by the officials of the countries' with hostages to 'end' the current MO and 'teach' the pirates a lesson. Particularly, if they can tell their citizenry it was 'out of their hands' and a 'US decision'. Best of a bad situation for some of these countries, and companies. Save their ransom, teach the pirates a lesson - plausible deniability.

Hopefully, not too many hostages get hurt.

But then, that's just my view. I could be completely wrong.

[sam sarrha]

18. and they can pull a "Jimmy Carter" on Obama...

[JPZenger]

19. Only AP is reporting about other pirate ships

Only the AP is reporting that other pirate ships are headed towards the lifeboat. NBC and CNN are not. Either the AP has a major scoop or they are getting punked. The other reports are that the lifeboat pirates asked for help, but no one will come their aid because they are afraid of the US Navy.

As noted above, if the pirates are bringing other hostages to the scene, that opens up potential for a much larger rescue operation.

The commercial ship owners have each paid millions in ranson. The US Navy and the FBI have to maintain their position of refusing to negotiate. The best the pirates can hope for is to be allowed to sail away after giving up the captain. However, they fear that as soon as the captain leaves the boat, there will be an extremely accurate 4.5 inch diameter shell headed their way.
----
If you want to read some interesting history, read about how Thomas Jefferson dealt with the pirates off of the Shores of Tripoli in 1804. Every other country paid "tribute" to the pirates. Jefferson sent the entire US Navy and Marine Corps.

[JPZenger]

21. 1975 Rescue Attempt after SS Mayaquez Captured

The last similar US incident was in 1975. The SS Mayaquez was captured by the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia. Ford wanted to show he was tough, so he sent in every available US force in a rescue operation. While the rescue operation was underway, the crew was released, but word had not yet gotten out. A large number of US forces died, mainly from helicopter crashes.

Similarly, in the 1980 US rescue attempt of the Iranian hostages, a large number of US forces died in helicopter crashes and the mission was called off.

[Mike Daniels]

26. We still ended up submitting tribute (of a sort) even after that war

The Jefferson-era incident was also the first time we tried to install an alternate leader and we ended up leaving "our man" out to dry after the existing ruler agreed to terms.

It wasn't until after the war of 1812 that the Barbary situation was pretty much put to rest.

[pitchforksandtorches]

14. Aarrrrghh Matey!

You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.




Flying Spaghetti Monsterism

Arrrrrgh!

May you be touched by His noodly appendage

[cboy4]

15. Don't quit your day job.

:thumbsdown:

[JPZenger]

20. That's funny

Yes, it is only because Obama is so weak that the pirates are testing him.

[christx30]

61. I do see this

as a test for not just Obama, but for the United States in general. And if we shrink in the face of these guys, we are showing not only them, but other countries in the world our weakness. We have to put these guys down hard. We have to prove that we have the equipment, the training, and, most important of all, the mettle to deal with the situation decisively. Can our Navy be defeated by some guys in 28 foot dingys? Will all someone like China or Russia have to do is take a hostage in order to stop us? And if we don't put these terrorists down in a way that leaves no doubt who won, it will encourage more piracy on the high seas, especially against American ships. The US won't be a super power any more. We will be a paper tiger.

[Winterblues]

34. Your chart does not include "air piracy"

When aircraft are "hijacked" it is considered an act of "air piracy" and tried in a court of law as such.

[Skink]

63. Are you a Pirate?

[Javaman]

22. This is turning out to be the woodstock of pirating.

I bet the barbary pirates of yore are sooooooo jealous.

[Javaman]

23. Alright, call my crazy, but I think I have a very simple solution...

boats float. just puncture it.

no need to shoot everyone, just pop the cork, let it sink, then pick them up.

I mean, honestly, why is this becoming such a hard nut to crack?

a navy seal with a recycling breather plants a small charge on the bottom of the boat. Boom. boat takes on water, pirates and captain, sink. come in with boat, pick up captain and the pathetic pirates.

Am I crazy?

[cboy4]

25. I mentioned up thread that I think the SEALS will be

involved in a night operation.

But puncturing the boat is taking drastic measures, since there is a chance the pirates, if they know they're doomed, just decide to shoot the captain before the boats sinks.

I think they're doing the right thing using the FBI negotiators to talk things out first.

[Javaman]

28. perhaps, but a flash bang granade in the boat along with a hole

would go wonders to ending this mess without anyone getting killed.

[TorchTheWitch]

76. the effects of a flash bang wouldn't be nearly long enough

The boat would take awhile to sink - way too long for the effects of a flash bang to wear off, and the pirates kill the hostage. I suspect that a SEAL operation would involve flash bangs though since the effects would (hopefully) be long enough for them to take out the pirates thereby freeing the hostage. That's what flash bangs are for - to paralyze the enemy for the very brief period needed to take them out.

[Barack_America]

24. So these pirates are coordinated?

By whom, I wonder?

[junior college]

27. The captain has a striking resemblance to Philip K. Dick

Despite that, I still back the pirates. Their waters are being exploited by Westerners and their people are suffering because of it. It's too easy to have a knee jerk reaction and automatically assume the pirates are just common criminals. But do a little research on this issue and you will find otherwise.

[Javaman]

29. Notice that you never saw them both in the same room...hmmm...

:rofl:

[cali]

30. moronic. the ship was 350 miles off the Somalian coast

you, junior college kiddy, are the one with the knee jerk sophmoric idiocy.

There is exactly zero evidence (even from that lousy alternet piece) that the U.S. is dumping anything or that U.S. ships are fishing in the region. And grab a fucking clue, dear, they are criminals.

[Mike Daniels]

31. They are criminals.

Regardless of their situation, hijacking ships and holding the cargo and crew for ransom is a crime. If they were taking on the ships that over-fished their waters and dumped waste into the seas I'd allow them a little understanding. But that's not what they're doing.

Now, it looks as though other pirates ( no, I won't use quote marks as their actions are the very definition of piracy) are bringing other boats out that contain human shields to serve as cover for their idiot brethren.

For a bunch of people who are trying to make themselves somewhat sympathetic they're making a bit of a mess of it in this instance.

As someone who had merchant sailors in his family my tolerance for piracy (regardless of the justification) is pretty much zero.

[Marrah_G]

33. You back gangs of thugs and criminals?

So am I to believe you would also have no problem with armed gang bangers taking you and your family hostage because they come from poverty and therefore have a right to get rich selling drugs, protection rackets, prostitution ,etc?

The only thing you are supporting is violent, vicious warlords getting rich off the crime syndicate they have built.

It's organized crime. Period.

This isn't fucking Robin Hood and his merry band of men.

[auburnblu]

54. He backs noble high seas adventurers

I am 100% certain the media is making up the $2 million ransom. These noble individuals are on a mission to save the environment and they have greedy people stay with them for extended periods of time to help the greedy people understand their wrong ways.

[muryan]

70. You're ruining the romanticism of it for him

He once watched this movie with Johnny Depp, thats how all pirates are right? They most definitely don't kill, trade drugs and completely degrade women. Somalia is a shining example for all the failed states of the west. /s

[cboy4]

35. Junior College.

That sounds about right. :eyes:

[Codeine]

62. There is zero evidence for that bullshit.

One dumbfuck story on the internet and you're willing to excuse - even celebrate - this barbarism.

[muryan]

69. How dare people transport by water

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. AQUATIC SOVEREIGNTY FOR THE PROLETARIAT.

[ohio2007]

32. ...Pirate reinforcements arrive with "an international gallery of hostages"....

what ?
A prison barge?
They have a sea going Gitmo ?

This isn't going to bode well for the pirates mother ships if things shake out like they could.The world can make an example of the opportunity presented but alas, imo, appeasement will be the better course they choose.

This could be a "Battle of Midway" turning point but....

[auburnblu]

55. I say let Russia deal with them

I doubt many Russians are caring too much abouty the environmental heroics of the high seas adventurers. I think the U.N. security council should back ussia taking whatever means they deem fit to end the piracy.

The Russians would kill most of the pirates and Gitmo would look like Disney World compared to any prison the Russians would use.

[dmosh42]

36. Time to tow that lifeboat away from land.. n/t

[ensho]

37. I don't want our Navy to shoot anybody

negotiate our way out of the mess. might take longer but no one will die.

[cali]

39. That's the preferable avenue

but if it comes down to Richard Phillips or the pirates, I prefer Phillips live.

[christx30]

44. I would rather we are able to

negotiate the hostages away from the pirates, then we blast every pirate ship in their "fleet" and send each and every one of them to them to the murky depths. So far the piracy has been a pretty lucrative operation for them. Relatively low risk, high reward. We need to end the practice.

[hugo_from_TN]

48. I think we should negotiate his release for their freedom

and then blast them out of the water.

[JPZenger]

49. Want to avoid escalation to widespread violence

This is a very touchy situation. So far, the pirates have treated the crews well and very few or no crew members have been harmed. The commercial ship companies have hesitated to arm their crews with firearms, they only use water cannons. Once the gunfire starts, it may be impossible to end it, and will escalate. The pirates may start shooting their way onto merchant ships.

A logical response would be a convoy system. That would allow one naval ship with one helicopter to protect multiple merchant ships at one time.

[muryan]

71. If the pirates get anything from this

It will give an incentive to every pirate in the area to attack american ships.

[cboy4]

38. Guided-missile frigate en route.

USS Halyburton.

(not crazy about the name)

[thelefthand]

41. What's wrong with the name?

I assume you don't like the name because it sounds like the name of the company. They are not even spelled the same. The ship is named of Metal of Horon winner William D. Halyburton (1924-1945)the company is Halliburton.

[cboy4]

43. It was a joke because it sounded like the company, yes.

I guess I have to put the sarcasm smiley after everything!

[Thothmes]

58. Associatiating a Medal of Honor winner

with a gang of thugs because you think it is funny is poor judgement at best.

[cboy4]

67. Oh whatever

:eyes:

[-..__...]

40. "Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all"?

[ohio2007]

42. photo shop -..__...

[-..__...]

56. What makes you certain that it's a Photshop?

[ardvark]

45. there needs to be a 'film it, blast it' policy for pirates

i tent to lean towards isolationism and pacificm, but there needs to be a 'film it, blast it' policy for pirates

film it to document that it's an act of piracy

then blast away, and blow them out of the water, blow them out of this world

very summary acceptance by any authoities of documented defense actions

people are really on their own in the high seas - there needs to be maximum latitude for defense against pirates

[cali]

46. yeah, let's just blast Captain Phillips

can you imagine if the Navy did that?

[ardvark]

47. i'm talking about blasting before they ever get a captain in the first place

where instead of letting the pirate board, captain phillips would have hit them with a bazooka in the first place

i've heard that one issue is that ships cant come into ports armed, one way around this would be 'floating gun racks' out in the water, just like in the old west, where cowboys would check their guns before they came into town

[Posteritatis]

50. So they'd check their weapons and get attacked immediately afterwards

That's not quite as stupid as the idea going around yesterday that they should just continuously buy weapons and throw them overboard 201 miles off a country's coast (only to get hijacked on the way back out, something the armchair admirals keep missing), but it's kind of getting up there.

[ardvark]

52. it's an 80/20 rule solution

far less chance of getting pirated closer in to ports

a thief can get into your car if it's locked and hotwire it, if he really wants to

but you're still better off locking it and taking the keys

[SharonAnn]

64. Predator drones over the area. Shoot before they get to ship and get hostages.

[conspirator]

53. Captain, I advise caution. This is not logical. It may be a trap nt

[opihimoimoi]

65. Its time to kill them pirates....if the hostages get killed....better a few than many more in the

future.....

shoulda done it years ago....

now look.....

[BrightKnight]

68. They need to take off the gloves.

Soft power is not the answer to this problem.

[opihimoimoi]

73. History tells us this is so...Sun Tzu....PREVENTION is BEST...ELIMINATE

SERIOUS THREAT WHILE ABLE...Negotiate until intransigence ...then by FORCE from the Soverign/Leadership

Piracy is a Cancer that can quickly escalate in short periods of time....Other Groups will join the Feast of Helpless Ships...if we don't NIP IT IN THE BUD.....

Bush shoulda coulda woulda 2 years ago...he was a coward...thought it wasn't worth the risk....To Make Themselves Look Good...wasn't worth the risk....? I guess PUBs think like that....

Lets all hope pray for those innocent hostages and rescuers.....thinking for the BEST

[muryan]

72. Send in the SEALS

They aren't exactly holding the guy in a cargo frigate, it can't be that hard to separate hostage from pirate.

[opihimoimoi]

75. YUP.....send the A Team.....Piracy is a CANCER...it GROWS

Get it in the Bud....

if we don't....someday the numbers will be in the thousands all over the world.

[hedgehog]

74. You all do understand that this is real life and not a Hollywood movie, right?