SCENARIOS - How will Somali-American pirate standoff end?

[cali]

Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:48am BST Email | Print | Share| Single Page<-> Text <+>
By Andrew Cawthorne

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somali pirates have captured their first American hostage, a cargo ship's captain.

They and their prisoner are drifting on a lifeboat without fuel, and are being tracked by a U.S. warship and other naval vessels in the area.

How will the saga end?

NEGOTIATED SOLUTION?

* The four pirates holding ship captain Richard Phillips are drifting on a lifeboat from the Maersk Alabama freighter, which they briefly hijacked on Wednesday before the 20-man American crew regained control. They have guns, but are without fuel, and it is not clear how much food and water they have.

* So despite having Phillips, the pirates are still in a precarious situation. Friends in contact with the gang say they want a ransom. But Washington may not want to set a precedent by paying one, and would be more likely to promise them safe passage home if they release their hostage.

<snip>

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE5390PE20090410?sp=true

[amyrose2712]

1. How about cleaning up the mess we have made over there.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/q-a-with-a-pirate-we-just-want-the-money/?scp=4&sq=somoli%20waste&st=cse

[cali]

3. what a load of apologist shit

first of all, your link, demonstrates nothing about American culpability in dumping or fishing off the Somalian coast. Absolutely nothing. Seconcly, this interview is evidence of no crimes against the Somali people on the part of anyone. Which is not to say that there hasn't been dumping or fishing on Somali territorial waters, but this interview conducted by Gettelman, certainly doesn't provide the necessary evidence. Lastly, a condemnation of the awesome stupidity of your post. Even if Amurikkka was guilty of having befouled Somali waters and fishing their livelihood out of existence, "Clean it up", wouldn't be a viable answer to the current crisis.

Dog, I hate the reflexive dogmatic bullshit that too often passes for "thinking"

[amyrose2712]

4. You are right.

I just meant to show another possible side of the story. Sorry, I don't see things in just black and white. Just like I don't believe "Islamofacists" hate out freedom, I believe there is more to this story than meets the eye. I am not simply saying it is all America's fault but we do have a habit of shitting all over the so-called 3rd world. And, like you say, if America and the EU do have a hand in illegally dumping there, how could contributing to the "clean up" not be in order?

I am not trying to say I know more than anyone. I am just trying to see more than 1 side of an issue.

[Marrah_G]

7. This is not about dumping- this is about warlords quests for millions

The money doesn't go to the people or the country- it goes to vicious, violent warlords who care nothing for the people around them.

[amyrose2712]

8. Can you show me..

proof of where the money goes? I am not saying you are wrong. Just curious. I am in the process of researching. Need all the info i can get.

[Marrah_G]

9. You can google for that information

The warlords are making more from pirating then the entire country's GDP.

[amyrose2712]

5. UN: Nuclear Waste Being Released on Somalia's Shores After Tsunami

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-02/2005-02-23-voa23.cfm


And, you are right it is not America, but they are not after Americans either. We want to police the world only when it fits our convenient "interests" I am not condoning the actions but sometimes you have to look at things from he perspective of the oppressed and not the oppressor. It is easy for us to opine from the comfort of our keyboards. And you can call me whatever names you like.

From the United Nations Environment Programme report:

Further, Somalia is one of the many Least Developed Countries that reportedly received countless shipments of illegal nuclear and toxic waste dumped along the coastline. Starting from the early 1980s and continuing into the civil war, the hazardous waste dumped along Somalia’s coast comprised uranium radioactive waste, lead, cadmium, mercury, industrial, hospital, chemical, leather treatment and other toxic waste. Most of the waste was simply dumped on the beaches in containers and disposable leaking barrels which ranged from small to big tanks without regard to the health of the local population and any environmentally devastating impacts.

The issue of dumping in Somalia is contentious as it raises both legal and moral questions. First, there is a violation of international treaties in the export of hazardous waste to Somalia. Second, it is ethically questionable to negotiate a hazardous waste disposal contract with a country in the midst of a protracted civil war and with a factionalized government that could not sustain a functional legal and proper waste management system.

The impact of the tsunami stirred up hazardous waste deposits on the beaches around North Hobyo(South Mudug) and Warsheik (North of Benadir). Contamination from the waste deposits has thus caused health and environmental problems to the surrounding local fishing communities
including contamination of groundwater. Many people in these towns have complained of unusual health problems as a result of the tsunami winds blowing towards inland villages. The health problems include acute respiratory infections, dry heavy coughing and mouth bleeding, abdominal haemorrhages, unusual skin chemical reactions, and sudden death after inhaling toxic materials.

http://www.unep.org/tsunami/reports/TSUNAMI_report_complete.pdf

[lapfog_1]

2. Pretty soon they will release him in exchange for

a decent meal, some water, and a tow back to shore where they will be released and told "Don't try to hijack American flagged ships or
next time those destroyers out there will sink your pirate ship". Arrrrgh.

[TornadoTN]

6. There was a report on NPR this morning about their Pirate brothers organizing a rescue

I haven't had a chance to look for a link, but the news report said that there were Somali Pirates organizing a "rescue" and attempting to gather some of the hostages that they have previously taken and bring them along as collateral.

This thing could be getting very tense, very soon.

[Javaman]

10. it will end this way: guns fired, a boat sunk, dead pirates and maybe the captain free and alive.

read up on the barbary coast pirates. we are being treated to a redux.

I have no patience for pirates. (wow what a weird statement, that I thought I was never utter as an adult) My apologies to the flying spaghetti monster.