WAPO: How SEALs Carried Out Their Mission

[Renew Deal]

The operation to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips involved dozens of Navy SEALs, who parachuted from an aircraft into the scene near dark Saturday, landing in the ocean. :wow: The SEALs were part of a larger group of Special Operations Forces involved in the effort, according to military officials.
<snip>

Meanwhile, one of the pirates, estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old, asked to come aboard the Bainbridge to make a phone call. He had been stabbed in the hand during an altercation with the crew of the Maersk Alabama and also needed medical care. "He effectively gave himself up," said a senior military official. The Navy then allowed that pirate to speak with the others in hopes that he could persuade them to give up.
<snip>

"In the last discussion, they said 'If we don't get what we want, we will kill the captain,' " the official said.

Soon afterward, two pirates moved to one of the hatches of the lifeboat and stuck their heads out. The third pirate advanced toward the captain, and pointed his AK-47 straight at Phillips' back, the rifle touching it or inches away, the official said.

U.S. military observers believed that Phillips was about to be shot. SEAL snipers, who were positioned on a deck at the stern of the Bainbridge, an area known as the fantail, had the three pirates in their sights. The on-scene commander gave the SEAL snipers authority to fire.

"As soon as the snipers had a clear shot at the guy who had the rifle, they shot him and the other two in the hatches," said the senior military official.

A member of the Special Operations team slid down the tow line into the water and climbed aboard the lifeboat. Phillips was then put in a small craft and taken to the Bainbridge.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/12/AR2009041202645.html?hpid=topnews

[stevedeshazer]

1. The pirates really weren't all that bright.

Allowing themselves to be towed? They gave everything up at that moment.

[Renew Deal]

2. I agree

Though there is no reason to believe any of these guys are smart or well trained. They are just locals with machine guns. Most have no idea what to do when they get out there.

[krispos42]

6. The training and technical edge pays off big time for the SEALs

The $2,000 rifle with the $4,000 3rd-generation night scope on it can do incredible things in the right hands... such as shoot a pirate in the eye on a moonless night on a bobbing boat on the ocean.

[Pirate Smile]

3. The answer to why it didn't happen earlier - SEALS got parachuted into the scene near dark Saturday.

[stevedeshazer]

4. Yeah, but it seems weird that

I'm talking to Pirate Smile about this.

:)

[Pirate Smile]

7. I know! My name seems so inappropriate right now. It is supposed to mean

a rakish smile not a jackass criminal. :)

[Renew Deal]

5. And they're not on the USS Boxer

That's one hell of a mission. Parachute into the ocean at night, then clean up a hostage situation. Crazy job!

[Political Heretic]

8. I love this stuff when its defense. This is what we should be about.

Missions to be proud of.

[Froward69]

9. Second!!!