Scientology
used to have a "sea org" that
always cruised around.
Perhaps they could go
and help the pirates get clear
of all their anger . . .
Posted on 11/06/2005 2:14:04 PM PST by FairOpinion
AN unexploded missile is embedded in an accommodation unit after a possible terrorist attack off the east African coast, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said today.
The passengers on the US-owned Seabourn Spirit were woken by machinegun fire and a rocket-propelled grenade crashing into the vessel at dawn on Saturday about 160km off the coast of the lawless nation of Somalia.
The luxury cruise ship is about to dock in the Seychelles, but Mr Downer said that could be delayed while officials disarm the unexploded ordnance.
"We're not sure whether in the early stages the ship will be able to tie up at the wharf there because of concern about an unexploded rocket that is embedded in some of the passenger accommodation of the ship," Mr Downer told the Nine Network.
"American officials are going to board it initially to deal with that problem, and once that problem's dealt with then our consular officer will be able to go on board as well."
The attack was believed to have been carried out by pirates, but Mr Downer said it may have been a terrorist act.
"The whole thing is an extraordinary story, that it would be attacked by, we're not quite sure who at this stage, but it's possible the people who attacked the ship were terrorists," he said.
Mr Downer said it was not known exactly how many Australians were on board, with 13 named on the ship's passenger list and another six who were thought to have joined the cruise.
The ship, with more than 300 people on board, was on its way to the Kenyan port of Mombasa where it was due to pick up more passengers, including Australians.
Those Australians will now be met by a consular official from Australia's embassy in Nairobi.
The passengers awoke about 5.30am on Saturday to the sound of gunfire as two armed vessels approached the Seabourn Spirit.
Sydney couple Gayle and Bob Meagher, who are aboard the ship, described the moment they realised they were in the firing line. Mr Meagher said he could see the pirates shooting at the ship.
"It was a frightening experience to see the flash of a rocket launcher and you just wonder what's about to happen to you in the next couple of seconds," he told the Seven Network.
Ms Meagher said the captain stayed calm, warning passengers: "We have people shooting at us, we are going to try to outrun them."
"(It was) a little bit more exciting than we planned for," she said.
"The sounds were very sharp like doors banging."
The 7.5-metre inflatable boats approached the vessel and fired as their occupants attempted to get on board the liner.
Seabourn Spirit was not boarded, managing to outrun the attackers and change its course.
One member of the crew was slightly injured before the attackers were repulsed, a London-based Seabourn Cruises spokesman said. The crew member was reportedly hit by flying debris.
The ship has 161 crew members and 151 passengers.
The company said the ship, registered in the Bahamas, sustained minor damage and was safe to sail.
Per the MSM, nothing to see here, let's move on........
Hmmm.....The U.S. Navy should charter a cruise ship afor Q-Ship duty.
It's war, and the good guys aren't fighting like they want to win.
This is typical of how they handle almost all terror attacks. Remember the shoe bomber was at first dismissed as harmless, for instance. Then there's the bombing at OU, which no one in an official capacity will admit was more than just a suicide. I'm convinced that if only one plane had hit the WTC, we'd still be hearing that it was an accident.
I think that all the pirates in that area are muslims. Little fact the article left out.
It's a religion of peace, and it's the end of 'holy' Ramadan. So what would any peaceful religion do to celebrate? Attack a civilian cruise ship, what else?
If ever two groups of people deserved each other...!
FEMA has three docked in N.O. at a pretty hefty price.
So if the crew of the Seabourn Spirit had returned fire, the pirates/terrorists could be sleeping with or in the fishes.
The same thought has crossed my mind too. But then Kerry, Kennedy, Boxer, et. all would blab that it had been done and even name the ship with its expected arrival time in the area to the TSM (terrorist support media) immediately decrying it as a violation of something.
As does the fact that they are still alive somewhere.
I find unexploded missles all the time. What's the big deal.
"....but it's possible the people who attacked the ship were terrorists," he said.
Shades of the Achille Lauro. I can't help wondering what it takes for the media to call terrorism what it is.........terrorism.
Oops. Missed that. Does that mean they had a mother ship nearby?
Has this "embedded unexploded Missle" been reported by any other news media?
Check the website of the Australian Foreign Minister for the transcript of his press conference. He puts the ship at 25 nm from the coast of Somalia, not 160 km, and has an unexploded RPG on board, not a missile.
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