Somali pirates got ransom for freeing German ship: captain

AFP ^ | Jul 9, 2008

[george76]

Somali pirates took a 750,000 dollar ransom for the release of 15 crew and their German-owned ship after a 41-day hostage ordeal...

"Tuesday morning, when pirates finally got the money they wanted, they counted it from seven in the morning until six in the evening and then they finally left," ...

He did not say who paid the ransom or how it was delivered.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet had earlier told the daily Eesti Paevaleht that the state was not involved in any ransom payment.

"We don't make deals with terrorists," Paet said.

The German-owner of the ship, the Lehmann Timber, refused to give any details of how the vessel was released.

[the invisib1e hand]

arrrrrgh!

[george76]

[sinanju]

I can’t believe that there’s nothing we can do about this crap.

I thought the Navy’s all-important purpose was “keeping the sea-lanes open.”

Is there some politically-correct reason we can’t stick it to these clowns? The place doesn’t even have a functioning government.

There isn’t even any formal representative to lodge a formal complaint if we B-52’ed that coastline.

[Americanwolf]

Gee the owner of the ship refuse to give details on its release......

Silly appeaser monkeys...... it don't take a genius to figure it was either the company or the ships insurer that paid the ransom. Caving in and appeasing the pirates....

hmmm yeah thats a good idea...NOT!!!! how about blowing a few of these pirates out of the water with a couple of 50 cals and 5 inch guns and then see how willing they are to interfere with ships at sea.

[Americanwolf]

I agree with you, but I also think that the B-52’s would be a bit of overkill....but then again I do believe in peace via superior firepower

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting.

[george76]

There are many options available, but little political will.

[sinanju]

So why can’t we muster the necessary patrol craft to monitor that coast.

We’re building a base in nearby Djibouti, are we declining to patrol the Somali coastline because there’s no government to ask permission of?

[2ndDivisionVet]

“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.”
— Representative Robert Goodloe Harper, Address, June 18, 1798

[I still care]

I guess I’m old fashioned. It seems to me after they release the hostages and take off it would be a good time to bomb them out of the water.

[exit82]

We need more Lt. Stephen Decauters, and less Wesley Clarks.

The German ship owners just enabled these terrorists to do this again to someone else.

[Ratblaster]

We need a gun that can fire a can of Spam 2000 ft/sec., and the will to use it.

[ken21]

the yanks of the 18th c

would not put up with this!

[Cold Heart]

This is what you get when a military helicopter “monitors” pirates.

From a previous post “lawyer(s) involved”

[El Gato]

"Millionen für Verteidigung, nicht ein Cent für Tribut"

Someone needs to pass this little phrase to the Germans

[Ouderkirk]

THe heck with the B-52’s. If we were to just kill the pirates on site and sink their boats this would all come to an immediate stop.

[John123]

they counted it from seven in the morning until six in the evening

How were they paid? In non-consequential pennies?