Posted on 04/10/2009 2:35:54 PM PDT by lewisglad
Maritime officials in east Africa say Somali pirates are sending several hijacked ships carrying dozens of hostages to the site of a standoff with the U.S. Navy over American captive, captain Richard Phillips.
Capt. Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vt., is seen in this family photo released on 08 Apr 2009 The officials say the pirates, who are holding Phillips on a lifeboat, are apparently trying to use the other hostages as shields. The lifeboat is being trailed by a U.S. warship, the USS Bainbridge.
The pirates have threatened to kill Phillips if they are attacked. They are demanding a ransom for his release.
Phillips has been held since Wednesday when hijackers briefly seized control of the humanitarian cargo ship he captained.
The French government, which was dealing with its own standoff against Somali pirates, said Friday that one hostage and two pirates were killed as French forces freed a yacht carrying French nationals off Somalia. Meanwhile, a Norwegian ship and its international crew were released. Pirates were quoted as saying they had received a ransom payment from the ship's owners.
Concerning the U.S. standoff, President Barack Obama refused to answer questions about it Friday, but other White House officials have said they are working toward a peaceful solution. Both the FBI and U.S. Navy are conducting negotiations with the pirates.
Pentagon officials say another Navy ship, the Halyburton, which is equipped with helicopters, has also arrived in the area.
A pirate is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying they are seeking $2 million.
Earlier Friday, U.S. military officials said the captured American captain tried to escape the lifeboat he is now being held on by jumping into the sea. But they say he was recaptured by the pirates. One of them is reported to have fired a weapon during the foiled escape.
Somalia's transitional federal government has condemned the increased piracy and called for the unconditional release of the American captain.
OMG! These guys have NO education, NO MORALS, but they are CLEVER as hell.
The HALYBURTON?????
More targets of opportunity.
If a commander had some grit, this is a good thing. They should seize these ships. The perps can surrender and live, or not. Either way, the should not be allowed to escape, they should not be allowed to return to port with their hostages. Life as they know it should end here.
Not one dime must be paid. Not one dime.
the ships have to get there first! :)
If Reagan were POTUS, these Somali pirates would have no ports to return to tonight.
THey would be nothing but smoking fires and craters.
watch “pirate” become the new “thug” in fashion here.
Meanwhile....back at the White House, Obama is being kept up to date with what’s going on.....
Somehow, community leader doesn’t convert very well into presidential material. Where are you Obama?....Are you playing Find Waldo?
does it have sisterships names Cheney and Rove?
Thank you American voters who voted for Obama. This is what you gave us.
If a commander had some grit, this is a good thing.
Chesty Puller
Opportunity has passed. We should have sunk the four kidnappers mother ship to show we mean business. Now the savages are show the Great Satan they mean business.
Yup, and made our Navy and King Obama look like weak fools. The King will wait until the pirate reinforcements arrive and we will just fold. America is done.
Too bad there is one in the white-house the Clown Junior Senator. When are people going to just Laugh and say NO to this Embarrassing Dirt bag??
I see this as an opportunity, let the US standoff and let the SEAL attach an EMP limpet to the hull of the new ship. No guarantee it would work this way, it could be set up on a JDAM and detonated overhead, adjust the yield so its in a confined spread, of course US ships are prepared for an EMP pulse.
If this doesn’t work snare the props in cable or disable the steering.
Well, there you have it folks. Back to the good-old days when terrorism was treated as local law-enforcement with poll-driven politicians trying to understand these poor souls. Just goes to prove that when it comes to national security Dems always have their heads up their asses.
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