Posted on 04/12/2009 5:31:34 PM PDT by smokingfrog
US Navy snipers killed three Somali pirates who had been holding an American merchant skipper on a lifeboat last night, rescuing the hostage unharmed.
The US Navy Seals opened fire from about 25 metres away under standing orders from President Obama when they saw one of the pirates pointing an AK47 at Captain Richard Phillipss back, putting his life in imminent danger.
All three pirates were killed. A fourth, who had come aboard a nearby US warship to negotiate, was taken into custody. He was reported to be as young as 16.
Captain Phillips, a former Boston taxi driver who was taken hostage on Wednesday after the crew of his cargo ship repulsed a pirate attack, was resting comfortably on a US Navy vessel last night after talking to his wife in Vermont.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
So they have to denigrate the Captain, by trying to make it sound like he went from driving a taxi to being a Merchant Marine Captain. To anyone who doesn't know any better (Democrats), it will sound like getting a job as a Merchant Marine Captain is like answering an ad in the local Free Times.
The Left wing media are scumbags.
Very good shooting.
Even though the range was only 25-30 meters, consider that the lifeboat was moving in response to both the seas and to the wake of the Bainbridge. The Bainbridge was also moving in respect to the effects of the seas, but in a different fashion when compared to the lifeboat. The targets were no doubt moving as well.
Good shots, guys.
Nothing wrong with a taxi driver. It is honest work, unlike being a Somali pirate or a lying scumbag journalist. More power to Boston taxi drivers.
Will he be tried as an adult? Which college will he be enrolled into? Any with a Pirate mascot?
Nice shootin’ guys!
I wonder what they used to clip the pirates? I like to think it was something that left a really big hole in the sons-a-b**ches.
When you consider the MSM’s accuracy these days, it could be that the Somali “pirates” were all former Boston taxi drivers.
Or Minneapolis cab drivers.
I heard the Obama’s new dog Bo jumped into the frigid water and dragged the captain to safety (sarc)
Maybe this has been reported earlier, but it's the first I've seen it. In other words, the snipers got all three pirates on board the boat. I had assumed that the fourth guy was also on the boat, but scared out of his wits. Now we learn there were only three.
Good job.
From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli ...
Oh, tell me he didn't name his dog "BO" - as in Barak Obama? Little too much self-adulation there.
Dumb question, but is a "standing order" something special that has to be specifically issued by the CIC for a specific circumstance?
You said — Maybe this has been reported earlier, but it’s the first I’ve seen it. In other words, the snipers got all three pirates on board the boat. I had assumed that the fourth guy was also on the boat, but scared out of his wits. Now we learn there were only three.
—
Well, what the commander did was get one of the pirates to agree to come on board, ostensibly for “negotiating”. That was a ruse to make it so that there was one less target to deal with. So, the negotiating allowed them time to assess the situation and gather intel and see what their defenses were. Remember, the Navy sent out a small boat, earlier to test their defenses.
Next, after getting one pirate on board, they also were trying to “be the nice guys” to the pirates and they offered to “tow” them. And the pirates agreed to the tow. So, the Navy set up a short tow line (makes for better shooting, doncha know) and started towing those pirates (down to only three in the lifeboat now...).
After everything was “set up”, all they did was wait for a good shot for *all* of the pirates to be visible at once. They saw their shot and they took it.
End of story... :-)
This had nothing to do with the usurper. Blackfive gives the real story.
Let me fix that:
The US Navy Seals opened fire from about 25 meters away when they got a clear head shot on each pirate. To cover their asses concerning ROE they noted that one of the pirates was pointing an AK47 at Captain Richard Phillipss back, thus putting his life in imminent danger, and neatly satisfying the silly rules put on the engagement by Lord Zero.
Three Somali pirates dead ????????? All I need to say is, “And NOTHING of value was lost.”
Not a dumb question at all, especially when the professional readers are being deliberately ambiguous.
Click the link in post 15 for clarification of your question.
Snipers from 25 meters? Hmm. Anyway, the Captain is free and congratulations to the Seals! Job well done.
The dog’s named for Bo Diddley.
I must admit that I kind of like this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HICsPNm2ARY&feature=related
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