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Captain Richard Phillips freed as US snipers kill three Somali pirates
TimesOnline ^ | April 13, 2009 | James Bone in New York and Rob Crilly in Nairobi

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 Phillips’s 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 ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: banglist; herewegoagain; hostages; maerskalabama; maritime; phillips; piracy; rescue; richardphillips; seals; snipers; somalipirates; specialforces; usn; usnavy; usnseals
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1 posted on 04/12/2009 5:31:35 PM PDT by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog
"Captain Phillips, a former Boston taxi driver"

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.

2 posted on 04/12/2009 5:36:46 PM PDT by ChicagahAl (Don't blame me. I voted for Sarah.)
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To: smokingfrog

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.


3 posted on 04/12/2009 5:38:32 PM PDT by centurion316
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To: ChicagahAl

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.


4 posted on 04/12/2009 5:41:01 PM PDT by RedElement
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To: RedElement
He was reported to be as young as 16

Will he be tried as an adult? Which college will he be enrolled into? Any with a Pirate mascot?

5 posted on 04/12/2009 5:48:56 PM PDT by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
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To: smokingfrog

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.


6 posted on 04/12/2009 5:50:04 PM PDT by DemforBush (It's been a long four years...and it's only April 2009.)
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To: smokingfrog

When you consider the MSM’s accuracy these days, it could be that the Somali “pirates” were all former Boston taxi drivers.


7 posted on 04/12/2009 5:50:14 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (So Orwell was off by 25 years! So what!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Or Minneapolis cab drivers.


8 posted on 04/12/2009 5:52:18 PM PDT by Reaganesque
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To: FlingWingFlyer

I heard the Obama’s new dog Bo jumped into the frigid water and dragged the captain to safety (sarc)


9 posted on 04/12/2009 5:53:07 PM PDT by Wisconsinlady
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To: smokingfrog
A fourth, who had come aboard a nearby US warship to negotiate, was taken into custody.

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.

10 posted on 04/12/2009 5:53:18 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: smokingfrog

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli ...


11 posted on 04/12/2009 5:58:25 PM PDT by bboop (obama, little o, not a Real God)
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To: Wisconsinlady
Obama’s new dog Bo

Oh, tell me he didn't name his dog "BO" - as in Barak Obama? Little too much self-adulation there.

12 posted on 04/12/2009 6:03:45 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: smokingfrog
under standing orders from President Obama

Dumb question, but is a "standing order" something special that has to be specifically issued by the CIC for a specific circumstance?

13 posted on 04/12/2009 6:05:51 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: Cicero

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... :-)


14 posted on 04/12/2009 6:07:13 PM PDT by Star Traveler
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To: smokingfrog
under standing orders from President Obama when they saw one of the pirates pointing an AK47 at Captain Richard Phillips’s back, putting his life in imminent danger.

This had nothing to do with the usurper. Blackfive gives the real story.

This was not a rescue attempt ordered by National Command Authority i.e. the President. It was a reaction by the on scene commander under standard authority to safeguard the life of a hostage.

15 posted on 04/12/2009 6:08:31 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: smokingfrog
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 Phillips’s back, putting his life in imminent danger.

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 Phillips’s back, thus putting his life in imminent danger, and neatly satisfying the silly rules put on the engagement by Lord Zero.

16 posted on 04/12/2009 6:12:34 PM PDT by SampleMan (Socialism and Liberty are mutually exclusive.)
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To: smokingfrog

Three Somali pirates dead ????????? All I need to say is, “And NOTHING of value was lost.”


17 posted on 04/12/2009 6:12:41 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("The smallest minority on earth is the 'individual'." ~ Rush Limbaugh)
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To: hsalaw
Dumb question, but is a "standing order" something special that has to be specifically issued by the CIC for a specific circumstance?

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.

18 posted on 04/12/2009 6:17:21 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: smokingfrog

Snipers from 25 meters? Hmm. Anyway, the Captain is free and congratulations to the Seals! Job well done.


19 posted on 04/12/2009 6:17:33 PM PDT by saganite (What would Sully do?)
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To: hsalaw

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


20 posted on 04/12/2009 6:18:55 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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