Great, tying our own hands.
Trying???
This feels like the late 1970s with Jimmy Carter again...
The more things change...
I say, let the pirates gather.
Then suddenly sink every pirate ship that doesn’t have hostages. Inform the other ships that they cannot leave the area or they will be sunk. The only way they can escape is to surrender their hostages and their vessels.
the town of eyl, somalia which is pirate central
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=7.9634081,49.84758&z=16&t=h&hl=en
as always, the imagery is a tad better in google earth
Riiiiiight...
“U.S. rules of engagement prevent the Americans using their vastly superior fighting power to engage the pirates if there is any danger to civilians.”
In situations threatening civilization, firm action should be taken to protect civilians not yet involved in said situation.
re-enforcements? blow them out of the water.
they have hostages (human shields)? get some hooks on the boats and strip their props. leave them dead in the water
i would also put a couple of seals under the lifeboat with the capt. i would then signal the captain using a light... telling him the plan. i would have him acknowledge by brushing his hair or something. then, at the appropriate time, he will jump overboard and dive straight down beneath the boat. the seals would be waiting with air and underwater scooters.
once out of the way... commence target practice.
I’m worried all this is a diversion (or will be used as one) for something much worse. I hope we don’t put too much of our resources in one place.
WTF IS GOING ON HERE? WHY CAN’T WE JUST BLOW THESE POS OFF THE MAP? God I hate this administration! I HATE IT!
Basically what they are saying is that there is no answer to the problem. They need to tell people that if they sail into this area, there’s a chance that pirates will take them hostage and we cannot guarantee their safety.
Blocking? ... and not blowing them into flotsam and jetsam?
Carter diplomacy does NOT work.
If the pirates get to shore with the American hostage - he fails.
If a ransom is paid to secure the hostage - he fails.
If the hostage is killed - he fails.
If pirates fire on our Navy vessels and escape death - he fails.
If any pirates achieve prisoner status - he fails.
If he refuses to authorize killing every pirate is sight - He fails.
The ONLY way the Dalai Bama comes out of this with a passing grade - is after the hostages are all safely recovered and every freaking pirate on the sea is dead and their home ports are reduced to a single layer of smoldering rubble.
This is the outcome and the solution to the problem the world is waiting for....
Anything less is failure.
There is a huge chance Obama WILL fail this test - as Biden predicted, and our Republic will be hastened on it's journey to banana republic status.
I don't have a military background and am sitting here in my comfy fabric chair; but; this doesn't seem that difficult of a problem to solve.
If President Bush was sill in office this matter would have ended the first day..We see now we have no chance with King Obama in office along with his court jesters..People of America vote these Turds out of office.
“U.S. warships are trying to stop Somali pirates from sending reinforcements to a lifeboat...”
What’s the difficulty? Just aim your big guns at them, and let loose.
Carter at least had some plausible excuse. More hostages, more of a diplomatic struggle, and a more vital region. I ain't excusing Carter-he was a disgrace. But this ass clown????????-Words fail me. I mean we are talking about a bunch of skinnies with AK 47s in a lifeboat with only one hostage. WTH?
Don't SEALS train for this?
U.S. rules of engagement prevent the Americans using their vastly superior fighting power to engage the pirates if there is any danger to civilians.
More politically correct stupidity. So their civilians are more important than ours.