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Negotiations Break Down in Standoff With Pirates
NYTimes ^ | April 11, 2009 | NYTimes

Posted on 04/11/2009 8:48:36 PM PDT by GOPGuide

Negotiations over the American captain taken hostage by Somali pirates broke down on Saturday, according to Somali officials, after American officials insisted that the pirates be arrested and a group of elders representing the pirates refused.

Somali officials said the American captain, Richard Phillips, and the four heavily armed pirates holding him hostage remained in a covered lifeboat floating in the Indian Ocean about 30 miles off Gara’ad, a notorious pirate den in northeastern Somalia.

The negotiations broke down hours after the pirates fired on a small United States Navy vessel that had tried to approach the lifeboat not long after sunrise Saturday in the Indian Ocean.

It was the first such approach since the standoff began on Wednesday, and the vessel returned to a nearby Navy destroyer, the Bainbridge, after the pirates fired warning shots in the air, according to an American military official.

The American boat did not return fire and “did not want to escalate the situation,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho; bho44; obama; piracy; pirates; richardphillips; somalipirates; usnavy

1 posted on 04/11/2009 8:48:36 PM PDT by GOPGuide
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To: GOPGuide

ICK


2 posted on 04/11/2009 8:50:59 PM PDT by combat_boots (The answer to 1984 is 1776)
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To: GOPGuide
Obama Reaches Out to 'Moderate' Pirate Community


3 posted on 04/11/2009 8:51:52 PM PDT by gondramB
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To: GOPGuide

Why would the pirates ever surrender themselves to arrest? LOL what kind of negotiation is this?

Wow are there are real morons running this world or what.


4 posted on 04/11/2009 8:52:01 PM PDT by Onerom99
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To: GOPGuide

The pirates be arrested? By who? The elders? WTF?


5 posted on 04/11/2009 8:53:32 PM PDT by bergmeid (How about another massive nationwide protest against the MSM media on July 4?)
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To: GOPGuide
zero has the button, and he's a chicken shit coward anyway, let alone fire on his own.

He's had his chance and he has thoroughly screwed us, and it up ... impeach his treatorous ass.

6 posted on 04/11/2009 8:53:33 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
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To: GOPGuide

US Constitution
Article 1, Section 8
“To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations”
I guess our constitutional scholar forgot that one!


7 posted on 04/11/2009 8:54:03 PM PDT by voveo
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To: GOPGuide
The negotiations broke down hours after the pirates fired on a small United States Navy vessel that had tried to approach the lifeboat not long after sunrise Saturday in the Indian Ocean.

It was the first such approach since the standoff began on Wednesday, and the vessel returned to a nearby Navy destroyer, the Bainbridge, after the pirates fired warning shots in the air, according to an American military official.

The American boat did not return fire and “did not want to escalate the situation,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
It seems to me that this event was staged by the US Navy...either to draw fire and make the pirates waist ammo, or as a diversion of some sort. Perhaps just to see what their reaction time is.

I do not believe it was an abortive attempt at a rescue. It was something planned for a specific reason and to illicit a response.

This is the first I had heard that they were within 30 miles of a priate haven.

God bless our Navy personnel, the SEALS or other special forces surely putting together op plans for th captains rescue.

One thing I know...Obama's response as CINC has been woeful IMHO. We have a situation that is escalating where vital sea lanes are being threatend and safe passage on the sea denied. US vessels are being attacked and life threatened, as well as free commerce.

It is a situation that demands a strong, unequivocal response...as well as reassurance. He has offered none of that...and as CINC, he could and should, without threratening any operational security.

But after that rediculous and shameful bow to the Saudi prince...I am not surprised.

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IN HIS OWN WORDS

NOW WE KNOW WHAT A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER DOES

OBAMA, THE STOCK MARKET, AND ENERGY

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S UPBRINGING

IT'S TIME FOR A RETURN TO THE OLD SCHOOL

8 posted on 04/11/2009 8:55:47 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Onerom99

“Why would the pirates ever surrender themselves to arrest?”

To save their own lives.


9 posted on 04/11/2009 8:56:29 PM PDT by OldNavyVet
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To: GOPGuide
"American officials insisted that the pirates be arrested"

WWARPD - What Would A Real President Do? Jimmuh and Barry will never, ever get it.

10 posted on 04/11/2009 8:57:05 PM PDT by hometoroost (Eine Reich, Eine Volk, Eine Teleprompter)
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To: GOPGuide

“American officials insisted that the pirates be arrested”

Good grief! It’s time to save lives now, and then blast these guys to hell later. These feckless lawyers will get the hostages killed, and then prevent our military from taking effective retaliatory action.

I’m not sure that even the peanut farmer was this bad.


11 posted on 04/11/2009 8:58:06 PM PDT by devere
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To: GOPGuide
"Somali officials"

Somali has officials? Who knew?

(Carter pic --> LOL)

12 posted on 04/11/2009 8:58:22 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: voveo
“To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations”

"The Law of Nations" says that he is not a natural born citizen, therefore 0bama himself is an 0ffence.

13 posted on 04/11/2009 8:59:49 PM PDT by D Rider
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To: combat_boots

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2227300/posts?page=106#106

Interesting point made over here. It may already be too late, since they are so close to shore.


14 posted on 04/11/2009 9:00:24 PM PDT by fooman (Get real with Kim Jung Mentally Ill about proliferation)
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To: GOPGuide

The answer to this whole thing would of and should of been you have 24 hrs to release the captain and we will not wipe you and all of your families back in home base off the face of the earth. If they were stupid enough not to of let the Captain go then launch an attack on their home towns held their families hostage and went from their. They should of sent in the Marines they were our first offense against pirates for centuries. This is soooooo BS.


15 posted on 04/11/2009 9:01:38 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Psalm 83:1-8 is on the horizon.)
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To: GOPGuide

By the time his term is over, Barack Hussein will make Jimmy Carter look like Reagan on steroids.

He is a weak sister with no guts (with apologies to weak sisters).


16 posted on 04/11/2009 9:02:13 PM PDT by CASchack
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To: GOPGuide

OBAMBI: If you will not give up the hostages, we shall take your boat
by force!
PIRATE: You don’t frighten us, American pig-dogs! Go and boil your
bottoms, sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called
Obama-king, you and all your silly American kaniggets. Thppppt!
HILLARY: What a strange person.
OBAMBI: Now look here, my good man!
PIRATE: I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal
food trough whopper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother
was a hamster and your father smelt of eldeberries.
HILLARY: Is there someone else up there we could talk to?
PIRATE: No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time-a!
OBAMBI: Now, this is your last chance. I’ve been more than reasonable.
PIRATE: (Fetchez la vache.)
wha?
PIRATE: (Fetchez la vache!)
[moo]
OBAMBI: If you do not agree to my commands, then I shall—
[twong]
[mooooooo]
Jesus Christ!
Right! Charge!
ALL: Charge!
[mayhem]
PIRATE: Ah, this one is for your mother!
[twong]
ALL: Run away!


17 posted on 04/11/2009 9:02:16 PM PDT by rfp1234 (Phodopus campbelli: household ruler since July 2007.)
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To: Paladin2
Fly over the boat and gas them with a non-lethal nerve gas to stun them. Collect the bodies and arrest them. No more talking, just action. Any pirates that attempt to help, blast them out of the water.
18 posted on 04/11/2009 9:02:36 PM PDT by voveo
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To: GOPGuide

The U.S. government probably will let the pirates think they win this deal. Then a few months from now some folks from the CIA show up quietly in the area...


19 posted on 04/11/2009 9:04:07 PM PDT by Cedar (Forever Pro-Life)
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To: voveo

I suspect that if we were really interesting in resolving this situation, it would already be done 12 times over.


20 posted on 04/11/2009 9:05:17 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: fooman

Thanks.


21 posted on 04/11/2009 9:05:17 PM PDT by combat_boots (The answer to 1984 is 1776)
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To: Paladin2
Yes, this is festering on purpose.

Let's think about it from that devious perspective, n'est pas?

22 posted on 04/11/2009 9:10:18 PM PDT by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: GOPGuide
This better not reach "day 444".


23 posted on 04/11/2009 9:10:33 PM PDT by uptoolate (Shhh. If you listen real hard, God is speaking to America.)
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To: voveo

Or go Panama on ‘em and launch a skiff with loudspeakers blasting acid rock music 24/7 until they surrender from lack of sleep.


24 posted on 04/11/2009 9:11:07 PM PDT by BagCamAddict ("Wolverines!!")
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To: norraad
I hate deviousness on the part of the US, unless it is a successful one off activity.

In general, we should make it clear that deviance is a losing proposition.

25 posted on 04/11/2009 9:15:53 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: GOPGuide
Carter Worst President EVER Pictures, Images and Photos

Less than 100 days and he's off the hook.

26 posted on 04/11/2009 9:24:26 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: voveo
"Fly over the boat and gas them with a non-lethal nerve gas to stun them.

The US military only has CS gas, also known as riot or tear gas. There's still stockpiles of CN gas - a harsher form of CS gas, it's not distributed or used anymore. In fact, I can't remember CN gas being deployed the last 45 years. Because we're signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention, we don't carry nor use any nerve agent, lethal or otherwise

27 posted on 04/11/2009 9:29:39 PM PDT by Big_Monkey
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To: GOPGuide

We should pay the pirates whatever they want, then deduct that amount from the foreign aid we surely give to Somali. Then tell the “Somali officials” that their foreign aid is in the pirates hands.

Somehow, I think the funds would quickly be recovered by “Somali officials” and piracy would take a quick nose dive if this was done by every country whose ships are targeted.


28 posted on 04/11/2009 9:55:32 PM PDT by RJL
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To: RJL

Why is it so hard for the ‘tards in charge to solve problems so effectively?


29 posted on 04/11/2009 10:20:07 PM PDT by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: GOPGuide

(Severe nausea at the sight of Carter’s photo)
Pirates? Negotiate? What the ?


30 posted on 04/11/2009 10:25:25 PM PDT by gorilla_warrior (Liberalism is a hate crime that can no longer be tolerated.)
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To: GOPGuide

I remember when America didn’t negotiate with terrorists.


31 posted on 04/11/2009 10:39:58 PM PDT by TigersEye (Cloward-Piven Strategy)
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To: rfp1234

Oh, now you have gone too far! I shall pummel you
with cattle,swine,and sheep, if you do not withdraw your forces!


32 posted on 04/11/2009 10:46:34 PM PDT by gigster
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To: GOPGuide
Well informed and sharp thinking Freepers have come up with many interesting and innovative ideas over the last few days as to how to approach this mess. I'll admit that there seems to me to be serious pitfalls in almost anything that we might try.

Here is my question. Let's say that the US does try to mount an attack similar to some that have been suggested here and although we bring the stand off to an end and the pirates are killed and/or captured, Captain Phillips is also (God forbid) killed, would you consider the action on some level a success? Rather than inaction, would action with a less than desired outcome be better? I'm very torn. I know that this can't go on forever, but I feel for the Captain and his family. The pirates seem to hold all the cards.

I'm thinking of the recent French rescue that left one hostage dead. Of course, in that case many more were rescued so it was considered an overall success.

33 posted on 04/12/2009 3:00:23 AM PDT by Mila
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To: GOPGuide


34 posted on 04/12/2009 6:41:44 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foreign/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
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To: Grampa Dave

Yawwwwwwwn.......

Wake up people. Suprises me that none of you understand what is going on. Let me help you...

On April 15th we will be holding Tea Parties across the country. If this gets out to the media it will be a blow to the administratation and will make many people who voted for Obama think.

What better way for the Tea Parties to get marginalized then to have a daring rescue happen Wednesday morning? Obama will be called courageous for having a military strategy in place, for dealing with this. It will receive news coverage for a day or two.

Meanwhile thousands of people will be at Tea Parties across the nation and not one word from the media.

“Never let a crises go to waste” - Rahm Emmanuel


35 posted on 04/12/2009 7:36:45 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Bow down to me. I am TOTUS.)
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To: GOPGuide
Yeah... I just read an update that our warships are "shadowing" the pirates to the shore.

Ummm... how come you weren't "shadowing" the pirates when the captain jumped into the water?

Is our Navy kind of hoping to get a mulligan and THIS time blow the frickin' pirates out of the water when the Cap jumps again?

36 posted on 04/12/2009 7:55:04 AM PDT by John123 (The US may be going down the drain, but everyone else will drown first...)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

So in your world the center of reality is what’s on the MSM? Great.


37 posted on 04/12/2009 8:00:28 AM PDT by Justa
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To: Snickering Hound

Jimmy Carter - Now available in black.


38 posted on 04/12/2009 8:04:21 AM PDT by dfwgator (1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
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To: Justa

“So in your world the center of reality is what’s on the MSM? Great.”

It got Obama elected. Why would you think the MSM will be different with this? They are going to get a dose of morality? Please.

By Wednesday Obama is going to be a hero.


39 posted on 04/12/2009 8:07:21 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Bow down to me. I am TOTUS.)
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To: GOPGuide
I vote we outsource this entire clusterf*ck to the Russians, Chinese, or even the French. They'll get the job done.

With out current feckless government, it will end in disaster.

40 posted on 04/12/2009 9:49:33 AM PDT by Gritty (Thanks to the 'rule of law' crowd, our planet is an increasingly dangerous place - Andrew McCarthy)
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To: Gritty

I owe everyone on the thread an apology. It was my contention that Bambi was going to let this crises brew until Wednesday in order to marginalize the Tea Parties.

In saying that, Captain Philips escape and rescue by the Navy Seals is the best Easter gift the Philips family can get. The Lord does great things.


41 posted on 04/12/2009 12:33:29 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Bow down to me. I am TOTUS.)
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To: GOPGuide

OK. We are ready to negotiate now...

42 posted on 04/12/2009 12:41:44 PM PDT by Kenton (Packing my hollowpoints with pig fat since 2001)
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