Pirate Lifeboat Drifts Toward Somalia - "We are not afraid of the Americans"

Reuters ^ | 4/11/2009 | Celestine Achieng

[GVnana]

MOMBASA, Kenya, April 11 (Reuters) - A U.S.-flagged ship that was seized by Somali pirates arrived safely in the Kenyan port of Mombasa on Saturday, as a Somali mediator headed to sea to try to secure the release of the ship's American captain.

"The captain is a hero," one crew member shouted from the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama container ship as it docked. "He saved our lives by giving himself up."

The ship, under the command of Richard Phillips, was attacked by gunmen far out in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday but its 20 American crew apparently fought off the hijackers and regained control of the freighter.

Phillips was taken hostage and is being held captive on a drifting lifeboat by the gang of four pirates who want $2 million ransom for him, as well as safe passage.

[GVnana]

Good background info and updates at the link.

[norraad]

..not afraid of Americans?

"You boys ain't never really seen any real Americans!"

[rabscuttle385]

Phillips was taken hostage and is being held captive on a drifting lifeboat by the gang of four pirates who want $2 million ransom for him, as well as safe passage.

Give them $2 million in Zimbabwean dollars and safe passage to hell.

[kjo]

Obama seems.....soooo lost. It’s like he can only do one thing at a time.....and right now......that’s the economy....and yet he seems lost on that too.

Obama = Jimmy Carter on stilts.

[Just Lori]

Why SHOULD they be afraid? Our President is a limp-wristed, spineless, empty suit and they know it!

[Jmouse007]

Nobama had better put an end to this, he looks like a totally weak, limpwristed pantywaist. If that dingy makes it to shore he is FINISHED. This is Nobamas

"Obama held hostage Iran Carter 2"

defining moment.

NOBAMA Held Hostage Day #4

President BUSH liberated 50 MILLION people, Nobamessiah can't even rescue ONE American in a dingy that is out of gas and surrounded by the United States Navey!

[DallasDeb]

"We are not afraid of the Americans"

Of course not--not with a wussy (replace the W with a P) for a president.

[EGPWS]

"You boys ain't never really seen any real Americans!"

They very well could be previous residents of Minneapolis.....

[Dilbert San Diego]

When in the sam hill is Obama going to publicly say anything about this pirate situation? Does he think we’re dealing with Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean?

I hope and pray that he’s doing things behind the scenes that he can’t talk about right now. But I have a feeling that nothing is happening because he doesn’t know what the heck to do.

I hope and pray for the captain’s safe release. But we all also know that, if we don’t deal with these guys, it will invite more piracy and they will get bolder in hijacking ships and killing people.

This could be Obama’s test that Joe Biden said would happen. Well, Barack is not exactly showing the world what’s he made of, is he?

[rfreedom4u]

They have no reason to fear us right now. Obozo will do nothing because he is more converned about the sanctity of the lives of the pirates than American interests. Of course the sanctity of the unborn lives is of no concern to him.

POS!

[4Speed]

Correction “We are not afraid of the Americans” should be changed to “We are not afraid of The American President” . . .

And that seems to be the Future of the “Lets Talk about it” President where ever he goes.

Someone in the Military needs to Ignore the Commander in Chief and take some risks.....even if they are rewarded with dismissal from the armed forces, only to be treated as a Hero when discharged.

[jesseam]

Ambassador Bolton on Fox a few minutes ago feels that the Navy is being restrained from action by Washington, probably by the WH. It appears that zero has not even expressed concern over the safety of Capt. Phillips. Change we can all believe in. God Help the USA

[bgill]

They are just looking to arrange safe passage for the pirates

As does Hussein.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The problem can be traced to not having an American in the White House.

[upcountryhorseman]

This looks like a job for The Navy Seals: This is a covered
lifeboat so the pirates don’t have great visibilty. Of
course you would have to attack the pirate base and free
the hostages there.

[Sacajaweau]

I'm under the impression that the present administration feels that this ship is "private business"...and must take responsibility by buying more insurance etc...

That's the impression I got from one of the news shows....

[Just A Nobody]

It’s like he can only do one thing at a time.....and right now......that’s the economy

Perhaps you missed his comment last month --

"You know, I have more than enough to do without having to worry about the financial system.”

[mad_as_he$$]

I suggest you put “Blackhawk Down” on your Netflix list.

[MayflowerMadam]

Last time Hussein and his transvestite wife got overwhelmed by the job — about mid-February — didn’t they just take off and visit an elementary school? Having to deal with four nasty ol’ pirates must be stressing them to the max! Maybe they’ll visit a pre-school.

[cruise_missile]

Seems to me if they are worried about the boat drifting toward Somalia, they could send some Seals out to the boat and tie an anchor to the boat.

Or just put a small hole in the boat.

Obowma fails another test.

[Roscoe Karns]

"We are not afraid of the Americans"

I can't find that quote in the story.

[RC2]

Kinda goes back to “experience” doesn’t it. Just be glad it’s not a world war. He would hide in his bunker saying “Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me.”

[Kansas58]

That quote IS in several news stories.

Besides, it is obvious that the pirates are not afraid of Obama.

[adorno]

"We are not afraid of the Americans"

More accurately, they're not afraid of Obama.

But, those pirates or any other entity (individual, group, country) that takes any American hostage is in effect, declaring their "own" war status against the U.S.

The "president" should declare the country to be effectively at war with the pirates, and that, like in all wars, the enemy will pay a high price, and that the American people should also expect to pay a high price, including human casualties and damage to assets (example: ships), and a high monetary price for funding of that war. Once a war has been declared, the pirates will have to ask any prospective target, whether a ship or yacht, if there are any Americans on board before they decide to hold the ship or people as hostages. And the country should be prepared for a real war. Anything less won't do.

But, neither the current president nor the current democrat party congress has the balls to declare war.

[Dilbert San Diego]

So they are supposed to buy insurance against piracy?

Interesting how they view this. So there are no national security issues here, or issues relating to the world economy. It’s just an insurance issue.

Maybe they can’t see the forest for the trees.

[Logical me]

If I know the Navy, I bet they are pissed. I would be embarrassed and probably would leave the service as soon as I could. And with King Obama cutting military funds I am sure that the entire military establishment has no respect for this nitwit.

[television is just wrong]

and they won’t because Obama will not give any orders of aggression towards the pirates. they have nothing to fear.

[Kansas58]

Actually, the Constitution grants all the authority Obama needs to fight pirates.
A Declaration of War would have some dramatic effect, to be sure, but pirates, like terrorists, often have no specific government authority.
Obama is already free to sink every pirate ship in the world, and to level every pirate port in the world.

However, Obama will not act!

[Brett66]

"We are not afraid of the Americans"

You can expect a strongly worded letter delivered to the UN after Russia and China vote to accept it!

[ANGGAPO]

With the display of raw courage from the White house recently, I can understand why the pirates are not afraid of the Americans. This is not a police action or a case for law enforcement, they have captured an American citizen, and if they are allowed to get away with it every American in any foreign country has a target on there back.

[lovesdogs]

Ambassador Bolton on Fox a few minutes ago feels that the Navy is being restrained from action by Washington, probably by the WH.

I agree. I have a feeling that our forces are under orders to not even fire one bullet without express permission from the muzzie in chief (refusing to call him CIC). Nothing that has happened so far makes any sense given the assets we have vs what the terrorists have.

[Roscoe Karns]

Thanks, I didn't know that. Just did some googling and found this.

[varina davis]

Bolton is one of the few real men to comment on this terrorism act. Where is the outrage from McCain and other supposedly patriotic members of Congress?

[adorno]

Actually, the Constitution grants all the authority Obama needs to fight pirates.

That might be true, but, it's the democrats who have stated a million times that, Bush didn't have the constitutional right to "unilaterally" declare war in Iraq (even though they voted for the president to take whatever actions he needed to take to stop Iraq).

So, given their history in the last 8 years, it would be hypocritical of Obama to take any action without first asking for Nancy Pelosi's permission.

[Lera]

Maybe his cousin and his jihad in Kenya needs more funding

[Cheetahcat]

“Because of the pirate attack, the FBI has informed us that this ship is a crime scene,” he told reporters, adding that the crew will have to stay on board the vessel” and Not afraid of Americans??

Kidding right?? These Clowns have not met the right Americans THEN who would turn their Toy Country into a Free Fire Zone then these alleged bad Guys would see something NO ONE can be as destructive as Americans on a mission.

[DannyTN]

I thought about that too. Of course I don’t understand why they can’t have four seals swim out there and take out the four pirates before they have a chance to harm the captain

[DannyTN]

And don’t we have that sleep ray? Why didn’t we put every one on the boat asleep and rescue the captain?

[GVnana]

Damn. That's the Drudge headline in quotes. This article has had several edits. May have been edited out. Here's the current quote from the article:

The gang holding Phillips remained defiant. "We will defend ourselves if attacked," one told Reuters by satellite phone.

[Max in Utah]

...I am sure that the entire military establishment has no respect for this nitwit.

This is a Good Thing. Lack of respect for the head marxist will strengthen the military's determination to defend the Constitution.

[freeangel]

“You boys ain’t never really seen any real Americans!”

And they’re not likely to see any with the clown from kenya in charge who’s voting present but does not want to see his terrorist muslim brothers injured in any way.

[JPG]

Bambam is a fricken embarrassment. Wussie mussie wuss wuss doesn't have a clue. This marxist dude is going to get a lot of us killed.

[GVnana]

Yep. Reuters removed that in their latest edit. Cowards.

[wjcsux]

This incident vividly displays the deep crap we are currently in. The only hope us Americans have is our individual abilities to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

[wjcsux]

This incident vividly displays the deep crap we are currently in. The only hope us Americans have is our individual abilities to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

[GVnana]

Mr. Obama, You ain’t no Teddy Roosevelt.

[calex59]

Correction “We are not afraid of the Americans” should be changed to “We are not afraid of The American President” . .

True enough. They seemed to be afraid of the Americans who threw them off the Merchant ship, other wise they would still be on the ship and in control wouldn't they? Plus, they were armed and the Americans weren't!

[c21sac]

The “president” should declare the country to be effectively at war with the pirates.

That's not going to happen. Not when O he can send in the policy wonks. They must consider the environment first, the carbon foot print and all, Gore has been called in on this point. Then the feelings of the pirates must be considered, if they had been raised properly and had MSNBC they would not behave this way, there is a whole team of folks to debate this issue. Finally, what will the rest of the world think?

We are so screwed, this is probably Bush's fault, but does anyone have any doubt that if Bush was still in office the entire world would have different outlook on this? Now our Military will be the laughing stock of the world.

[Roscoe Karns]

You're right, they edited it out. -- Odd for Reuters to do something like that. < /s

But as another poster has pointed out, the quote has been in several other news stories.

[Deo volente]

A bunch of stinking pirates are going to push around the president of the United States and get away with it!

I never thought I would see something so atrocious.