Posted on 04/12/2009 8:40:04 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The shipping company whose captain is being held hostage by Somali pirates said the US Navy saw him alive Sunday, as a top senator said the United States is "not going to give in to blackmail."
Maersk Line, operators of the Maersk Alabama which was briefly hijacked by armed pirates this week before its captain was taken captive, said the navy told them they "had sight contact of Captain Richard Phillips" Sunday.
Intense negotiations are ongoing off the coast of Somalia where the small band of pirates have held Phillips in a lifeboat since Wednesday, closely shadowed by two US Navy warships.
...
The pirates' defiance of Western naval powers has highlighted the difficulty in dealing with the pirates wreaking havoc on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, but a US lawmaker warned that Washington was not ready to cave in to the demands of outlaws.
"We're not going to give in to blackmail, and we're not going to allow them to continue to do what they're doing," pledged Republican Senator Tom Coburn on the Fox News Sunday program.
The US approach to the piracy problem is "going to have to be much more aggressive," he added.
The talks -- involving Somali elders and negotiators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation -- for the captain's release broke off Saturday when US authorities insisted the pirates be arrested, while the hijackers reportedly demanded a two-million-dollar ransom and safe passage to Somalia.
Democratic Senator Evan Bayh, speaking alongside Coburn, said the United States has "got to make them pay a price for this kind of activity that is larger than the ransoms they're extracting," so the pirates will be forced to "discontinue" their activities.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
A US flag can be seen flying in a mast of the US merchant ship Maersk Alabama as she sits moored at the Mombasa port, April 12. The shipping company whose captain is being held hostage by Somali pirates said the US Navy saw him alive as a top senator said the United States is "not going to give in to blackmail. "(AFP/Roberto Schmidt)
I heard the pirates turned down the ransom offer from the US, said it was too cheap.
Somali “Pirates” -— $40,000,000
FRee World -— $0
at least they won’t be needing a bail-out.
The sternly worded letters will fly now! Jimmuh Carter must be very proud to be an American today.
Not your call, Tom. Remember, “I won.”
Well thank you “President” Coburn. It’s good to hear from somebody in government about this. He’s right, this is like blackmail and if we give in, it’s going to be worse in the future.
Where is President Obama? Why hasn’t he said anything about this publicly?
Sen Coburn is not a muslim, as our acting President is.. BO will not harm a muslim brother, (one could be a half brother)
The UN needs to write a stern letter to those pirates.
Unfortunately, baring a navy officer acting on his own.........B. Hussein has to solve this, god help us.
Our police should come with the warrant and subpoena to Somali and bring the offenders here to be tried by the jury of their peers (come to think of it - we will also need to give immigrant visas to thousands of the somali boat people to be able to select the jury).
We should generously supply the pirates with food and water laced with something that would knock them out long enough for us to go in and get the captain. Once he was rescued, the pirates could pound sand, after and if they managed to swim ashore. I don’t believe their threats to kill him, because he is their last, remaining bargaining chip, the only thing that stands between them and certain death.
I suspect we have options available or undergoing testing even as we post here.
I am sure more than a few ‘recons’ are itching for the ‘Go’ order.
“Where is President Obama? Why hasn’t he said anything about this publicly?”
Because George Soros has not told him what to say yet.
Interesting that Bayh and Coburn are in agreement on this one. Bayh is a member of the Armed services, Intel, and Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance. Look for Barrack Hussein Ibn al-Douchebag al-Chicagowi to cave and let his brothers in Islam off with millions and a free ride back to Durkaville. Maybe Bayh knows this already and wants to come out early as someone who isn’t in-line with his boss. I don’t know.. just sounds fishy to me..
The most recent piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia and Gulf of Aden. Pirates holding a US merchant captain hostage on a lifeboat near Somalia could be preparing to transfer him to another ship, as an Italian vessel became the latest hijacking prey in the Gulf of Aden. (AFP/Graphic)
“Where is President Obama? Why hasn’t he said anything about this publicly?”
Maybe he’s soaking his miniscule sack in Miracle-Grow hoping for a “growth-spurt.”
man you just destroyed my mental picture of Lynda Carter in that costume.
The Republican senator is posturing and bluffing....Herr Hussein will collapse to the pirate’s demands.
No it is I cheated ,Lied, Stole and paid for RINO help to win the election.
As long as obozo is flying in chefs from MO and eating pizzas while the hostage situation goes on, you can bet your booties that the US will give in. Reminds a person of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
Democratic Senator Evan Bayh, speaking alongside Coburn, said the United States has "got to make them pay a price for this kind of activity that is larger than the ransoms they're extracting," so the pirates will be forced to "discontinue" their activities.Right.
I'm sure Eric Holder has ordered the FBI negotiators to try to get the serial numbers of the pirates guns so he can find which US Gun Shop sold them their assault rifles and machine guns and close it down asap. That will force the pirates to "discontinue" their activities.
After all, we all know that ALL 'illegal guns' come from the USA. Right mr AG?
%$#*& ... %$#@*
Not only should these pirate ships be blown off the planet, but Marines should invade the coastal areas and burn them to the ground like Sherman.
At some time (a few days?) - when the MSM does a bit more reporting, The Great O will not like the bad publicity - then he will do something stupid to finish it quickly.
They can’t ignore this for much longer...
Return our captain or we'll bomb Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland!
Because that is his #1 modus operandi. Let events play out and wait for the popular winds to blow before saying a word. He did it brilliantly with last year's financial crisis, keeping silent as the imbicile McCain suspended his campaign and went to D.C., only to support a hugely unpopular bailout. Obama said nothing, waited for McCain's fatal gaffe ("fundamentals...are sound") then launched a perfectly-timed deathblow against GOP-nomics which finished McCain off for good.
The GOP keeps underestimating Obama, and keeps getting beat every time.
Sen. Kerry said, if this keeps up, WE”LL HOLD HEARINGS!
Current administrations as useless as.....well, you know.
Sen. Kerry said, if this keeps up, WE”LL HOLD HEARINGS!
Current administrations as useless as.....well, you know.
This is insane. Negotiating with a bunch of black genetic mutants! The Captain is expendable! Kill the MF’s and put a stop to this once and for all! He went down with his ship. It happens! SHappens!
“The Great O will not like the bad publicity”
Now he’s trying the clintoon “new dog” trick.
You know that the general public is more concerned about the new addition to the zero family, (un-American breed), than what is happening half way around the globe.
I’m waiting to hear that the NAVY ship has been taken over by pirates.
How can you really expect Obama to diss his own cousins?
Where is Stephen Decatur when we need him, probably turning in his grave. He turned his guns on Arab enclaves harboring pirates and did the unthinkable, leveled the mosques therein. Brought an end to this disgusting piracy. And I might also mention that it was a Capt by the name of William Bainbridge that helped in this battle by displaying further naval forces off the coast of Tripoli. This, I do not need to remind thee, is the same Bainbridge for which the destroyer in this current episode is named. And I might also mention that this took place almost 200 years ago when this infant nation had a naval force pitiable in comparison to the size we how have.
He is very busy while He and his family are riding around D.C. Going to secret dinners with friends and going to secret churches plus the all important naming of the royal puppy.
Don’t Tread On Me
Where is President Obama? Why hasn’t he said anything about this publicly?
___________
I will not call him PRESIDENT obama. The reason zer0 hasn’t said anything is because those are his pals. We are his enemies. In the minds of he and his hideous wife, Americans are their main enemy. Sad but true. Also, he clearly stated he does NOT work on weekends. Not that he works much during the week either except to plan where he can fly in Air Force One this week and play with TOTUS.
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