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US judge tosses piracy charges against 6 Somali nationals accused in attack on Navy ship
StarTribune.com ^ | 8/17/10 | STEVE SZKOTAK , Associated Press

Posted on 08/17/2010 12:39:28 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo

RICHMOND, Va. - A judge on Tuesday dismissed piracy charges against six Somali nationals accused of attacking a Navy ship off the coast of Africa, concluding the U.S. government failed to make the case their alleged actions amounted to piracy.

The dismissal of the piracy count by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson tosses the most serious charge against the men, but leaves intact seven other charges related to the alleged April 10 attack on the USS Ashland in the Gulf of Aden. A piracy conviction carries a mandatory life term.

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


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: muslims; piracy; pirates; somalis
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To: Da Coyote

Don’t waste a missile...give the boys on deck some practice with a deck gun.


21 posted on 08/17/2010 12:54:23 PM PDT by Mouton
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

These are frickin pirates. Why do we capture them and try them in US court like they are US criminals??? The Navy needs to take a page from the Russian playbook and kill them.


22 posted on 08/17/2010 12:56:33 PM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo
This is what happens when you have the Navy pick up people. You must know what the proof of the violation is so you can correctly charge them. To that end you must gather evidence. You and I know what they are doing but you must prove it. The JAG dropped the ball long before this.
23 posted on 08/17/2010 12:56:56 PM PDT by Domangart
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

24 posted on 08/17/2010 12:57:57 PM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Another Islamic Terrorist Rights liberal....


25 posted on 08/17/2010 1:00:22 PM PDT by UCFRoadWarrior (JD for Senate ..... jdforsenate.com. You either voting for JD, or voting for the Liberal...)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
Is there a picture of “The Judge?”

Would it help to know that his middle name is Alvin?

26 posted on 08/17/2010 1:02:34 PM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (The naked casuistry of the high priests of Warmism would make a Jesuit blush.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

According to the judge, they didn’t successfully complete their act of piracy, so it wasn’t piracy? So, isn’t there a penalty for attempted piracy, just as there would be for attempted murder?


27 posted on 08/17/2010 1:04:44 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

Thanks, many things are explained by a picture.


28 posted on 08/17/2010 1:05:12 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: taxcontrol
-so it is hard for me to follow this judge’s ruling.

Let's ask the question a different way: the bad guys who attacked the USS Cole ... were they pirates?

I guess the question is: did the US demonstrate that the bad guys actions were committed "for private ends," (i.e., for economic gain) as opposed to some other violent reason?

It's not that difficult to recognize the difference between a Navy ship and a merchant one.... One might argue (in technicalities) that the pirates had a more "military" purpose, rather than a piratey purpose.

29 posted on 08/17/2010 1:05:24 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
Thanks, many things are explained by a picture.

Such as ... identifying bigots and racists among FReepers.

30 posted on 08/17/2010 1:06:10 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: NonValueAdded
S S S

Gonna have to be pretty fast with that shovel. };^)

31 posted on 08/17/2010 1:07:11 PM PDT by Roccus (......and then there were none.)
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To: taxcontrol

I gave up long ago trying to follow libtard logic. Maybe you need to smoke a bong to understand.


32 posted on 08/17/2010 1:14:13 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: r9etb

I’m in IT and have to do a lot of “and” vs “or” comparisons. If you are careful with the wording, these guys qualify as pirates by meeting two conditions:

1) any illegal acts of violence or detention
and
2) directed:
(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft

The clause “for private ends” is not required to meet the definition of priate. Rather, it is there to provide cover for those acting under privateering, which could be (but was not) authorized by their national authorities.


33 posted on 08/17/2010 1:16:27 PM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: Roccus; et al

the middle ‘s’ here appears to be sink,

as in deep six

as in no crater in water

8-) shoot, sink, shut up.

the shut up rule now applies including discussion over drinks as you can’t tell who’s listening anymore. (a case may be made you didn’t ever know who was listening in)

woerm


34 posted on 08/17/2010 1:19:43 PM PDT by woerm (student of history)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
According to the judge, they didn’t successfully complete their act of piracy, so it wasn’t piracy? So, isn’t there a penalty for attempted piracy, just as there would be for attempted murder?

According to the article, the judge relied on the Smith decision of 1820, which states, "We have therefore no hesitation in declaring that piracy, by the law of nations, is robbery upon the sea.

Was a robbery committed or attempted? Probably ... but the prosecutors have to demonstrate intent here, as the bad guys never got close enough to commit an actual act of robbery. It's up to the prosecutors to show that they had that sort of thing in mind.

Part of due process is that the prosecutors have to have solid grounds for their charges.

35 posted on 08/17/2010 1:31:35 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: r9etb

In addition, those devoted to the non sequitur.


36 posted on 08/17/2010 1:35:55 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: r9etb

As a scientist, you must have be exposed to the rudiments of statistics. HyperLibroidism is much more common amongst America’s blacks than its whites.

Therefore the picture does have predictive value.

What is it like being a scientist in a state where Boulder Dementia Syndrome (BDS)is spreading like a rash?


37 posted on 08/17/2010 1:39:14 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Just google the name and do the bio!


38 posted on 08/17/2010 1:39:43 PM PDT by truthguy (Good intentions are not enough.)
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To: A CA Guy

Right. Looks to me that the charges were dismissed because they were unsuccessful......


39 posted on 08/17/2010 1:43:11 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Molon Labe.)
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To: Mouton
Ya mean like this one?
Photobucket

40 posted on 08/17/2010 1:44:30 PM PDT by GunsAndBibles (God save Calif. - 'cause it's gonna take a miracle.)
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