http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/gulfofaden/ en-us Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:44:25 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2136372/posts Armed Islamists will attack pirates, says militant Last Updated: Friday, November 21, 2008 | 3:08 PM ET A group of armed Islamist militants is reportedly headed to a Somali port Friday to attack pirates holding hostage a massive Saudi Arabian oil tanker.Ships belonging to Muslim countries should not be seized, Abdelghafar Musa, a fighter with the Islamist group al-Shabab, told the Associated Press. This undated picture taken at an unknown location shows the Saudi oil supertanker MV Sirius Star, which has been hijacked by Somali pirates. (Christian Duys/Associated Press)"We are really sorry to hear that the Saudi ship has... CBC News (Canada) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2136372/posts#comment Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:44:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135625/posts ARLINGTON, Va. — To hell with pirates: The Defense Department isn’t going to re-route ships to avoid the Gulf of Aden. "We’re not going around the Cape of Good Hope," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Wednesday. Several shipping companies this week announced they would do just that, in an effort to avoid pirates lurking in the waters off Somalia. But the U.S. government is not considering such an option for its ships. "Ultimately that’s not the solution to this," Morrell said. "And that, to me — in scenarios like that, the pirates win. And they should not be allowed... Stars and Stripes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135625/posts#comment Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:22:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135629/posts The battle with pirates operating off the coast of Somalia grew yesterday when raiders seized two more ships but lost one of their own in an uneven firefight with the Indian Navy. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) described the situation yesterday as “out of control”. The surge in hijackings came as Saudi Arabia confirmed that a ransom demand had been made for the freeing of the Sirius Star supertanker, seized at the weekend with her crew of 25 and a cargo of oil worth $100 million (£65 million). Two more vessels – a Thai fishing boat with a crew of... TIMES ONLINE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135629/posts#comment Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:29:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135390/posts Possible terrorism in the making? http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm?newsid=20202559&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8 The Bulletin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135390/posts#comment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:43:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134600/posts An Indian navy warship has sunk a Somali pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden, the world's most treacherous waterway, after the renegades threatened to attack the frigate. timesonline.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134600/posts#comment Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:12:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134769/posts An Indian navy warship has sunk a Somali pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden, the world's most treacherous waterway, after the renegades threatened to attack the frigate. The clash happened as pirates claimed to begin negotiations over a ransom for the Saudi super-tanker that was seized nearby on Saturday with two Britons aboard. The Sirius Star, which is carrying at least $100 million worth of oil, is the biggest ship ever to be hijacked. INS Tabar, an Indian frigate dispatched last month to the area to protect the country's merchant fleet, sighted the pirate vessel late on Tuesday.... Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134769/posts#comment Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:15:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134814/posts NEW DELHI: In dramatic action on the high seas, an Indian warship with its armed helicopter and elite marine commandos repulsed in quick succession attempts made by different bands of gun-toting pirates to hijack a Saudi and a Mumbai-based merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia on Tuesday morning. INS Tabar, a Talwar-class guided-missile stealth frigate, was cruising in the Gulf of Aden at about 10 am when it got a frantic distress call from Saudi Arabian chemical and oil carrier NCC Tihama. Tihamas call said two to three high-speed boats, with several armed men, were trying to... Times Of India http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134814/posts#comment Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:03:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134897/posts Indian navy sinks pirate “mother ship” in Gulf of Aden Late Tuesday, Nov. 18, after a Thai boat and Iranian cargo vessel were hijacked, the Indian navy’s Tabar stealth frigate fought back and destroyed a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden. It was described by the Indian navy as a mother vessel loaded with food, diesel and water, with two speed boats in tow. On the deck, were rocket-propelled grenade launchers and guns. The pirates threatened to blow up the Indian warship then opened fire. After destroying the pirate ship, the Tabar chased one of the speed boats, which... Debkafile http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134897/posts#comment Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:26:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133306/posts SEOUL: A Japanese cargo ship was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia late on Saturday, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted Seoul’s foreign ministry as saying on Sunday. The cargo ship was carrying 23 sailors, including five South Koreans, Yonhap said. Details on the pirates and the safety of the sailors were not immediately available, it said. Heavily armed Somali gunmen have seized more than 30 vessels so far this year, making the busy shipping lanes through the Gulf of Aden the most dangerous in the world. South Korea is considering dispatching a naval ship to the area... Times of India http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133306/posts#comment Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:32:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130998/posts The Royal Navy described the boarding as 'compliant' Michael Evans, Defence Editor and Rob Crilly Pirates caught redhanded by one of Her Majesty’s warships after trying to hijack a cargo ship off Somalia made the grave mistake of opening fire on two Royal Navy assault craft packed with commandos armed with machineguns and SA80 rifles. In the ensuing gunfight, two Somali pirates in a Yemeni-registered fishing dhow were killed, and a third pirate, believed to be a Yemeni, suffered injuries and subsequently died. It was the first time the Royal Navy had been engaged in a fatal shoot-out on the... Times Union http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130998/posts#comment Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:12:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2122227/posts Expanding Afghan War Awaits New President An expanded U.S. military involvement awaits a new U.S. president in Afghanistan where the unfinished business of September 11 has flared over the past three years into a major insurgency. A raft of assessments and reviews now underway in Washington point to a fundamental rethinking of the Afghan war. But whoever is elected Tuesday will face choices on the size of the military buildup, how to strengthen the central government, how far to go in dealing with insurgent sanctuaries across the border, how to help stabilize Pakistan, and whether and how to reconcile... Previous Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2122227/posts#comment Sun, 2 Nov 2008 02:30:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2123080/posts Denmark's navy says pirates opened fire on a Danish tanker in a failed attempt to commandeer the ship off Somalia's coast. The navy says no crew members were wounded in the incident today in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates disappeared by the time a Danish navy helicopter arrived. The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2123080/posts#comment Mon, 3 Nov 2008 02:51:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2113627/posts ~snip~ It's bad news for shippers, but an opportunity for Blackwater Worldwide, the North Carolina-based private military contractor. Last week, the company announced plans to dispatch the MV MacArthur, a 183-foot vessel with a crew of 14 and a helicopter pad, to the Gulf of Aden to provide escort services for ships in need of security. "Billions of dollars of goods move through the Gulf of Aden each year," said Bill Matthews, executive vice president of Blackwater Worldwide, in a press release. "We have been contacted by ship owners who say they need our help in making sure those goods... Forbes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2113627/posts#comment Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:10:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2113320/posts NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Tensions heated up on the high seas, as the French Navy captured nine pirates near the Gulf of Aden and a Somali pirate warned Thursday that the crew of a hijacked Ukrainian arms ship would be killed if NATO forces attacked. The French Navy intercepted the pirates in two small boats about 115 miles (185 kilometers) from the nearest coast, finding assault rifles, grenade-launchers, grappling hooks and ladders onboard. The nine were handed over Thursday to Somali officials, and French officials received assurances the prisoners would be treated according to international conventions. "We wanted to send... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2113320/posts#comment Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:42:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2108943/posts VIRGINIA BEACH Blackbeard, meet Blackwater. Worldwide. The Moyock, N.C., company has a ship in Hampton Roads ready to begin patrolling the Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels against pirates. The company has spoken to about 10 shipping firms but as yet has no takers, said Bill Mathews, Blackwater Worldwide executive vice president. "There's definitely a need and a desire," Mathews said during a tour of the 183-foot vessel, named McArthur, on Friday. It's moored at a commercial pier at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. Somali pirates in late September seized a Ukrainian ship loaded with military vehicles in the... The Virginian-Pilot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2108943/posts#comment Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:01:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2106628/posts KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15, 2008 (AFP) - Somali pirates hijacked a Philippines-managed bulk carrier with 21 sailors aboard on Wednesday, a maritime watchdog said. Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur, told AFP pirates boarded the vessel at 0344 GMT in the notorious Gulf of Aden. AFP via Yahoo (Asia Pacific) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2106628/posts#comment Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:50:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2055031/posts Pentagon Makes Fighting Extremism Top Priority Seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue. The Defense Department, in a new national defense strategy, also emphasized the need to subordinate military operations to "soft power" initiatives to undermine Islamist militancy by promoting economic, political and social development in vulnerable corners of the world. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hoped the change would help establish permanent institutional support for counterinsurgency skills... Previous Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2055031/posts#comment Fri, 1 Aug 2008 19:17:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998075/posts PARIS — Elite French troops were headed to East Africa to bolster efforts to free captives of a yacht held by pirates off Somalia, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said today. A team of the GIGN, a commando force that conducts anti-terrorist and hostage rescue operations, was being sent to Djibouti to "reinforce" negotiation teams in place, spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said in an online briefing. Pirates seized the yacht, called Le Ponant, in the Gulf of Aden on Friday. It was carrying 30 crew members, including 22 French citizens, but no passengers. French officials made contact with the pirates overnight.... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998075/posts#comment Mon, 7 Apr 2008 20:14:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996460/posts The British master of a tug has told how he feared for his life during a six-week hostage ordeal at the hands of pirates off the coast of Somalia. Colin Darch, 70, who is recovering at home in Appledore, Devon, was freed only after the Danish owners of the tug, the Svitzer Korsakov, were reported to have paid a £350,000 ransom. About 20 pirates boarded the vessel on Feb 1 in the Gulf of Aden off the north coast of Somalia. "Someone shouted that they were aboard," said Mr Darch. "They were firing guns. We then shut down the ship.... Daily Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996460/posts#comment Fri, 4 Apr 2008 02:04:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1202465/posts A court convicted 15 Yemeni militants on terror charges including the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker and plotting to kill the US ambassador. One man was sentenced to death for killing a Yemeni police officer and seven received 10 year prison terms. Six of the defendants plus the one man tried in absentia, who received the longest prison terms, 10 years, were found guilty of participating in the October 2002 bombing of the Limburg oil tanker, which killed one Bulgarian crew member and spilled 90,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Aden. The conviction of one of... Hindustan Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1202465/posts#comment Sun, 29 Aug 2004 19:26:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1466305/posts CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti, Aug. 18, 2005 – Call it the prototype for a new method of warfare. The Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, headquartered here, is fighting the global war on terror with good deeds, not weapons. Task force commander Marine Maj. Gen. Timothy Ghormley very proudly tells one and all that no one in his command has "fired a shot in anger," but the command may have prevented hundreds of young men and women in the region from embracing the terrorist philosophy. "My combat forces are doctors, veterinarians, engineers and dentists," Ghormley said during an interview at... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1466305/posts#comment Fri, 19 Aug 2005 01:08:55 GMT