Undated handout picture of the Maersk Alabama container ship which has been seized by Somali pirates along with 20 American crew members. (AFP/HO)
Posted on 04/08/2009 12:15:33 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
The administration was facing a grim international incident in what's believed to be the first pirate attack on an American ship in 200 years as the drama continued to unfold off the coast of Somalia on Wednesday.
The majority of the crew of 20 American nationals were able to capture one pirate and negotiate their release, according to calls placed to the Associated Press by the free crew members, but the ship's captain and a crew member reportedly remained in the hands of Somali attackers. The U.S. flagged Maersk Alabama is home-ported in Norfolk, Va., and was carrying emergency food relief to Mombasa, Kenya.
Breaking reports Wednesday afternoon said that the pirates had left the ship with the captain and crew member.
The Pentagon did not want to comment on possible actions that could be taken in response to the attack, which is the six Somali pirate attack in the past week.
Piracy, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, “is not going to be something that is solved in a purely military way or in international waters.”
“This is going to have to be something that is addressed broadly by the international community,” Whitman said, “It’s going to have to be addressed diplomatically, militarily (and) legally.”
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), a retired Navy rear admiral and the highest-ranking former military officer in Congress, told Fox News on Wednesday afternoon that the best course forward in the standoff would be negotiations.
"We have to convince them to let him go," Sestak said of the pirates holding the captain captive, before news broke that a crew member was also still hostage. "We have the life of a man that we have to consider."
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations told The Hill on Wednesday afternoon that the situation was too fluid to have called for any Security Council meetings on the attack yet and "U.S. government efforts are focused on the safety and security of American citizens."
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) released a statement advocating an increased international effort against piracy.
"I applaud the current efforts of U.S. Navy Combined Task Force 151 and our international partners," Skelton said. "However, pirate attacks are becoming more frequent and more brazen, in spite of the presence of U.S. and coalition warships in the region. Clearly the situation requires an increase in the international effort to combat piracy. Only by working together on an international basis will we be able to put a stop to this criminal activity that threatens both trade routes and regional stability.
“Somalia’s inability to patrol its own coasts and prevent pirate attacks only adds to the need to increase the international effort," he said. "Ultimately, the solution is on the ground in Somalia, where the pirates have been allowed to operate with impunity."
President Obama was told about the attack as he was flying back to Washington from his surprise visit to Baghdad and was monitoring the situation, said foreign policy adviser Denis McDonough.
John Reinhart, president and CEO of the ship’s owner, Maersk Line Ltd., told reporters that the crew had been trained to confront pirate attacks.
Send her majesty Pelosi to negotiate or, in fact, trade Pelosi for the ship’s captain. It’s my guess, the pirates wouldn’t want her any more than we do.
So far the legal approach has worked just great. Made a big impact.
“I’ll take USS Pueblo for $100 Alex.”
Issue a very harshly worded statement to the press via the Teleprompter. That’ll do it.
The bad guys know we have a muzzie apologist and weak sister as POTUS.
Change we are forced to live with rather than believe in.
That was an act of war, not piracy.
“...and was carrying emergency food relief to Mombasa, Kenya.”
?????????
“This is going to have to be something that is addressed broadly by the international community,” Whitman said, “It’s going to have to be addressed diplomatically, militarily (and) legally.”
Diplomatically?? Are the pirates going to have a seat at the UN table?
“This is going to have to be something that is addressed broadly by the international community,” Whitman said, “It’s going to have to be addressed diplomatically, militarily (and) legally.”
Diplomatically?? Are the pirates going to have a seat at the UN table?
Is this a military ship?
When will we learn?
Yeah, Obama can't have rogue pirates taking things away from Americans. That's his job.
US Navy could royally kick pirate ass but at what cost to the hostage(s)?
Obama: Millions for tribute, but not one cent for defence!
Undated handout picture of the Maersk Alabama container ship which has been seized by Somali pirates along with 20 American crew members. (AFP/HO)
It’s sad that Americas first surrender is to a bunch of tribal animals.
No, it’s a cargo container ship.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.