US ship capt. freed-snipers kill pirates

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
US ship capt. freed-snipers kill pirates
10
Sun, 04-12-2009 - 6:43pm
US ship captain is freed when snipers kill pirates
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1105ap_piracy.html

By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY AND LARA JAKES
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERS


MOMBASA, Kenya -- U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint in a lifeboat, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.


The pirates were pointing AK-47s at Capt. Richard Phillips and he was in "imminent danger" of being killed when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to order his men to shoot, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said.


Phillips' crew, who said they had escaped the pirates after he offered himself as a hostage, erupted in cheers aboard their ship in Mombasa, Kenya. Some waved an American flag and fired flares in celebration. A lawn sign in the captain's hometown of Underhill, Vermont that read "Pray for Captain Phillips' release and safe return home" was changed to read, "Capt. Phillips rescued and safe."



Jamac Habeb, a 30-year-old self-proclaimed pirate, told The Associated Press from one of Somalia's piracy hubs, Eyl, that, "our friends should have done more to kill the captain before they were killed. This will be a good lesson for us."


"From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them (the hostages)," he said. France and India have both taken deadly military action against pirates in recent months and seen no significant retaliation, however.


The Defense Department twice asked President Barack Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Phillips, most recently late Friday evening, U.S. officials said. On Saturday morning, Obama signed off on the Pentagon's request, as he had a day earlier, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.


"I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Capt. Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew," Obama said in his first comments on the situation. "His courage is a model for all Americans."


Complete article at above link.


Husky Logo cl-nwtreehugger  Photobucket














Community Leader for:  Photobucket



 Free Icons




The WeatherPixieSweet Alice

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2009
Sun, 04-12-2009 - 6:58pm

Excellent news about the rescue!!!!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2008
Sun, 04-12-2009 - 8:50pm

Perhaps you are correct, however, I have no doubt that these pirates with think twice before

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2009
Sun, 04-12-2009 - 9:34pm
I think the SEALS did a tremendous job too.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 04-13-2009 - 12:29pm

Yes, the Seals did an excellent job...however, what do you mean by 'FINALLY'?


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2006
Mon, 04-13-2009 - 5:03pm
Thank God!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Tue, 04-14-2009 - 9:36am
Why don't these ships have armed security? My bank has armed security, museums have armed security, hotels and department stores have armed security. Many commercial

--


martinisnsushi - the two most important food groups!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2002
Tue, 04-14-2009 - 9:56am
Partly to do with international maritime laws, partly to do with their insurance carriers. It is about the inability to guarantee the proper training to all their crew and


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Tue, 04-14-2009 - 10:17am

Oh good grief.


The world is full of very competent security firms and defense contractors who already provide very well trained and equipped operatives to private companies and government agencies. Compared to the cost of cargo, it wouldnt be all that expensive to simply contract with Pinkerton, Blackwater, or some similar company to provide security on board or escort vehicles in dangerous waters.

--


martinisnsushi - living the good life since 1963

--


martinisnsushi - the two most important food groups!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2002
Tue, 04-14-2009 - 12:03pm

It is about the bottom line. It is the same reason they choose to take this route, where there is a higher risk of piracy and pay higher insurance rates, rather than reroute their ships, pay less insurance and take longer to deliver their product. It's all about $$$. The same reason it's doubtful the pirates are going to escalate the violence unless forced to. All they really want is cargo or money. All in all, in spite of a high number of acts of piracy, there has been very few lives lost. But I understand, things ARE more important than people.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy_raised_stakes



Pirates seen as not interested in raising violence





Pirate leaders in Somalia have vowed to retaliate for the killing of three pirates by U.S. Navy SEAL sharpshooters in the daring rescue of American captain Richard



iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Tue, 04-14-2009 - 5:53pm

It isn't just about money. It is about human life. Maybe you'd consider heing held at gunpoint by nervous pirates to be a mere inconvenience, but I'd consider it an imminent threat to my life and safety.


And the money being discussed isn't simply the difference in someone have a good year or a bad year. If commerce cannot function in

--


martinisnsushi - the two most important food groups!