US ship capt. freed-snipers kill pirates
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| Sun, 04-12-2009 - 6:43pm |
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.





Excellent news about the rescue!!!!
Perhaps you are correct, however, I have no doubt that these pirates with think twice before
Yes, the Seals did an excellent job...however, what do you mean by 'FINALLY'?
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martinisnsushi - the two most important food groups!
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.
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martinisnsushi - living the good life since 1963
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martinisnsushi - the two most important food groups!
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
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
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martinisnsushi - the two most important food groups!