U.S. Navy frigate captures pirate mother ship

AP via MSNBC ^ | April 1, 2010 updated 10 minutes ago | Associated Press

[Ready4Freddy]

NAIROBI, Kenya - U.S. naval forces say they've captured five pirates after exchanging fire with them, sinking their skiff and confiscating a mother ship.

The USS Nicholas came under fire early Thursday from pirates in an area west of the Seychelles.

The U.S. Africa Command said the five pirates seized would remain in U.S. custody on board the frigate for time being. The Nicholas is home-ported in Norfolk, Va.

International naval forces have stepped up their enforcement of the waters off East Africa in an effort to thwart a growing pirate trade.

Experts say piracy will continue to be a problem until an effective government is established on Somalia's lawless shores. The country has not had a functioning government for 19 years.

[ichabod1]

That’s good, right, isn’t that good? Make the skinnies hit the flo.

[newnhdad]

wish they could have intercepted the head Kenyan pirate before he destroyed the country.

[Loud Mime]

The country has not had a functioning government for 19 years

NoBama, No Pelosi, No Waxman, No Reid!! Better for the economy, I bet. How can WE do that?

[Ready4Freddy]

“USS Nicholas takes 5 pirates prisoner after coming under fire, Navy says”

[ichabod1]

BTW, I read your post 5 minutes before I heard it on Fox.

[STONEWALLS]

...just a matter of time before the Congressional Black Caucus raises a fuss about this.

[Pecos]

I’m confused as to why the U.S. Navy would maintain custody of five dead pirates..... Oh, that’s right. The kinder, gentler, Administration would rather provide a forum for pirates to publicly berate the U.S. and blame us for them turning to piracy.....

I’m a traditionalist, myself, when it comes to pirates, horse theives, and traitors.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Experts say piracy will continue to be a problem until an effective government is established on Somalia's lawless shores Western navies routinely and summarily hang captured pirates, after a brief court-martial.

Wot would we do without "experts"?

[Thermalseeker]

....the five pirates seized would remain in U.S. custody on board the frigate for time being.

Chum the water, then OTS with the lot of them.....

[Mr. Wright]

Right — US Navy will probably be investigated by a House Subcommittee for possible racist acts on the high seas!!

[Ready4Freddy]

USS Nicholas (FFG-47), Oliver Hazzard Perry-class Frigate

Sorry, no pics of the skiff or mother ship...

[ichabod1]

Can we do it with a Captain’s Mast, so we don’t have to involve JAG-off lawyers, and then hang’em from the yardarm “pour l’encourager les autres?”

[EternalVigilance]

What else is a yardarm for anyway?

[WellyP]

HANG THEM!

[wally-balls]

Wally-balls is a proud Plankowner(OS-2, 1983-1987) of the mighty USS Nicholas (Nasty Nick). This great ship has distinguished herself since her commissioning and everybody’s who’s ever served on her has great pride

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I’ll hafta check the UCMJ for convening authority and maximum penalty. In the good old days, the master of a naval vessel could hang anyone it pleased him to, and hanging pirates was always a pleasure.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

What else is a yardarm for anyway?

Rigging sheets.

[Jack Hydrazine]

When it comes to ocean-going jihadi motherships the motto should be...

Shoot, sink, shutup.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Article I, Section 8 The Congress shall have power:...
To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations;

I don't find anything there about punishing pirate catchers. But as far as the actual pirates go we don't need a government in Somalia or even international authority to act. Pelosi, Reid et al have all the authority necessary, but seem to have forgotten it.