Posted on 03/05/2014 10:47:43 AM PST by marktwain
Buried in the LA Times Entertainment section is some interesting news about the Maersk Alabama, the ship that was attacked by Somali pirates early in the Obama Presidency. In the last paragraph of the article, it is casually mentioned that the ship was attacked three more times in the next two years! From the LA Times:
But while Phillips' story -- and by extension, "Captain Phillips" -- had a happy ending, the Maersk Alabama has not been so fortunate, facing further pirate assaults in recent years. The ship was attacked a second time in 2009, again in 2010 and yet again in 2011. Each time, though, the assailants were repelled by armed security forces.So, the ship went from being defenseless in early 2009, to having armed guards. In the first instance, the ship is taken over, the Captain is taken hostage, the U.S. military intervenes and ends up shooting three of the pirates, rescuing Captain Phillips.
Not news from the viewpoint of the MSM, I guess.
Nah, this can’t be true... MORE guns only breed MORE violence!!!
Give those poor, oppressed, aggrieved, victims of white European neo-colonialism a break! They’re just trying to earn a living... sea-going entrepreneurs that they are...
/s (I shouldn’t have to add the sarc tag, but...)
What has happened is that the insurance risk of having armed crewmembers is now less than the insurance risk of steaming unarmed. And, to paraphrase Al Capone, you can get more with a smile and a machine gun than you can with a smile alone.
There has been a lot more than reported. Security usually sits on the bridge wings and holds their rifles in the air to oncoming dows and they always turn away. Happens quite often.
A few M60s in trained hands will make quick work of these pirates.
Are these ships even allowed to carry water cannons?
Water cannons, Yes sir
Dang, this was my million dollar idea, run my security crew on these ships for a percentage of value of the cargo, guarantee delivery or we don’t get paid.
Had that idea years ago already. Sadly I got married and had kids so that doesn’t lend itself to private work.
Not that I endorse the MSM, but maybe the shipping lines preferred to keep a successful strategy quiet ? Just a thought, thanks.
I would think they would prefer the opposite.
Deterrence.
Your facts are racist!
Quite possibly so. In a perfect world, the pirates would sail out, never to be seen, again ;)
That looks like an incredibly well made machine gun with spiral barrel and matching bipod. A fancy RPK?
this could only surprise a liberal.
“...Your facts are racist!...”
Hahaha yes, they are, aren’t they...!
Maybe we should put one o’ THESE li’l guys on the ships:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMMrPoBq0M
I believe it is a PK, using the 7.62x54 cartridge. It is a step up from the RPK or the RPD.
It has a pretty good reputation. It is the rough equivalent to the FN MAG.
LOL! The last words I could recognize were, “No no no!”
Hahah!!!
You know, ANYTHING that starts with the words “Hey! Watch This!!” NEVER ends well...
I fell out of my chair the first time I saw this.
In the vast pantheon of Internet Classic Video Clips, this one is right up there - along with THIS one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWgovxo3eA
and this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNQFZ8Ii-AQ
(No hints now - you have to watch both!!!)
Damn. Serious BioShock flashbacks on the second one.
Yeah, well... it’s funny - BUT - someone with a weak heart could have kicked off from the fright. So it becomes LESS funny when you think of it in that light. But it is still a classic. The reactions of the men were hilarious.
Since I don’t speak Portuguese, I wonder what the excuse was to get folks into the elevator...
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