Posted on 11/29/2008 9:18:25 PM PST by MrCFdovnh
One of the biggest frustrations facing journalists is being unable to get through to people on the phone. But as Mary Harper discovered, contacting the Somali pirates on the Sirius Star turned out to be child's play. It was a cold, dark, wet and miserable Sunday afternoon. I was in my car, driving my 12-year-old daughter and her friend back from a birthday party. I was tired and fed up from being in the car.
"Mummy, mummy," trilled a voice from the back. "I want to phone the pirates.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
that was great! thanks! not only cute but interesting! :)
Stranger things have happened.
I’m reminded, once again, of something my philosophy prof said: “Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice.”
Perhaps that is why the captain was rather peaceful; he’d been treated justly insofar as the pirates could.
At Least 200 Die in Nigeria Clashes
New York Times | 11-29-08
Posted on 11/29/2008 8:45:33 PM PST by rdl6989
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140247/posts
ICC-CCS.org
http://www.icc-ccs.org
#
Quote:
ICC-CCS.org - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308:weekly-piracy-report&catid=32:weekly-piracy-report&Itemid=10
Weekly Piracy Report
18 - 24 November 2008
Suspicious crafts
None reported
Recently reported incidents
20.11.2008: 0200 LT: Tema roads, Ghana.
Eight robbers armed with long knives boarded a container ship at anchor via the anchor chain. They took hostage two duty-crew, tied them up and robbed them. They then stole ship’s equipment and stores. The duty officer, from the bridge, called the duty crew several times via UHF radio. On hearing the call the robbers they jumped overboard and escaped in a waiting boat.
22.11.2008: 0230 LT: Posn; 01:18.25N 104:18.40E: Singapore Straits.
Five pirates armed with guns and knives boarded a tanker underway. They stole ships equipment and escaped once alarm raised. No injury to crew.
21.11.2008: 0130 UTC: Posn: 16:17N 119:32E: West Coast Luzon, Philippines.
Three blue coloured speedboats, chased a bulk carrier underway. Ship increased speed, made evasive manoeuvres, raised alarm and fire hoses standby. Pirates aborted the attempt after 30 minutes
18.11.2008: 0600 LT: Posn: 14:17.15N 050:15.7E Gulf of Aden.
Owners verbally confirmed that three speedboats came alongside their fishing vessel and hijacked it. Twelve crewmembers taken hostage and vessel sailed into Somali waters.
18.11.2008: 0600 UTC: Posn: 14:23N 051:05E Gulf of Aden.
Pirate boarded and hijacked a bulk carrier underway. 25 crewmembers have been taken hostage. A coalition aircraft flew over the vessel and sighted five armed pirates onboard with and a skiff tied alongside. The vessel was sailed into Somali waters.
15.11.2008: AM: Off Kenyan waters: Somalia.
Pirates boarded a fishing vessel, hijacked it with its 24 crewmembers, and sailed the vessel into Somali waters.
31.10.2008: 0030 LT: Posn: 01:11.0N - 103:50.5E, Singapore Straits.
Five pirates, in a wooden boat, armed with knives boarded a tanker underway. They stole ship’s equipment and crew personal belongings and escaped.
I don't speak Somali, but I think the pirates in their small boats, the pirates in port, and the pirates on captured ships would all understand.
Don’t you understand?
BBC: You have to ‘understand the plight of the poor pirates”.
Britain is doomed by political correctness.
One small problem. The pirates live in cities they may control, but that are filled with ordinary Somalis. It’s not like this is a country we can attack if they don’t do something. Nobody is in charge to do anything.
The only solution is to take them out at sea or via hit squads on land. And we are unlikely to do either of those things.
.., also misunderstanding how easy it is to deter crime...,
Simple Black Friday shopping could put a sophisticated video system in place for pocket change.
I saw webcams and motion detectors, etc. for $9.95.
Combine with radar, sonar, etc. already built in, any two dollar capt. would have plenty of time to have fun pressure washing pirates to Davy Jones locker and have a round of rum with his crew after.
My Gawd, boys and girls, life is short, can't we have fun and mountain law and order at the same time.
I mean Cheese & Crackers, when did the world turn into a frightened urine stained Girl Scout troop?
Thanks for nothing spell checker, if you knew I spelled it wrong why didn't you just change it yourself!
Can't you see I busy looking for some dry Girl Scout outfits.
Just compare the way these pirates treat their hostages, and the way the Mumbai jihadis treated their “hostages.” No comparison. These pirates are raiding Ukranian arms shipments and Saudi oil tankers. Let ‘em have at it. It’s not our fight.
I've heard the firehose theory used multiple times but I don't think it would be my weapon of choice against an AK.
Fight smart, not fair.
a.k.a., don't bring an AK to a remote controlled auto laser range finding superduper-uber high pressure multi-head water cannon fight.
Still think I’d prefer to blow them out of the water.
League of their Own
You blast and I'll use my new diesel powered food processor.
Whatever gets my sharks supper.
Now that may work! :)
We can attack the areas around the ports. I suspect a lot of pirates and few civilians are right next to the captured ships.
Which is just another way of saying,
"All that's needed for evil to triumph.........
Makes you wonder... would any of this be happening if, after the Blackhawk Down incident, we had applied some real force instead of retreating.
Perhaps we might have succeeded in installing a government that could at least provide a basis for civilization to return to the country.
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