Posted on 04/08/2009 9:49:53 PM PDT by Steelfish
US warship reaches Somali coast
Pirates are believed to be holding Capt Richard Phillips hostage An American warship, the USS Bainbridge, has reached the area off the coast of Somalia where a cargo ship was seized by pirates a day earlier.
US crew members have recaptured their ship but the captain is still being held hostage by the attackers. The pirates' boat is floating near the Maersk Alabama, its owners told the Associated Press. Officials are waiting for sunrise to see what happens.
The ship was taken about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast. Other US vessels are speeding towards the scene.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the government was following the situation very closely and urged the world to act to end the "scourge" of piracy.
Earlier, US media organisations telephoned members of the ship's crew to get details of their struggle against the pirates.
Second mate Ken Quinn told US TV network CNN how the crew had captured one of the pirates and kept him tied up for 12 hours.
As they attempted to negotiate the release of their captain, who has been named as Richard Phillips, they freed the captive attacker.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
The “mother ship” is as valuable as the decal on the side of the torpedo and needs to be sunk by putting something like a single rpg into it.
Remember, He bowed to the Saracen Keeper of the Holy places. Only a citizen of Saudia Arabia or a Moslem of anywhere would bow to that king. An American president has never bowed to a foreign monarch anywhere, until Hussein’s Arabian obeisance. That act speaks ominously of the American attitude toward Israel. I believe we will totally change sides in that conflict and become an ally of Iran and Syria at some point. Then Hussein I of America means to use what is left of American resources to help the “Palestinians” rebuild from the rubble of Tel Aviv.
I understand that the Somali coast is basically packed with these low lifes. My non PC response is that we resolve this matter , then carpet bomb the entire pirate coast, and call any slain innocent bystanders collateral damage.
Only caught a glance on Greta...There appeared to be several folks in custody. Where they from the mothership?
It is ironic that the USS Bainbridge should be the first US Navy vessel on the scene. Commodore William Bainbridge, for whom the ship is named, did not exactly cover himself in glory in his initial contacts with the Barbary Pirates.
Before the start of the conflict, Baibridge was dispatched to bring our tribute to the Dey of Algiers, and carelessly anchored his gunboat, the USS George Washington, directly under the guns of the Dey’s fortress. The Dey used this superior tactical position to force Bainbridge to raise the Algerian flag on his masthead and ferry the Algerian Ambassador and his retinue to Constantinople.
Later, Bainbridge ran another vessel, the USS Philadelphia, aground, resulting in the captrue of himself and his entire crew. Bainbridge was imprisoned for the next two and a half years.
During the War of 1812, Bainbridge aquitted himself somewhat more gloriously, commanding the 44-gun USS Constitution to a great victory over the HMS Java, which is why we are still naming ships after him today.
Shouldn't be long, at this rate...
Or just have the sub surface right under the lifeboat without warning. I doubt the hostage takes would have a chance to do anything but save their own lives if they suddenly found themselves in the water under violent circumstances!
</sarc>
Stop right now or I'll ask the U.N. to remind the "international community" that "the U.S. is not at war with Somali pirates."
Or was that from Ann Coulter?
re: Officials are waiting for sunrise to see what happens
I know we have to take into account the fact this is a report in the press, need I say more, but that statement certainly doesn’t do a lot to inspire confidence in their approach to situation!
I know that on land US forces OWN the night. I assume it’s the same at sea. Seems like they would have spent the time underway to the scene cooking up a couple of plans to be used immediately upon arrival. I also know that being impulsive is not good in most cases and that I would best leave these things to those who know what they’re doing.
Bingo ...
Yup, it is easy to see it coming. Seem to remember some book somewhere that says what happens when all the nations of the Earth align against Israel. It doesn’t work out well. (I am of course referring to Revelations.)
Good Grief! Fabulous
Ironincally, Bainbridge was Decatur's second in the duel that killed Decatur.
Article I, Section 8: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
I was reading up on Bainbridge today. When I heard the name of the ship, I knew he was involved in the original Barbary Pirates actions, but I confess I was not certain of the details. It sounds like a fascinating story.
Could you recommend a good history of the Barbary Wars? There seems to be very little out there.
There’s quite a variety out there...I read one back in the early 90s, published around that timeframe - late 80’s maybe
But one crackerjack one is
CS Forester - The Barbary Pirates.
Honestly I can’t. What I knew of him I learned in Naval Science as a young Midshipman. I must say though, given his overall record, especially with the Philadelphia, it’s a wonder to me that the Navy still honors him.
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