American Captain Tries Daring Escape from Somali Pirates .....(quickly recaptured)

ABC News ^ | April 10, 2009 | MARTHA RADDATZ

[IrishMike]

American Captain Tries Daring Escape from Somali Pirates

Both Sides Send Reinforcements to Pirate Standoff

The American captain being held hostage by Somali pirates dove into the water during the night in an attempt to escape, but was quickly recaptured, Defense Department officials said today.

The daring overnight escape attempt by Capt. Richard Phillips was the Vermont sailor's latest bit of heroics in the four day old drama on the high seas 300 miles from the nearest coastline.

Phillips had earlier volunteered to be a hostage after his unarmed men took back their freighter, the Maersk Alabama, from the pirates. The captain stepped forward to be a hostage to avoid a bloody battle with the gun toting pirates.

Phillips, 53, didn't get far in his effort to single handedly end the standoff. He was quickly recaptured by the four pirates in the 28-foot open lifeboat. The pirates, out of gas but armed with AK-47 rifles, insist on taking Phillips back to Somalia to hold him for ransom.

Tensions escalated around the little boat today with both sides sending reinforcements to the scene.

The U.S. destroyer Bainbridge has been keeping an eye on the four pirates in recent days and is being joined by another warship, the Halyburton, which carries two helicopters.

The pirates also claim to be sending reinforcements, hijacked ships with their captured crews as human shields.

[jellybean]

A recent report stated that the navy gave them radio batteries and food. I wonder how that exchange went...it may have been an opportunity to overpower them...but who knows.

I would have sent some Easter ham for the Captain and some strychnine laced goat meat for the pirates.

[jwparkerjr]

Under normal circumstances it would be a really stupid move, but under today’s administration it probably is a good move. Ordinarily it would be foolish to purposely move the ships and hostages into range of a US Navy destroyer! But I’m not sure The One has what it takes to deal with the situation the same way previous presidents would have.

[CindyDawg]

No batteries. No food. Just water.

[jwparkerjr]

One report said they were getting food and water. I would think, IMHO, that waiting is in the captain’s favor. The longer they have to think about it the better. But who knows? I’m not convinced the hostage negotiators know, for sure, any more about what works and doesn’t work than a person with good common sense does. Not to detract from them, but heck, we can’t even decide who among us will go berserk and shoot up the population.

[CindyDawg]

American ships were not raided in the past (that I know of) They seem to have no fear of us now.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Call in the SEALS. A couple of strategically placed holes in the boat - it sinks.....Like shooting fish in a barrel.....red

Exactly - this should have been over in five minutes. SEAL divers come up under the boat, punch some holes, and stand by underwater with knives ready to cut the pirates' throats and an extra oxygen tank and mask for the American captain.

[jwparkerjr]

Reports say it's the first such attack against an American ship in 200 years. You're correct, they have no fear. They are cowards and if they felt there was the slightest chance they might get hurt they would simply have gone for another ship. They might be cowards, but they are smart cowards. And they are cowards who will exploit any weak link in the chain, not the least of which might be a commander-in-chief who bows to a foreign leader and launches a 500-person ‘round-the-world trip to apologize for being an American.

[Poe White Trash]

Chances are that TOTUS is micro-managing this and has issued orders specifically forbidding the actions you suggested.

Not Carter II. Carter squared.

[Cicero]

So, if Obama had not ordered the Navy in his rules of engagement that they are not allowed to shoot and not allowed to send anyone into the water near the lifeboat, the captain would now be safe.

I have an idea. How about we arrange a trade: Obama for this brave captain. Then Obama can get his wish, and have the opportunity to talk his way out of it without any preconditions. Also he gets to meet some fellow African Muslims.

[Niuhuru]

Time for a little waste not, want not.

If we waste not the bombs, we will want not for peace.

[CatoRenasci]

No doubt.

[Anoreth]

"James Morrison could play Capt. Phillips, since Scott Glenn is too old."

Jackie Chan could play one of the (American) crewmembers, or perhaps a member of the USN rescue team if one turns up later today.

[Uncle Miltie]

So it took FR exactly one post to come up with the correct solution. How many days until 0bummer arrives at any useful conclusion?

[KTM rider]

And so, once again , the USA falls into 4 years of hostage taking, reminiscent of the Carter days.

I'm surprised Hussien hasn't already traded the captain for an Aegis

[mojito]

I think it’s time for snipers. Seriously.

Excellent idea.

[bergmeid]

Say what? Other pirate vessels are steaming up too? And we are allowing that? Can’t we lay a impenetrable naval blockade around this mess?

[Americanexpat]

Obama is going to dispatch a ship with a white only crew to intercept and kill the pirates imcluding the ones in-route to the scene. That way the next time he goes overseas he can blame the white guys again for their arrogance and hevihandedness. /sarc (maybe)

[DBrow]

“One can only assume obama is too timid to act - worse : he is afraid to kill a few fellow black african muslims”

This is wild, unsubstantiated speculation on my part, here goes: Could Raila Ondinga be involved with the Somali pirates?

The cargo is bound for unloading to Kenya, then distribution to Somalia.

[KTM rider]

I got a brainstorm , lets trade Pres. Obama for Captain Phillips......think they’ll go for it ?

[Frantzie]

Where were Navy Seals? This poor captain. Somalis are a protected class.

Denver airport adn other airports I have been to are loaded with Somalis. They are like a cancer in any country they go too.