Posted on 04/10/2009 5:06:42 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Seems like a smart response if you ask me.
You would think so. As time goes on it seems like more and more that the Navy is on stand down.
It’s the Carter years all over again.
Sounds like a plan, dangle the bait, and when the school approaches, then blast the whole dam mess out of the sea.
Somehow I cant, in my own mind, imagine that the pirates are racing to the scene to take on several warships. One could always hope, but my question is, if the captain was in the water, why did the Bainbridge not hose that boat with machine gun fire and put a stop to the situation right there? What the Hell is going on there that someone was not on rail duty with an M-60? The opportunity of the day, in their laps, and the Navy sets there with their thumbs up their a-holes. Unforgivable.
Citation for the Medal of Honor:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a Marine Rifle Company in the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during action against the enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryūkyū Chain on May 10, 1945. Undaunted by the deadly accuracy of Japanese counterfire as his unit pushed the attack through a strategically important draw and up the hill into an open fireswept field where the Company advance squad was suddenly pinned down under a terrific concentration of mortar, machinegun, and sniper fire with resultant severe casualties. Moving steadily forward despite the enemy's merciless barrage, he reached the wounded Marine who lay farthest away and was rendering first aid when his patient was struck for the second time by a Japanese bullet. Instantly placing himself in the direct line of fire, he shielded the fallen fighter with his own body and staunchly continued his ministrations although constantly menaced by the slashing fury of shrapnel and bullets falling at his sides. Alert, determined, and completely unselfish in his concern for the helpless Marine, he persevered in his efforts until he himself sustained mortal wounds and collapsed, heroically sacrificing himself that his comrade might live. By his outstanding valor and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds, Petty Officer Halyburton sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
"Seems like a smart response if you ask me."
Yes, if Obama's goal at every turn is to weaken the US, humiliate us before the world and especially the Islamists, then this is a smart tactic. All he has to do it to order that the US Navy not shoot, not use coercive tactics and negotiate the the terms of a ransom. We will get back a live captain, Obama will declare victory and we will wait for the next attack by an emboldened enemy.
Doesn’t waiting it out put the captain at risk also? I mean, why would the pirates give the captain any food if they are running low? I wouldn’t be surprised if the captain became dinner if things got really bad. On the other hand, a lot of suggestions out there seem to suggest blowing the boat out of the water. Are people forgetting the captain is in that boat?
THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OUTRAGEOUSLY STUPID AND INTOLERABLE.
WHAT MINDLESSNESS.
WHY WEREN’T THERE SEALS WITHIN REACH TO INSURE HE SUCCEEDED IF HE MADE SUCH AN ATTEMPT?
GOD HAVE MERCY ON US FOR SUCH TREASONOUS CLUELESSNESS AT THE TOP. What an evil bustard.
Where’s the nails, I think I could spit out screws.
GRRRRR.
Rest in Peace William D. Halyburton Jr,
now one of the Lord’s angels.
The longer this goes on, the weaker it makes Obamba look. He can’t afford to have this in the news for much longer. Something’s going to give soon.
And which Republican congressmen are those?
This captain has more bravery than the entire United States government.
Do you remember Jimmy Carter, how long were we
held captive in Iran?
They were let go 10 minutes before Reagan would
have blasted them all to hell.
Not to mention the media spectacle a bunch of pirates in small boats surrounding the liferaft will make
Don’t worry, he is giving excellent
advise on how to refinance your mortgage!
Leftists would be appalled to learn there’s a Navy ship called the Halyburton. They would change the name to the Bill Ayers.
Because you can be that we are not allowed to fire.
that should read “bet” that we are not
allowed to fire.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.