Posted on 04/11/2009 8:35:25 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
Somali pirates have hijacked a US-owned tugboat in the Gulf of Aden with 16 crew on board, reports say.
Maritime industry sources say the tug, which sails under an Italian flag, was towing two barges at the time of the attack, at 1100 local time (0800 GMT).
The crew are said to be unharmed. The US and Italian governments have not confirmed the hijacking.
Meanwhile pirates holding a US captain hostage have warned that using force to rescue him could result in "disaster".
The pirates said they hoped to transfer Capt Richard Phillips from a lifeboat to a bigger vessel, as US and other naval ships made their way to the area.
He is being held by four pirates hundreds of kilometres off Somalia.
In other developments:
- Sailors on a Panama-flagged bulk carrier repulsed a pirate attack with water hoses. Nato officials on a nearby Portuguese warship said an unexploded rocket-propelled grenade landed in the commanding officer's cabin
- On Friday, one Frenchman and two pirates were killed in a rescue operation by French troops on another vessel captured off Somalia. Four others, including a child, were freed from the yacht
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Twin fifties would do the trick alright.
Sure, there's the MV Biscaglia, owned by Industrial Shipping Enterprises of Connecticut, but flying a Liberian flag.
Too bad the Constitution doesn't allow a Mulligan.
THIS IS BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE AFTER
COULD RACE, COLOR OR RELIGION BE PLAYING A ROLE IN THE CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR TOWARD THE POOR, DESPERATE, MISUNDERSTOOD MUSLIM SOMALI PIRATES??
PERISH THE THOUGHT!!
I have heard that years ago in the old west Coyotes were shot and hung on fences or trees to show the others. Some of these may have been the human kind. Maybe shoot a few pirates and hang them over the side of the ship might make the others to think better of it.
Since the Indian Navy repelled the pirates a few weeks ago, I have not heard of any Indian ships being hit.
As near as I could make out, he was blaming the piracy on a history of foreign "fishing vessels" stealing Somalia's fish, as well as gun-running by foreign ships in Somalian waters.
So, you see, it's all good, and just and noble. I think Obama, who blames everything on Western colonialists, and nothing on the perpetually downtrodden and self-pityingly victimized indigenous people of color, would agree.
Oh, and Eyl is a pile of rubble, it appears, but they're moving on up -- to Nairobi -- with their pirate money...
The Navy is PARALYZED under Herr hussein. Disband it, then - and scuttlle the ships.
Are we sure we can't have a do-over?
Maybe this is O's way of demoralizing the military. Who knows.
Piracy is normal in Islam and ins’t looked down on. It is considered a legitimate business when the infidel is the victim. In fact the pirates hold themselves out as devout Muslims and requested all Muslims pray for them since they were up against the Unites States
We are being kept in the dark by the Obama government.
This is shameful.
Thanks for putting it in context. A brave American has put the safety of all aboard his ship ahead of all; his very life, if that is the price; he is being held by pirates who may kill him; and the supposed CinC is indeed preparing to regale homosexuals as special honored guests at an Easter egg hunt...and to welcome the incoming First Puppy.
Makes me sick.
0bama’s kicking back at Camp David getting high
No that was John Kerry, HE had all the plans...Obama is just clueless!!
I just hope we’re not being suckered into the area. I do not trust Obama’s ability to make good decisions here.
Bada bing! Democrats always micromanage military situations into no-win situations.
Yes, but they have to frame it in modern terms of oppression by the West, which leftists such as Obama find so soothing and palatable. It doesn't matter, of course, whether the supposed offense occurred last year or a few thousand years ago, it's all good, you see, as long as the West, and most particularly, the white man, is at fault.
Water hoses against the pirates? How....odd. If I wasn’t American I’d be laughing at that myself.
Damn, I like how your mind works. That's the best solution I've seen on this issue, and it will work. On lots of levels, I might add.
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