Pirates Hijack Second US Vessel

BBC ^ | 11 April 2009 | Staff

[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

 

[nikos1121]

We have a UN resolution that we can go after Somalia. This is the opportunity to do so. Problem now is, they have leverage over us, and esp if they get that tug boat to shore.

I would blockage Somalia allowing no boats in or out of their port...to begin with...

Then once this is resolved with the two boats...get physical with them.

Why do I have this sudden sick feeling that we have another Janet Reno moment coming up here soon?

[ican'tbelieveit]

He would have sent warplanes over to destroy their bases of operation. It would have been loud and clear, his message.

[Ramius]

A small quibble, but legally, it’s an Italian ship. It’s the flag it sails under that establishes jurisdiction.

Whether that makes any practical difference in this case, I don’t know.

[P-Marlowe]

This is a most embarrassing time to be an American. We have 90 pound weaklings kicking sand in our faces and walking off the beach carrying our girlfriends. And we cower in the corner like frightened children and states with mottos like "Live Free or Die" voted for the chicken $#!+ Obamessiah as their "fearless leader".

What the hell happened to my country?

[nikos1121]

Funny, isn’t it that not one US ship was hijacked during Bush’s watch?

[FreepShop1]

Why don’t any of these ships carry weapons? RPGs. Grenades. Automatic weapon. Any one of these, fired even half-assed would repel a hijack attempt. It is not a mystery that Somali pirates are out there, yet these big ships with valuable cargo and crew keep sailing through unarmed.

[nikos1121]

I have this sudden idea that this is Obama’s Iranian hostage situation that brought Carter down.

I don’t see us doing anything to save these guys....

Nada.

[angkor]

the pirate town of eyl, somalia

if you look at it in google earth, be sure to read the wikipedia link which has some interesting info

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=7.9634081,49.84758&z=16&t=h&hl=en

[meyer]

There’ll be more. Until the spineless communist in the White House responds with force (like that’ll ever happen), the enemy will be emboldened.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I see a great biz chance here for mercs who have good military training, snipers, seals, udt, whatever, to be contracted as samurai to be on these big vessels to protect them as they go through Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, etc.

I have seen some videos of those ragtag Somali ragheaded "pirates" and they could be plunked off easily by a far superior Western team with good technology... probably, though, the operating companies of these shipping firms have insurance restrictions about having such folks on board with weapons. But I would imagine there are a lot of retired US military still in their prime and worth their salt that could, if appropriately armed,, oganized and financed teams, pull a good six month or so stint on some of these freighters for good pay and put some muscle into these vessels transitting the high seas.

[alancarp]

If this is the “crisis” to test TOTUS that Biden warned us about, then we’re in worse shape than we thought.

[Carry_Okie]

I think I detect a message in all of this...

[mainepatsfan]

I don’t see us doing anything to save these guys.... Nada.

Sadly I think you're right.

[Le Chien Rouge]

It’s deja vu all over again.(with apologies to Yogi Berra):

1)Carter had his Iranian Hostage crisis which finished off his presidency.

2)Obama now has his own brewing hostage crisis.

3)Both had the same ‘deer in the headlock’ look.

4)Russia flexing it’s muscles

5)Crappy Economy

History doesn’t repeat but it sure does rhyme(with apologies to Samuel Clemens).

[big'ol_freeper]

That makes 20 Americans held hostage around the world.

Mah recudd is no longa safe...

[TornadoAlley3]

hey, the Obama’s are getting a dog!

[mainepatsfan]

It’s deja vu all over again.(with apologies to Yogi Berra): 1)Carter had his Iranian Hostage crisis which finished off his presidency. 2)Obama now has his own brewing hostage crisis. 3)Both had the same ‘deer in the headlock’ look. 4)Russia flexing it’s muscles 5)Crappy Economy History doesn’t repeat but it sure does rhyme(with apologies to Samuel Clemens).

I just hope the trend ends with another Reagan type Presidency.

[dennisw]

Another situation
F*****
Up
By
0bama

[1035rep]

These thugs know we are without a leader. I figured these things would start to happen when President Bush left office.

I expect to see a lot of this over the next four years.

[peace with honor]

AS ALWAYS, OBOZOMAMAMA, HAS ABSOLUTY NO CLUE WHAT TO DO