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

 

[Dr. Scarpetta]

That’s what I can’t understand, why the Seals have not been able to save this guy. The Captain escaped for a moment, he jumped into the water, I just know he thought there would be Seals to save him if he could get off the lifeboat but they weren’t there for him. Good thing he didn’t die right there.

I've had those same thoughts...

[DGHoodini]

This is about Obama being a chickenshit DemoLiberal coward, and refusing to allow the SEALs to do do their jobs...and now all the sailors on that tug boat...whatever happens to them, is fully, and solely on obamas head, as the reason they were taken was Obama is a hesitating coward..and now everyone knows it.

[bimboeruption]

Absolutely! We saw how quickly those American hostages were returned to us in 1981. They were already on a plane headed back to the U.S. as President Reagan was giving his Inaugural address. The mullahs in Tehran weren't stupid.

Yep, they knew Reagan was a man of his word...a rarity nowadays.

[Abigail Adams]

How’s this for an idea: We get some container ships and put some of our military guys on them, armed. They sail around the area as bait for the pirates. Any pirates they encounter get shot or blown to bits. Rinse and repeat until all pirates are toast.

[1035rep]

Thanks for the link, kabar.

“The White House discussions highlight the challenges facing the Obama team as it attempts to distance itself from the Bush administration, which conducted at least five military strikes in Somalia. The new administration is still defining its rationale for undertaking sensitive operations in countries where the United States is not at war.”

“Some in the Defense Department have been frustrated by what they see as a failure to act.”

[ElayneJ]

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.
_____________________

Like Blackwater - that did an excellent job but got vilified in the US. Maybe these guys would have to limit their services to countries other than the US. Sad.

[tiredoflaundry]

This bass turd reminds me of Jimmah more & more each day.

[Aria]

Hellooooo....these are poor black Muslims who are spreading the wealth from rich white guys.

With whom do you think BO sympathizes?

[TheShaz]

WWTPD

What Would the Teleprompter Do !

[angkor]

>>>> I watched for or five or so amateur videos on You Tube shot of Eyl, Somalia today <<<<<

That’s pirate central.

Could you post the YouTube link if you still have it?

[Amelia]

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

I believe that if you'll look a little more closely, there were several U.S. owned ships hijacked, but like this one, they were flying foreign flags.

Maybe the Italians will save this ship.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I wouldnt put it past America to re-elect the jackass even AFTER major foul ups overseas for the next four years.

I agree that Obama can be re-elected, mainly because people I talk to are totally uninformed about the news because they watch the NETWORK news.

[Chgogal]

Hey kowtowing arse kissing President Zero, your bloody mealy mouth simple minded BS is not working and NOW hardworking Americans are more unsafe then ever before.

[ozarkgirl]

That’s a great idea!

[paws_and_whiskers]

Nero fiddled.

Hillary cackled.

And PBHO will go away for the Easter holiday with the parting words, "Call me if you need me."

[magellan]

Paging Thomas Jefferson.

[Renderofveils]

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

Just because it wasn't reported doesn't mean it didn't happen.

http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=visualization&controller=visualization.googlemap&Itemid=89

Maps from the last four years here.

[topfile]

If you had just been paying attention you would have seen this White House issued close-up photo of the floor to explain Obama "apparent" bow.

[backhoe]

To bowdlerize a comment I saw elsewhere,

"Those French Commandos are making us look like Wagyu-eating surrender monkeys..."

[Girlene]

To all you armchair quarterbacks, what would you do?

Well, I hope they don't take notes from a little trick the Canadians tried a week or two ago. Unless these pirates pay a price for even attempting to hijack a vessel, we'll continue to see them increase. From The Niagra Falls Review, Canadian warship mollycoddling Somalia's pirates

"The only thing odd about those Somali pirates that plunder the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea is how come they are still doing it? "[snip]

"News reports tell of a Canadian frigate's encounter with pirates -- which may help explain why these brigands of the sea not only still exist, but seem to operate with impunity when confronted by the world's navies.

Apparently last weekend, HMCS Winnipeg, a frigate and a component of NATO'S counter-piracy mission (Operation Allied Protector) spotted three small pirate skiffs closing in on an Indian merchant ship, the Pacific Opal, in the Arabian Gulf.

Instead of demanding the pirates surrender or be sunk, the Winnipeg's helicopter hovered between the pirates and the threatened vessel, and dangled a large sign over the side of the helicopter, alongside the chopper's machine gun, that had the word "Stop" written in Somali.

The news report quoted the Winnipeg's skipper, Cmdr. Craig Baines, as saying: "They got the idea that we don't like what they're doing," and the pirates called off their attack. "[snip]