Somali Pirates, U.S. Navy in Tentative Deal, One Pirate Says

Bloomberg | April 11, 2009 | Dick Schumacher

[Zakeet]

This story comes from Bloomberg -- which we cannot excerpt.

However, we can provide our own summary of the general gist of the article which is that one of the pirates has claimed both sides have agreed to a prisoner exchange -- our captain for four of their outlaws. The article goes on to warn that as of right now, this is by no means a done deal.

You can read the article HERE.

[Dacula]

We are talking Obama. He is busy having someone teleprompt his next speech. He is ordering pizza and watching bball.

[TonyM]

Just be sure to pay them in U.S. dollars, they will be worthless soon.

[dfwgator]

Obama is Charlie Brown.

[TonyM]

I was wondering. If we happen to capture all the kidnappers where would we take them? GETMO? And then release them in the U.S. next month?

[TonyM]

Don’t we have some kind of gas we could use to put them out long enough to do a rescue? Hard to belive that we don’t.

[Star Traveler]

Well, the first rule is to know how to “speak pirate”...

How to talk like a pirate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWgxuc45YCY

Next..., .rent “Pirates of the Caribbean” for more clues on how to handle things with pirates...

[saquin]

The latest on the "deal":

But on Saturday, a group of Somali elders from Gara’ad, mediating on behalf of the pirates, spoke by satellite phone to American officials... The elders proposed a deal in which the pirates would release Captain Phillips, with no ransom paid, and that the pirates would then be allowed to escape.

“The deal was a peaceful exchange, no money,” Mr. Abdul Aziz said.

But Mr. Abdul Aziz said that the Americans insisted that the pirates be handed over to Puntland authorities and the elders refused...

He said that by noon local time on Saturday, the Americans cut off communications with the elders in Gara’ad.

“If our approach doesn’t work,” he said, “it could get violent.”

[tophat9000]

So what now the US Navy has replaced the Weapon Offices with the Negotiation Officer?...

[saquin]

Also, I don't like the sound of this:

Somali officials said Capt. Richard Phillips and the four heavily armed pirates holding him hostage in a lifeboat floating in the Indian Ocean were approaching the shore, about 30 miles from Gara’ad, a notorious pirate den in northeastern Somalia.

We can't let the lifeboat reach shore.

[FarRightFanatic]

Is there no way to send in our SEALs to kill the pirates, excuse me MUSLIM TERRORISTS, and rescue the captain? Does Hussein not see how stupid and inept this makes him look to the rest of the world? Also, and how dangerous this precedent is to others working in the waters near Somalia?

Has Hussein even put out a statement yet or answered any question about this? Could Hussein send in Slow Joe to take care of this? I mean, he was going to send in Slow Joe to let mayors and legislators know that he wasn’t going to put up with wasteful spending of the porkulus? “NO one messes with Joe,” right?

[HereInTheHeartland]

“We can’t let the lifeboat reach shore. “

People on our side need an ass kicking if that is allowed to happen.

[saquin]

Is there no way to send in our SEALs to kill the pirates, excuse me MUSLIM TERRORISTS, and rescue the captain?

Don't you think that's what the Navy is trying to figure out how to do?

[PackerBoy]

Relax, people. The owner of the ship prohibited his employees from carrying weapons on board, and instructed them not to fight off any pirates. The owner was always going to pay a ransom if the need ever arose -- and he will chalk it up to the cost of doing business.

This is not a US vs. Pirates deal. It's a private property owner versus Pirates deal. This is not Obama's play. He is doing the right thing by letting the FBI and ship owner work it out with the pirates.

What Obama does after this ordeal is over, however, IS his deal.

[RedMonqey]

Yes, a missile from out of the blue striking them just before they set one foot upon dry land would be a good start.

Even better to time it so their celebrating supporters see them vaporate into a pink mist before their very eyes.

[jamese777]

I do. I just remember it as covert dealings to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. Not to release hostages. Of course, my memories are fading and subject to convenient reminiscing in my old age. :-)

---

You certainly got the “contra” part of the deal right but not the “Iran” part! ;-)

[SouthDixie]

I was talking to someone today who claimed his uncle worked for Maersk Lines. His uncle stated this was the 66th attack by pirates, this year !
Apparently, it's more economical to pay the pirates off because of the insurance premiums and to replace the cargo if they sink the ship. Either way, the pirates win and leaves the door open for them to hold the next ship ransom for the 67th time.

[CASchack]

Must have these guys doing the negotiating.....

Gang of 14.

[longhorn too]

i think the monkey in your picture would make a better president than Obama.

[MV=PY]

Nice. Sinking the boat is the best idea.

Then we rescue whoever we want.

Pretty good deterrent (at least for this batch of pirates).

[AlaskaErik]

So our navy has been reduced to haggling with common criminals. How shameful. This is change I can live without. Our navy needs to be a pit bull, not a poodle.