Captive Captain 'Still Alive' as Pirates Steer Lifeboat Toward Shore

ABC News ^ | 4/11/09 | Staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

Pirates Have Gas on Lifeboat, Fire Shots at U.S. Navy Sailors

The captain of a U.S.-flagged ship held hostage by armed pirates on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean appears to be alive after a daring escape attempt -- but the pirates now seem to have fuel and to be moving closer to shore, sources told ABC News. The latest evidence that Capt. Richard Phillips, 53, is alive came as the pirates holding him in a 28-foot covered lifeboat fired shots at U.S. Navy sailors who approached their vessel at an undisclosed time after the escape bid.

[topfile]

Obama stands down to mighty Somali Elders...

[skimask]

"I understand a small Navy vessel approached the lifeboat but was immediately repelled with overheard gun fire".

Firing on a US Naval ship on the high seas is an act of war.

What is the chosen ones take on that?

[The Great RJ]

I would assume even a Navy destroyer is armored enough to deflect AK-47 rounds ...why not position a ship between the life boat and shore and keep them from going into port.

[bergmeid]

Just heard Ed Henry say on CNN that Obama was only “indirectly” involved also because it the issue could be “political”.

[skimask]

I get this feeling that we are going to get a video of this captain’s head being sawed off

[topfile]

What is the chosen ones take on that?

Easy.....Unconditional Surrender....

[joshua1222]

If Zero wanted to do something he would have order the Marines to take those terrorist, like maybe knockout gas or flash bomb. I wonder who inform those pirates about the cargo ship going to Mombasa, Kenya?

[4Liberty]

This problem has been delegated to office of Pres_ent elect. Please refer all questions to

[PugetSoundSoldier]

As bad as Carter was, at least he tried to do SOMETHING (as ill-planned and prepared it was). Zero is proving to even be worse than Carter... It’s shameful.

[Admin Moderator]

Please quit placing nearly everything you post in Breaking News.

[WestCoastGal]

If anyone has Facebook there is a prayer thread over there.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71087236691

[BarnacleCenturion]

Three U.S. warships were in the area around the lifeboat. A U.S. military official who spoke on condition of anonymity said crew members on the destroyer USS Bainbridge saw Phillips on Friday from a distance of several hundred yards (meters), moving and talking aboard the boat after his failed escape.

 

CNN said on Saturday the Bainbridge sent a small boat to approach the lifeboat to open communication, but the pirates responded with gunfire. The Navy personnel then retreated.

 

NBC television and CBS radio said the lifeboat had drifted to within 20 miles of the Somali coast, and that U.S. military officials feared that if the craft reached the shore, the pirates might escape with their hostage on land.

[rlmorel]

I visited this US Navy Perry class Frigate last month while she was visiting here in Boston Harbor. (I believe she was the USS Taylor)

Her main armament was a 80mm rapid firing cannon, a Phalanx and these dual 50 caliber machine guns.

Boarding vessels was one of her main jobs while over in the Persian Gulf.

The Chief Gunners mate (shown here) was describing how they would sometimes use floating debris as a target for practice, which had the additional advantage of eliminating a navigation hazard.

He told us about a capsized aluminum fishing boat that they expended over a thousand rounds of 50 cal and a thousand rounds from the Phalanx, but it would simply not sink.

The officer giving the tour began mercilessly teasing him in front of us, but he took it good with good nature. He apparently thought it was pretty funny too, but you could still see the irritation..."That damn thing just would not sink..."

[Blood of Tyrants]

He is doing exactly what we all predicted. Nothing.

[AlphaOneAlpha]

“Pirates Have Gas on Lifeboat, Fire Shots at U.S. Navy Sailors”

I suspect that by Monday 5a.m. the spin machine will come up with the talking point of why this is all Bush's fault.
By the 7a.m. news cycle start, all of our disingenuous media will be parroting the talking point. Welcome to the changed America.

[mass55th]

"What? is Obama ordering them fuel now?"

I'm surprised he hasn't ordered pizza for them.

[mass55th]

I thought the Navy had them blocked in so reinforcements couldn’t get to them. If that’s the case, I wonder how they’re able to head toward shore.

[mass55th]

Just let me eat my pizza!!

[varina davis]

“Firing on a US Naval ship on the high seas is an act of war.”

That’s what my son-in-law, a Navy submarine commander, said today.

[old curmudgeon]

I know nothing about the Navy but it is my guess that the lifeboat is more maneuverable than a destroyer and that the destroyer can not shift positions quickly enough to stay between the lifeboat and the shore.

What I have wondered is why a sub could not position itself under the lifeboat and surface, lifting the lifeboat out of the water.

I also wonder why a destroyer did not steam close to them at full spead and flip them with its wake. At that point, the pirates could do nothing.

I am sure that they would have no weapon that would penetrate the hull of a nuclear sub.

Even if the lifeboat flipped, the seals could then take over as it is not possible for a pirate to fire at them once they are dumped in the water.