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Wait for the USS Boxer
Vanity | 12 April, 2009 | Mariner

Posted on 04/12/2009 9:16:17 AM PDT by Mariner

I read much saber rattling concerning the current hostage crises.

Remember, a Destroyer or Frigate only have the capability to sink ships and submarines...and to shoot planes and missile out of the sky.

They do not have SEAL teams...nor even snipers...onboard. They have the ship's weapons and small arms, usually shotguns and pistols.

Until the USS Boxer arrives on the scene, the Navy does not have the ability to even ATTEMPT a rescue.

However, I'm pretty darn sure that lifeboat will not reach the beach, no matter what...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 444; hostages; maritime; navy; piracy; rescue; somalia; usnavy; ussboxer
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To: Mariner

The bottom line on the outcome of this piracy rests solely in Obama’s hands.


81 posted on 04/12/2009 10:08:24 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Ron C.

To have such a defeatist attitude is your right. So go for it.

But I don’t buy it. I refuse to believe there isn’t a way to catch or kill the pirates AS WELL AS free Captain Phillips unharmed. And I’ll continue to believe that, and pray for it.

I’m sure that our special forces have techniques available to them that we haven’t even imagined, let alone articulated.


82 posted on 04/12/2009 10:08:39 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Party? I don't have one anymore.)
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To: Mariner

Don’t have to land, fast rope.


83 posted on 04/12/2009 10:09:03 AM PDT by gunner03
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To: Ron C.

How amusing ... so you are in direct contradiction to what SEALs are saying about this hostage situation. I think I’ll take a SEAL’s word over your naysaying.


84 posted on 04/12/2009 10:09:23 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: FreepShop1

You know, can’t let a crisis go to waste, except perhaps this one.

The One is making Carter look like a hawk.


85 posted on 04/12/2009 10:09:38 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: neodad
There are plenty of SpecOps guys at our base at the Horn of Africa, which is quite close.
86 posted on 04/12/2009 10:10:15 AM PDT by Recon Dad (Marsoc Dad)
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To: calex59
I suggest you know jacksh!t about what capabilities he SEAL teams have.

Their objective is to retrieve this captain alive. That really limits their options...but they'll get it done.

That lifeboat will not reach the beach.

Now, to suggest I'm a troll, that's just plain ridiculous. You should read my history and posts on this site.

87 posted on 04/12/2009 10:10:24 AM PDT by Mariner
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To: Mariner

Don’t need to land. . .un-rep.


88 posted on 04/12/2009 10:10:33 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: Mariner
The Navy has all the time in the world, until/unless the lifeboat gets within a mile of the beach.

Until then I suspect they are trying to maximize the chances of retrieving that captain alive.

Don't go talking reason to those here who want firepower used NOW, even if it kills the captain.

89 posted on 04/12/2009 10:11:01 AM PDT by saquin
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To: Mariner

Out of curiosity, does the lifeboat have a “door” just on one side or on both sides? Does anyone know?


90 posted on 04/12/2009 10:13:15 AM PDT by bergmeid
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To: jveritas
Fox news has the highest ratings amongst the news channels. Even they would be forced to cover the pirates if something happened. Obama has learned about the news cycle and how and why to manipulate it.
91 posted on 04/12/2009 10:14:10 AM PDT by DaveArk
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To: Ron C.

What would happen if:

4 SEALS attach steel cable.

One pirate dives in to cut.

One SEAL grabs pirate and holds underwater for 5 minutes, then tows dead pirate far away and out of sight before surfacing.

Second pirate dives in to see what happened to the first. Second SEAL grabs him and repeats.

I don’t think a second pirate would take a dive and I don’t think they would shoot the captain.

I think it would would be so creepy they would be in shock.


92 posted on 04/12/2009 10:15:21 AM PDT by old curmudgeon
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To: Mariner

Replace “NAVY” with “Obama” and you are correct. The NAVY is not dictating timing and course of action in this case—it is Obambi.

“They will make an attempt at some point, when they believe they have the greatest possible advantage.”

Change that to read: OBAMA will make an attempt at some point, when HE believes HE WILL have the greatest possible POLITICAL advantage.

Remember, a crisis is something to use to advance political agendas, not the national security of the United States.


93 posted on 04/12/2009 10:15:48 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: DaveArk

In you add all the TV news (cable news + regular networks) Foxnews will not represent more than 20% of the audience and most of their audience are conservatives.


94 posted on 04/12/2009 10:19:48 AM PDT by jveritas (God Bless our brave troops)
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To: Mariner
Good post. The arrival of the Boxer greatly enhances our firepower and rescue capability. The larger question is what Obama will do.
95 posted on 04/12/2009 10:20:56 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: jveritas
Quite right!

Obama should have been able to go to school on Teddy Roosevelt who settled his Muslim hostage crisis in a single sentence which no one doubted he meant:

"Give me Perikardis alive or Razouli dead!"

Instead he is taking a leaf from the book written by Jimmy Carter in his hostage crisis.


96 posted on 04/12/2009 10:20:58 AM PDT by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: nathanbedford

CNN reporting Phillips released!


97 posted on 04/12/2009 10:21:59 AM PDT by Principle Over Politics (Jonathan Krohn is Right!)
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To: old curmudgeon
Hey, old curmudgeon... (I are one - and Navy a vet)

It might work, but the last two won't go over, and the last one might shoot the captain...

My bet it there won't be any attack - they're dropping food and supplies to them. They will probably try to exchange the 2 mil for the captain - and probably guarantee safe passage back to their pirate community.

Then, I look for all-hell to break loose.

98 posted on 04/12/2009 10:24:04 AM PDT by Ron C.
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To: Mariner

You are forgetting that its not up to the military.

Our first Halfrican-American TOTUS won’t be shooting African-Africans as his first test in office. Especially over some rich white guy that’s been going where he doesn’t belong.


99 posted on 04/12/2009 10:24:24 AM PDT by SampleMan (Socialism and Liberty are mutually exclusive.)
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To: Mariner
They do not have SEAL teams...nor even snipers...onboard.

I know I'm a never-served civilian under the influence of the
Tom Clancy-esque world-view...
but I was really bummed to learn that with assets like night-vision,
UAVs armed with guided weapons, and plenty of snipers that can
expertly employ .50 cal Barretts...
why on earth didn't the lifeboat get shot to the waterline
and/or smoked by a UAV while the good captain made his dash for freedom.
I suspect a display like that would have left the captain's
(eventual) two recapturers stunned and emptying their bowels in
the ocean waters.
But I guess Obama doesn't want to have such an environmental disaster.
(Yes, I'm being sarcastic.)

I know mine is a naive and ignorant point-of-view...
but the longer this drags on, the more I involuntarily recall
sad images of burned helicopters in the desert.
And of Jimmy Carter.
100 posted on 04/12/2009 10:24:36 AM PDT by VOA
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