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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

Funny.
During operation sharp guard we had a seal team on board the USS Deyo DD-989. They were there to coordinate the many boardings that we did to enforce the naval blockade. A modern DDG is an awesome piece of machinery that could very easily take on a seal team.

It seems that if we were patrolling for pirates then a seal team would be the most versatile tool we could have for taking back a hijacked ship.

This whole situation stinks. I am upset we were not locked, loaded, and ready for this Captain’s escape attempt.


61 posted on 04/12/2009 9:53:33 AM PDT by pennyfarmer (Shiite Muslim named Bob.)
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To: pabianice; Mariner

Everything needed to end this situation is there and has been there since the start. The only thing that’s been held back is the order to ‘Go’.


62 posted on 04/12/2009 9:53:41 AM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress! It's the sensible solution to restore Command to the People.)
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To: bergmeid
"I’m still not clear on the administration’s “desired outcome”. 1. Supposedly save the poor captain’s life (I assume) and/or 2. get the pirates arrested?? I mean, what do we care? Once we get the captain back, we blow them to kingdom come. Right? The pirates should know there is no way out unless they make it to shore somehow. So why wouldn’t they kill the captain? What are we promising them? An arrest by elders? And those talks have broken down? It must be me because I just can’t figure this out. This is one big clusterf**k".

That's the nut of the issue. While the Navy will likely get the captain back, it's VERY UNLIKELY they'll get the order to take out a pirate base.

The Boxer could do so quickly and easily...killing thousands and sinking everything they have. Leaving nothing but scorched earth where there used to be a village.

63 posted on 04/12/2009 9:53:48 AM PDT by Mariner
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To: jveritas

I think that something will ordered to happen on Tuesday, 14 April. That way it takes the Tea Parties off the news.


64 posted on 04/12/2009 9:55:04 AM PDT by DaveArk
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To: Mariner
If that is true (and there means RIGHT THERE), then this will be over in the next 24 hours.

Hope so.

65 posted on 04/12/2009 9:55:38 AM PDT by houeto (I see Obama voters...and it's changed my tipping habits.)
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To: jveritas
It's the N A V Y that wants this captain alive, if possible.

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

Until then, that lifeboat will not reach the beach.

66 posted on 04/12/2009 9:55:55 AM PDT by Mariner
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To: Ben Reyes

I thought so before I read the article. LOL.


67 posted on 04/12/2009 9:57:13 AM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
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To: Mariner
The Bainbridge and the frigate both have helo pads. SEALS could have been flown onto either one of them, and their equipment as well, at any time since this situation developed.

The Bainbridge inparticular has signifiacnt facilities for them to be able to plan and deploy in this kind of a mission without an LHA or LHD on the scene.

Finally, without going into more detail, we have submariens in the IO AOO that can both embark and deploy SEAL teams. I would not be surprised to learn that one is alreayd on station.

So...having the Boxer or other large deck amphib there is nioce...but not necessary.

68 posted on 04/12/2009 9:57:52 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Mariner; All
I don't know if you are unaware of the capability of the seals or just a troll who wants to apologize for Bozo's inactivity on this matter. 1:) The Boxer is already on site and has been. 2:)Seals can be deployed anywhere on short notice by Helicopter, not dropped into the sea but placed on any Naval craft that happens to be in that area. 3:)Seals could have ended this days ago with a happy ending but Bozo obviously has given the word to stand down.

Please, stop posting on every thread, and stop the vanities, that we should wait for the Boxer when she is there and we didn't need to wait for her to begin with!

69 posted on 04/12/2009 9:58:31 AM PDT by calex59
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To: jveritas
Is Obama showing weakness or is it something else entirely? This incident is going a long way to showing that the US is not the world's preeminent power, but just another state in a "community of states," and one that is not willing to use force. This seems to be a major Administration goal.
70 posted on 04/12/2009 10:00:53 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Old Retired Army Guy
They are simple gangsters trying to extort money.

I understand your points of course, but we don't really know that.

what we do know - and was neatly buried pretty well for awhile - was that Mogadishu was infiltrated or co mingled with AQ pretty quickly.

The training that showed them how to down and fight US air power came straight from that, and if islamos are not part of this bunch then they are going to be pronto, since this is an exploitable weakness.

Were I in their position, I would be doing that now.

It would pay for another slew of USS Cole type attacks, and would be pretty painless to people who have gotten used to hiding in the freezing mountains of Pakistan, or roasting in the desert heat of Somalia for the last 8 years.

71 posted on 04/12/2009 10:00:57 AM PDT by bill1952 (Power is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: DaveArk

Very few media outlet are going to cover the tea parties to begin with. Why do you think that the liberal media (i.e. 90% of the media) is going to cover these parties with or without this pirates situation?


72 posted on 04/12/2009 10:02:07 AM PDT by jveritas (God Bless our brave troops)
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To: Mariner

Are there co-ordinates or map showing relative position of this lifeboat to the coast? I hope these pirates meet their fate very very soon.


73 posted on 04/12/2009 10:02:50 AM PDT by Blue Highway
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To: Mariner

They also have a 5”-50. Kills pirates dead.


74 posted on 04/12/2009 10:03:32 AM PDT by Doohickey (The more cynical you become, the better off you'll be.)
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To: Nervous Tick
There is little a Seal team can do, other than attaching a tow line to the screw of the boat, to stop its drift toward shore.

Any other thing that badly scares the pirates could result in them killing the captain. Shooting one pirate would cause the the other pirates to shoot the captain. That omits anything a Seal team could to the boat - other than quietly adding a tow rope .

So, scratch any hull entry from below, or boarding.

Even a tow line is problematic though. If a rope is attached, the pirates could easily drop over the side, and cut it... unless it's a small steel line. What Seals attach, pirates could easily detach.

There is only one thing that might save that captain - the arrival of 2 mil in cash, which ~might~ result in an exchange.

75 posted on 04/12/2009 10:04:07 AM PDT by Ron C.
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To: Mariner

We all want the brave Captain to remain alive and that is not debatable. The brave Captain could have been freed by the Navy Seal in the first hours of the crisis or when he attempted to flee few days ago. The orders were given to the Seals not to interfere, period.


76 posted on 04/12/2009 10:04:37 AM PDT by jveritas (God Bless our brave troops)
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To: Truth29

You are right.


77 posted on 04/12/2009 10:05:26 AM PDT by jveritas (God Bless our brave troops)
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To: neodad

True, but time is on our side as long as the kidnappers are isolated from their own support network. For example, we are providing food and water — and we’ll start asking prices for that food and water; we’ll start adding fear, uncertainty, and doubt into the pirates’ heads. If they kill the captain, they lose their bargaining chip. It’s annoying, but patience will work.


78 posted on 04/12/2009 10:05:55 AM PDT by GAB-1955
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To: Mariner
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79 posted on 04/12/2009 10:06:07 AM PDT by Kansas58
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To: Mariner

Are you specking from any direct current operational awareness of the situation, or just as John Q. Public?


80 posted on 04/12/2009 10:07:25 AM PDT by bvw
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