Posted on 04/12/2009 11:00:01 AM PDT by bimboeruption
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) - An American ship captain was freed unharmed Sunday in a U.S. Navy operation that killed three of the four Somali pirates who had been holding him for days in a lifeboat off the coast of Africa, a senior U.S. intelligence official said. One of the pirates was wounded and in custody after a swift firefight, the official said.
Capt. Richard Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vermont, was safely transported to a Navy warship nearby.
The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
A government official and others in Somali with knowledge of the situation had reported hours earlier that negotiations for Phillips' release had broken down.
The district commissioner of the central Mudug region said talks went on all day Saturday, with clan elders from his area talking by satellite telephone and through a translator with Americans, but collapsed late Saturday night.
"The negotiations between the elders and American officials have broken down. The reason is American officials wanted to arrest the pirates in Puntland and elders refused the arrest of the pirates," said the commissioner, Abdi Aziz Aw Yusuf. He said he organized initial contacts between the elders and the Americans.
Two other Somalis, one involved in the negotiations and another in contact with the pirates, also said the talks collapsed because of the U.S. insistence that the pirates be arrested and brought to justice.
Phillips' crew of 19 American sailors reached safe harbor in Kenya's northeast port of Mombasa on Saturday night under guard of U.S. Navy Seals, exhilarated by their freedom but mourning the absence of Phillips.
Crew members said their ordeal had begun with the Somali pirates hauling themselves up from a small boat bobbing on the surface of the Indian Ocean far below.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Aren't they great?
BRAVO ZULU - SEAL TEAM.
And now the pirates home bases and training facilities should be blown off the face of the map!! Right now!!
I know you’re all wondering what Obama’s role in all this was. Here’s the anwer:
“The negotiations between the elders and American officials have broken down. The reason is American officials wanted to arrest the pirates in Puntland and elders refused the arrest of the pirates,” said the commissioner...
In other words, the only reason why we have a favorable outcome is that the Somalis would not let Obama have his way.
The only thing that could possible be better is to end the day with a working gallows and a swinging pirate.
And what a Captain Phillips was; handed himself over to save the lives of his crew. “No greater love hath any man...”
Absolutely. Can't wait to hear the details of the operation.
EASTER SEALS!!!
Now, eliminate all ships and boats from the coast of Somalia so pirates no longer sail, and if a boat leaves from the Somali shore, sink it
It was now or never, once they got to shore, we would have lost our Captain Phillips.
Thank you, God for this Easter gift.
NO credit to BO for this. Captain Phillips’ & his families suffering could have ended days ago if we had a legitimate CIC.
He hasn’t talked yet. You are way ahead of yourself.
Yes! My dad was Navy UDT during WWII, the first "Seals" so to speak. They were called Frogmen back then. What a great organization. If you can, check out the UDT-Seal Museum which is located in Ft. Pierce Florida. Great history of the UDT and Seals there. Ft. Pierce is where the UDT teams trained during WWII.
The only better outcome would have been four dead pirates.
A lot fewer Somali men will think piracy is an attractive occupation after today.
I guess Coburn and Bayh’s statement had finally made our whatever-in-chief to allow our Navy to be our Navy.
Coburn for president!
NOBODY intimidates him and he is NOT ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I just love this man.
P.S. I stlll love Sarah.
Capt. Richard
Capt. Sully
Americans know who the tough guys are.
The world should know them too!
I am busting with pride at the moment.
A genuine American hero was rescued by other genuine American heros (SEALS).
WHAT A GREAT EASTER SUNDAY!!
What wonderful news! Kudos to the Navy!
“Happy Resurrection Day to Capt. Phillips and his family courtesy of the U.S. Navy.”
“God Bless Our Military!”
YES!!!!
Now we know the pirates were right. It resulted in disaster...for the pirates.
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