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 ...
Through the windshield, penetrating the skull of a terrorist rendering him room temperature. Freakin kick BUTT!
Navy Seals rock!
The Telegraph: US Navy rescues American sea captain and kills three pirates The American sea captain held hostage by Somali pirates for four days was freed unharmed on Sunday after a daring rescue operation by the US Navy.
The Daily Mail: Hostage captain rescued and three pirates shot dead in Somali hijack drama An American cargo ship captain being held hostage by pirates was free last night after a dramatic rescue operation that left three of his Somali captors dead and another one in US custody.
OR Palin/Coburn.
Either way, I'd be happier than a blind snake married to a garden hose.
That statement says it all.
Actually, I just checked and the majority of the posts are congratulatory and in favor the Navy. God Bless our servicemen and women. Thank you Fifth Fleet.
He's being flown to Chicago. Thanks to his somali thug job experience, he's got a job with ACORN training future community organizers.
In view of recent developments they may be rethinking that policy.
Feel free.
You said — In view of recent developments they may be rethinking that policy.
—
They might like to, but in light of what I was reading from another poster on the matter, is that it’s because of various countries’ laws that the ship owners do this. And so, it would require many nations to change their laws, apparently.
I don’t think you’re going to find things changing any time in the near future or the far future. It’s only the military which will be allowed to do these things...
According to Fox News, Obama is now claiming victory by giving the OK to the Navy to make this rescue. What a guy!
there was no fire fight. The shooting was three shots, three kills.
Actually, if the one survivor lives, think of the intel we may get from him, providing we can still interrogate prisoners.
I'm going with the four dead pirates outcome: The Obama Administration—like the Clinton administration—can be expected to assign attorney Lynn Stewart to defend the surviving pirate. (Or some other traitorous attorney to carry data on SEALS capabilities to al Qaida).
The Justice department is discussing where the prosecution will occur.
Kenya was mentioned as a place the pirate will end up
Testing new tag line...........
When I think about Clinton failing to give the go ahead to kill OBL when we had him in our sights, I can imagine him killing this operation.
On that basis, I give BHO credit for letting the Seals do their job.
I was hearing on tv that he might be only 16 and in rags ,so obviously poor and might have been defecting.
And thank you for having the fortitude to go to DU to check.
Great News !
Now it is time to free the other 285 captives and clean out the pirates’ nest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.