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 ...
Great news. How long until Obozo goes on the air proclaiming this a great victory for his foreign policy?
Amen! We're on a roll. Let's put an end to pirate terrorism now.
To the rest of the world: You betcha I'm a PROUD American and I don't give a hoot what you all think. You should be on your knees thanking us for making the seas safe.
Wonderful news!
It was reported that three of the four pirates were killed.
Good. It leaves one to warn other pirates what will happen if they mess with another U.S. ship.
PERFECT!
**How long until Obozo goes on the air... **
Have they even TOLD OBOZO yet??
Maybe I’m very naive, or remembering the Americans of the era of Ronald Reagan, but for the life of me, I can’t understand how something like this could happen:
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.
As the pirates shot in the air, Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men, crew members said.
I think we ought to pulverize and flush them while their boat is approaching. If we miss that opportunity, then at least blast them into chum while they’re ‘hauling themselves up onto our ship, no?
I just love that!
However, as things stand, he'll probably be on With Ol' Tingleleg on Noballs by Wednesday and on The Spew by Friday.
Praise the Lord and Go Navy! A Glorious Day indeed.
GO NAVY!!! YAY!!!!
Now Obama will take credit. watch.
YES WE CAN
YES WE CAN
YES WE CAN
in spite of Obama
God bless some of the toughest and greatest patriots — the Navy Seals (and all the rest who backed them up).
Yup. It's enough to make an old guy like me want to run out and re-enlist...
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.
As the pirates shot in the air, Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men, crew members said.
I think we ought to pulverize and flush them while their boat is approaching. If we miss that opportunity, then at least blast them into chum while theyre hauling themselves up onto our ship, no?
I don't understand it either. Is there a law prohibiting self-defense on the high seas?
If Obama says he’s proud of the Navy I’ll faint.
the FBI doesnt like it when one of their crime scenes is disturbed
.
FOXNEWS just said the original ship is the FBI crime scene
OMG I love that guy with the N21 York accent...”those assholes”...”They were OUR hostages”...”We were under attack for a WEEK”...”tell the president to get these guys.”
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