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 ...
With respect, don't go there. The Navy asked for the FBI negotiators. The Navy doesn't do that - they are trained to kill people and break things.
This and France's actions yesterday is going to send a HUGE message to these pirate "skinnies". It also shows the World we still have the ability to get things done.
But biggest KUDOS to Captain Phillips for offering himself as a hostage and having the daring to attempt escape TWICE! (although I'm not sure why he wasn't hog-tied after the first attempt. Stupid pirates). A genuine American hero!
I just don't have the words for how proud I am that we still have Heros in this nation.
Now, go inland and kill the rest!
LOL..I had to rewind “that guy” because I heard him say something about Zero....he said it shouldn’t have got to the point...AMEN....he is “JOE THE SAILOR”..
The crew members were saying that the news media undercut them.
EASTER SEALS!!!
That's a good one. God bless the SEALS on a successful mission accomplished! I bet the team was chomping at the bit to get this over fast.
You betcha! The baddest MOFO's on the planet.
Still, I give more credit to civilian Captain Phillips for offering himself as a hostage and having the DARING to attempt escape TWICE!. That man is a genuine American hero!
I understand completely. Glad there are things we older folks can do to help still...but they're sure not like THIS! *sigh*
BBC: "The captain of a US container ship who was taken hostage by Somali pirates has been released, the US Navy says."
UK Independent: "US cargo ship captain Richard Phillips has been freed by the Somali pirates who had held him hostage on a lifeboat after trying to seize his vessel, the US navy have reported."
WTF? Is it so hard for them to admit he was RESCUED in a MILITARY OPERATION?
Doncha know that the MSM and the Obama Buttlicks are pissed that these guys got their VOICE out to the WORLD uncensored and in naked TRUTH!
Party pooper...
Way to go Q!!!
Go away and play marbles with the Borg! You bore me!
Michael Mansoor’s cohorts just never stop delivering the goods, do they? I hope that on this day his family derives comfort from this newest victory of the men who would’ve been his counterpartsm had he not offered himself that others live.
obozo is just fool enough to come out mourning the loss of life.......and to fire the Navy Seals who disobeyed orders and shot to save the captain.
Amen to that!
Seriously need a ticket tape parade for the merchant sailors, the captain and the individual members of the team that rescued the captain. One word U. S. A. or maybe I could just watch a video loop of Palin saying USA that would be almost as good. Oh how I wish she was Prez she would have the whole US in one big party celebration.
Don'tcha just love it when a Plan B comes together! Best of all possible worlds...US Navy style! So proud of mamma and papa today (both Navy)
He’s still trying to find the score of the Pittsburgh Pirates game because that’s what he thinks they’ve been talking about all week.
Great news.
Obama to take all credit....
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