Posted on 04/12/2009 8:35:13 PM PDT by Melissa 24
SOMALI pirates have threatened revenge after two separate hostage-rescue raids by foreign forces killed at least five comrades, raising fears of future bloodshed on the high seas. The latest raid by US forces this morning saved American hostage Capt Richard Phillips. Three pirates were killed and one was taken captive, the US Navy said.
That rescue mission and one by France last week have upped the stakes in shipping lanes off the anarchic Horn of Africa nation where pirate gangs have defied foreign naval patrols.
"The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now," Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.
"We cannot know how or whether our friends on the lifeboat died, but this will not stop us from hijacking," he said.
Sea gangs generally treat their captives well, hoping to fetch top dollar in ransoms. The worst violence has been an occasional beating.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Obama imposed the civilian average-Joe legal self-defense standard for use of deadly force on the military - deadly force only allowed if someone's life in "imminent" danger. So, of course, the captain's life was eventually in "imminent" danger under the circumstances, and they were ready to act when it was.
No, I think they’re smarter than that. They know we wouldn’t give them a cent for pair. ;)
But at least he seems to have given them the authority to act on their discretion in using deadly force. That surprised me a little.
There have been two military crisis since Obama was inaugurated - this one and that thing about the surveillance ship off China. Both times Obama acted more forcefully than I'd expected, and in a manner that I'd expect the Joint Chiefs to recommend. It appears that he is listening to his military advisors and taking their advice. If so, it's one of the few hopeful signs I've seen out of his presidency.
BO can hide behind Hillary’s big butt.
The criminals do what criminals do, ignore laws and prey on the defenceless law-abiders. We never did sign onto the UN "law of the sea" treaty did we? We probably signed onto some stupid similar law screw it extenuating circumstances and such. Hire private security and issue letters of marquee (if thats what they call blanket immunity for suppressing piracy in hot zones)
When you care enough to send the very best!!!
I have a working title for the inevitable screen treatment of the Pirate hostage crisis off the Somalian coast:
SWEET!
Arrrr, Tinypic blocked by work filters.
One thing I am sure of, Ma, there’s three former pirates that have not lawyered up! ;-)
If they were all dealt with in this manner it seems there would be less need for lawyers.
I wish & dream, but do not own one.
Khat is nothing at all like methamphetamine, the only thing they share in common are that both are stimulants.
Two big differences, khat is all natural where as methamphetamine is completely chemical. Khat does not throw one into speed psychosis after many days of use, nor does a Khat user continue to chew the leaves for several days in a row without sleeping which on the hand a meth addict will continue his use for days. weeks on end without sleeping.
The Somalia Islamic’s have been trying to outlaw Khat because they consider it un-Islamic ...
These Islamic “pirates” are not even fit to lick Blackbeard’s boots.
πRATs
Just one? :)
Figures the UN would be behind something that stupid. Seems it's time to repudiate that treaty and start protecting our ships.
No, but that's not the treaty that restricts arms aboard a merchant ship. The treaty in question is 30-40 years old.
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