Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Defense secretary: Killed Somali pirates were "untrained" teenagers ("No Military Solution")
China View ^ | 4/13/2009 | Mu Xuequan

Posted on 04/13/2009 3:27:57 PM PDT by tobyhill

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday that three Somali pirates who were killed by the Navy's Seals to end a hostage crisis were "untrained" teenagers.

Addressing an audience at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, Virginia, Gates said that the slain pirates, aged at between 17 to 19, were heavily armed but inexperienced.

They were shot dead on Sunday at the end of a five-day standoff with the U.S. military after they attacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship about 400 kilometers away from Somali and held an American captain as hostage.

"As long as you've got this incredible number of poor people and the risks are relatively small, there's really no way in my view to control it unless you get something on land that begins to change the equation for these kids," Gates told students and faculty members.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.xinhuanet.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antiamerican; ashoura; bho44; bhodod; bhosecdef; hateamericafilth; liberals; maritime; pirates; quantico; robertgates; rop; somalipirates; trop
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-194 last
To: tobyhill

Murdering thug teenagers blow up real good! Cry me a freaking river.


181 posted on 04/13/2009 6:27:48 PM PDT by strongbow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill

And God forbid something had happened to the Captain, he would have only been dead 17 to 19 years?


182 posted on 04/13/2009 6:31:11 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights (Americans Bow to No One; Obama Bows to Saudi KINGS and Lies about it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bertha Fanation

LOL! I can see it now “The Barack Obama Global School of Proper Piracy”


183 posted on 04/13/2009 6:32:34 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights (Americans Bow to No One; Obama Bows to Saudi KINGS and Lies about it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill

Same situation and age groups participated in the attacks on our troops in Mogodishu...Opps, looky there, same country...


184 posted on 04/13/2009 6:40:19 PM PDT by stevie_d_64
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill

Has anyone explained how it is that Xinhua (the ChiCom’s answer to Pravda) knows ANYTHING about what was in an address to The Marine War College? Are such talks open to the public and/or communist propaganda organs?

Or, did the O administration send them an advance copy? Enquiring minds want to know!

DG


185 posted on 04/13/2009 6:59:59 PM PDT by DoorGunner ( "...and so, all Israel will be saved.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill

Did they fail out of pirate school?


186 posted on 04/13/2009 7:09:29 PM PDT by boomop1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill

Whereas the hostage was a highly trained professional.,


187 posted on 04/13/2009 8:27:20 PM PDT by Waco (Libs exhale too much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: katiekins1

Got from a cell wall!


188 posted on 04/14/2009 3:12:31 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: trisham
I wonder how his detractors feel now?

They feel great and are still very active on FR. They are the McCainiacs. McCain is the one that started the incessant whining about Rummy and got 7 stupid retired generals to join him.

189 posted on 04/14/2009 11:42:43 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
Gates needs to go!

I second that motion! Actually, I felt that way the day he was named.

190 posted on 04/14/2009 11:44:43 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: paul51
Isn't the obvious answer to make the risks relatively large, as in shooting them dead?

Only to a rational person.

191 posted on 04/14/2009 11:46:44 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill

I suspect the family of the ranger who was dragged through the streets doesn’t care how old they were.


192 posted on 04/14/2009 11:51:35 AM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E, that spells free. Free Republic.com baby.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tobyhill
Has anyone begun the task of writing the new dictionary?

War on Terror is now: Over seas contingencies
Terrorists are now: (awww geez, I forget the new term)
Pirates are now: Untrained teenagers

This is getting more ridiculous by the minute.

193 posted on 04/14/2009 11:59:55 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Just A Nobody
They feel great and are still very active on FR. They are the McCainiacs. McCain is the one that started the incessant whining about Rummy and got 7 stupid retired generals to join him.

*******************

No kidding? Well, that's interesting.

194 posted on 04/14/2009 12:07:45 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 189 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-194 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson