Defense secretary: Killed Somali pirates were "untrained" teenagers ("No Military Solution")

China View ^ | 4/13/2009 | Mu Xuequan

[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.

[lacrew]

I predicted they would turn out to be children. While the media has been slobbering over how Obama handled this, he actually has not taken alot of credit himself...just praised the military, FBI, etc.

He knew all along that they were probably children...and his authorizing the killing of black muslim children in his ‘neck of the woods’ does nothing for his international reputation (important to him) or the safety of his very own family members in the region. He is probably seething mad that it ended this way.

[MeanWestTexan]

GMAFB.

Gate continued, stating, "Our nation and our society owes a debt to pirates. The exotic bird hubandry of the pirates knows no equal. Similarly, Pirates have given us great technological advances in medical field with their pioneering use of artificial limbs, even specializing in the use of renewable products for such limbs... And Pirates have found more uses for the letter "R" in speech than any other people . . . We must acknowledge and repay these debts."

[Publius6961]

"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.

Is everyone in the Federal government insane?
What is this doofus suggesting? Put Somali criminals into the US welfare system? Grant them all Social Security benefits?

What?

[jwalsh07]

Over 10% of active duty grunts in the United States are ages 17-19.

[bert]

Drivel. How many of the US Navy sailors were 18 and 19?

They are not children.

[TankerKC]

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.

The risks aren't so small now, are they?

[Yorlik803]

Well, maybe these Teaparties are a good start. But I am not too enthused. The people in DC are about as removed from the rest of the USA as ever.
By Electing Obama, this country is staring into the abyss.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Ya think that if Gates recommends it, Obama might invade Somalia?

[AmericanVictory]

Obviously they needed “stimulus” and “community orgainizing.”
Then they could help destroy our constitutional republic along with Rahm and the One.

[Doe Eyes]

If the pirates were young white chrisians just screwing around they would be considered blood thirsty humans in need of instant execution.

Three of the four black Muslims were instantly executed.

[Seven plus One]

By Electing Obama, this country is staring into the abyss.

It'll take much more than a mere obama to make us jump, though.

[Ticonderoga34]

I’ve despised Gates for years. He sucked up to Congress and ignored most of the military advice he received.

My first thought when I read this statement was that Gates was sucking up to the Obama administration. I doubt that Gates would say this if President Bush was still in office. Gates has to be politically correct with Obama and the libs in office. Can't be insensitive, you know.

Gates statement makes me wonder what kind of debates were going on in the Obama administration about this crisis. I willingly to bet some of the Obama advisors were advocating doing nothing to the pirates.

I just glad that everything turned out OK. God bless the Navy Seals.

[Cap'n Crunch]

uh-oh, here comes the “Pirate bail-out/stimulus plan” of 09.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Rummy, we need you back”

When you go pirating, you go with the pirates you have...

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I miss Rummy too.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for linking the Conway Cabal. Don't know if related but it seems there are some similarities.

Horatio Gates returned to his troops a chastened general.

[Michael Barnes]

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.

Good. Less vermin to grow up, get trained and cause BIGGER problems.

F'em.

God Bless Capt'n.

[baltoga]

Sort of an unusual comment by Gates. Perhaps he wants to influence the possibility of any military action?

[BARLF]

our pampered teens.

How many teens do you have?

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

“We ain’t no delinquents
We’re misunderstood
Deep down inside us
There is good!”

....”Gee Officer Krupke”

[marmar]

I see you have very good taste....the Warthog. I love that baby.........