Maersk Alabama repels 2nd pirate attack with guns

Associated Press ^ | JASON STRAZIUSO

[dead]

... private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship repelled the attack with gunfire...

[Cyber Liberty]

My understanding is the ships are boarded with the security personnel after they leave the ports, and taken off just before coming in.

[VRWCmember]

However, Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still "solidly against" armed guards aboard vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different line than the rest of the international community. How's that working out for tthe "international community"? Spain just paid a $3 Million ransom, and the captain of a Korean vessel died from his wounds incurred in a piracy attack on Monday. I think the line taken by the American ships appears to make a lot more sense.

[r9etb]

This is what passes for enlightened thought in the west. Insane.

FWIW, it's exactly the same thought that was applied to the Barbary Pirates, back in the late 18th/early 19th centuries. America took a different line then, too....

[FatherofFive]

Anti-Pirate Cruise

[AreaMan]

You know they had to empty those bottles before making them into Molotov cocktails.

Maybe that is why the guy in the picture looks like is having trouble standing up straight.

[skeeter]

Yep, Europeans paid tribute to the corsairs till the marines showed them differently. I doubt they’ll follow our lead this time.

[Zhang Fei]

This is the good part:

A self-proclaimed pirate told The Associated Press from the Somali pirate town of Haradhere that colleagues out at sea had called around 9 a.m. — 2 1/2 hours after the attack.

"They told us that they got in trouble with an American ship, then we lost them. We have been trying to locate them since," said a self-described pirate who gave his name as Abdi Nor.

With any luck, they're at the bottom of the ocean.

[Tenacious 1]

See my link at #16. This comes complete with the brochure photos.

LOL.

[submarinerswife]

I remember the Nay sayers who said that it is “too dangerous and may escalate in to more casualties” if we have armed security on freighters the first time the Mersk was attacked.

Once again, they have no idea what they hell they are talking about.

Since this was a US ship, you can believe the pirates when they say next time Americans will get payback for the SEALs killing three of them.

[SoldierDad]

Sheer stupidity - and he calls himself a “piracy expert”??? I think he needs a new line of work. Oh, perhaps underwater basket weaving - without SCUBA gear?

[AreaMan]

Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still "solidly against" armed guards aboard vessels at sea,...

I picture this d-bag as looking something like this:

[SoldierDad]

Shark food?

[Tenacious 1]

A self-proclaimed pirate told The Associated Press from the Somali pirate town of Haradhere that colleagues out at sea had called around 9 a.m. — 2 1/2 hours after the attack.

Small arms fire tends to poke holes in skiffs. The holes allow water to leak into the boat. The more water that comes inside the boat the less boyant it is. Submersion of radio equipment often causes it to fail.....I'm just speculating about what might have caused them to lose contact.

[gimme1ibertee]

Wow...imagine that..repelling an attack with a gun!

Wait...now,this might sound nutty,but,hear me out...
maybe ALL cargo ships can have armed crews.
Too radical an idea,I guess...

[Mr. Lucky]

...but the pirates would never hear the noise.

[Soothesayer]

“This is what passes for enlightened thought in the west. Insane.”

“Progressive” is always about follow the clique and being popular, not about using common sense.

[highlander_UW]

And where are the “guns never solved anything” liberals just now?

[FatherofFive]

yes, I posted mine before I saw yours.

I still think there is a market for this. There is no downside, except for the bad guys.

[P8riot]

I think pirate -repelling would be a cool job!

But, then again, I always have.

AAAHHHRRRRRRR!

[An Old Man]

A couple of rounds from a 30-06, .308, (your favorite round here,) deer rifle with a scope would be the ticket.

The pros tend to use these things.