Posted on 03/13/2011 3:11:29 PM PDT by george76
Somali pirates said on Sunday they would lower some of their ransom demands to get a faster turnover of ships they hijack in the Indian Ocean.
Armed pirate gangs, who have made millions of dollars capturing ships as far south as the Seychelles and eastwards towards India, said they were holding too many vessels and needed a quicker handover to generate more income.
“I believe there is no excuse for taking high ransoms. At least each of our groups holds ships now,” pirate Hussein told Reuters from Hobyo on the Somalian coast. He said the pirates were holding more than 30 ships at the moment.
“We have lowered the ransom only for the ships we have used to hijack other ships. We sometimes release these ships free of charge for they generate more (money). But we shall not lower the ransom for the bulk ships we are sure can bring bulk money.”
Using captured merchant vessels as launch pads for new hijackings, the pirates have grown bolder despite a loosely coordinated global response, and insurance premiums for shipping lines have rocketed.
...
since late February, the pirates have had to share their spoils with the Al Shabaab Islamist rebels, who profess loyalty to Al Qaeda.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
Well, I’ll be switched. Discounts! Maybe now we all can afford the adventure of a lifetime.
I can understand our boy in the White Hut not doing anything as it might get in the way of a round of golf or a Motown night or even another vacation. What I don’t understand is the hands off attitude of the actual world leaders that actually have a set.
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Who would that be, besides the Russians I mean.
Stacking ‘em deep and ransoming cheap!
Best idea I’ve heard all day.
See capitalism does work. Supply and demand, when supply is up the price goes down.
John, I didn’t know you were a Reuters contributor.
I bet there is a price war going on with the pirates around the corner as well. Ya got to MOVE that product, or yor outta here!
I wonder if Bamaran can get us a discount (or in Presidential Speak, a Mulligan).
(~;
“I’ve been hijacked by K-Mart”
-——too little booty/bounty.-——
Did you ever play Risk?
As you win and capture territory you must leave behind occupation troops. Continuing a campaign can easily come to a halt when the troops run out. You soon don’t have enough to have superiority because so many are occupiers
“. . . Plus if you call with your ransom in the next 30 minutes, we’ll thrown in a set of steak knives, absolutely free!”
Heck...I would feel more comfortable and safe if we subcontracted national security to the Israelis.
They do know how to control a border.
That’s an understatement. lol
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