Posted on 04/08/2009 4:04:52 AM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
NAIROBI, Kenya - Somali pirates have hijacked a cargo ship with 21 Americans onboard, officials said on Wednesday.
The 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama was taken Wednesday, according to the Kenya-based diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Fifth Fleet confirmed that a Danish-owned, U.S.-operated container ship carrying 21 Americans "came under attack" about 240 nautical miles southeast of Ayel, Somalia. She said the crew had radioed for help but the closest naval ship was about 300 nautical miles away at the time. The official was unable to confirm the name of the vessel.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I'm sure the US State Department is already working on such a financial package.
< /sarc>
I wonder what cargo is on the ship
I pray for these Americans, and for the wisdom and strength of our leaders who have the duty to keep them safe and free.
I would think that blocking the trade route would not take long to put a stop to these thugs.
You say: the ships aren't there for trade, they pass throught the waters!!!! Well Duh! I wouldn't think they would simply stop in the waters and make the trades, of course they pass through!!!!!
THE ships aren't there for trade, yet it is a major trade route?????????
sail·or
Pronunciation: \ˈsā-lər\
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of sailer
Date: 1577
1 a: one that sails ; especially : mariner b (1): a member of a ship's crew (2): seaman 2b
Yeah, you can have something to kill mice or deal with a nutcase.
I know. When sailing I kept a small arsenal, but its taking a chance if you get searched.
Obama will respond with an apology, a terse letter and another 15% spending cut in our Navy.
SeaLand is gone huh?
I haven’t seen those containers for a long time - I always wondered what happened to them.
Thank you for your post. - bill
“Well lets not count on any Brits to help, recently it was reported (and discussed on FR) that the Brits have no laws or authority to capture or prosecute pirates.”
Time for some decoy ships with concealed heavy armament. Blow about a dozen of their boats out of the water and the pirates will get the message eventually. I can’t believe we are playing these games.
I’m not at all sure that they ever signed on to that nonsense.
Of course Israel arms their ships or there would not be one left in the world.
Just heard on the radio that the crew has retaken the ship! Leave it to an American crew to take care of business!
THE ships aren’t there for trade, yet it is a major trade route?????????
That is entirely correct.
Confirmed via the Pentagon FOX reporting the ship has been re-taken by the crew! WOOO HOOOO!
Yes. I believe Thomas Jefferson was POTUS.
Theyve always been there. You just have to pulversise them every couple hundred years. Same goes for their brethren.
Go ahead...take a guess on what the word "moderately" means....10 points? 25 points? 50 points? 300 points?
Two weeks ago, the market closed down from the day before. This self same website screamed, "Wall Street Shudders Through Large Drop..."
Point value in the first example is 84....in the second example, it was 86.
Nothing in the world like objective journalism.
Can I just say that there is much more to this than meets the eye?
...and STILL not a peep from Obama!
I wonder if Michael Moore will refer to this in his next movie as Obama’s “My Pet Goat” moment?
During WWII "Sailor" meant a member of the US Navy. Merchant Mariners were called exactly that, people "joined" the Merchant Marine. Some of those civilian ships had "Sailors" on board, ie, USN personnel operating anti-aircraft guns. If the dictionary definition now prevails, it's a pity.
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.