Posted on 04/08/2009 6:28:05 PM PDT by tsmith130
The U.S. is closing in on pirates that hijacked a U.S.-flagged ship off the coast of Somalia. According to a spokesman for the owner of the Maersk Alabama, which had been hijacked by pirates before American crew members were able to regain control of the vessel Wednesday, a U.S. Navy warship arrived at the scene Wednesday night.
The ship's captain still is being held hostage on a smaller boat.
Family members said Capt. Richard Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates to secure the safety of the crew. "What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," said Gina Coggio, 29, half sister of Phillips' wife. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Wednesday for world action to "end the scourge of piracy" as U.S. warships raced to confront the pirates.
"We are deeply concerned and we are following it very closely," Clinton said. "Specifically, we are now focused on this particular act of piracy and the seizure of a ship that carries 21 American citizens.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
All we need is a little more rubble, a lot less trouble.
I was at school - but I never turn on cnn. UMMMMM, Laura coming up .
If your having difficulty, that means you are still trying.
When “Un American” seemed to fit without being forced,millions of Americans ar no longer trying.
It was turned on where I was...I left the room screaming.
And the One is preparing to go them one better in that regard.
CNN has called them “fishermen” all day long.........
I have a Books-A-Million locally. They always had Fox on their TV in the back of the store, but now it is turned to CNN. I try never to look or listen as I walk through.
Yeah, and she has a big book of the rules of engagement (read: "avoiding engagement"). How many lawyers are on board?
Sorry to jump in... but that's not exactly true. There is no "International Law" or "Maritime Law" that stops civilian vessels from being armed. I've seen a lot of that posted lately, and while it seems plausible, it's just not exactly the case.
Mostly it's just corporate policy (a bad one, IMHO) though it has insurance liability implications as well. Civilian vessels are bound by the law of the country where they are flagged, and then they must comply with customs law for whatever country they seek port. Depending on the port, and the weapons in question, most ports are reasonably practical on the topic. Usually, a customs seal and the physical lockup of weapons while in port will suffice.
Private yachts or owner/operator fishing vessels are often armed, in my experience. In a former life I was a Coastie, and conducted many, many boardings of many vessels at sea. When I got on board a boat, commercial or private, one of my first questions for the skipper was always: "Where are your weapons?". Not "Do you have any weapons?"... it was "Where are they?" I would routinely follow up with a plan: "Skipper... for your peace of mind and mine, what I am going to do is have a man follow while you collect all of your weapons into one place, and then I will post a man there for the duration of this boarding. Is that acceptable to you?" It worked out well for every boarding I did. Very rarely did I encounter a privately owned vessel that had no weapons. Most had at least a shotgun, some had a rifle and/or some handguns. A few had AR-15's and more exotic stuff. We didn't care. We only wanted to know where they were while we were on board.
Arm them. That's my take on it. :-)
When more pirates start dying at sea, it'll stop.
The problem is with the ports these ship arrive at.
What Congress can do is allow armed ships to port in the USA, and pressure other countries to do the same.
Would you have a problem with armed sailors on container ships from China arriving in the USA?
And NEVER WILL BE at war with Islam according to the great and powerful Oz.
hmmmm...wez be educated, Thanks. When this pirate s*** started last year I hear many “experts” say what I thought was the case. I knew it frustrated the hell out of me.
See post 70.
We had a leader, but we all stood by and watched the dems beat the cr*p out of him from behind. Some republicans even joined in because it was the "in" thing to do.
Navy divers under the raft in position; and a supersonic pass by Navy fighters overhead.
Go get em....
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