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Has anybody even heard from the captain since his escape attempt? They fired into the water at him; I wonder if he’s even alive. Supposedly they want to get to shore to “negotiate” from there.

From CBSnews, yesterday, High-Seas Pirate Hostage Drama Escalates

............."Phillips is now tied up and no longer able to talk on the radio - but otherwise unharmed, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. "........

..................."The Somali, who helped negotiate a ransom last year to pirates after they seized a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks, spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. He said he has talked with a pirate leader in Somalia who helped coordinate the failed effort to seize the Alabama.

He said the pirate leader had been in direct contact with the lifeboat via a satellite phone but lost contact after Phillips' captors threw the phone - and a two-way radio dropped to them by the U.S. Navy - into the ocean, fearing the Americans were somehow using the equipment to give instructions to the captain. They acted after Phillips' failed effort to escape. ".................

Oh, for heaven's sake, no wonder pirate attacks are increasing if this is they way they are treated when busted. From The Niagra Falls Review, Canadian warship mollycoddling Somalia's pirates . (back up for the story here)

"The only thing odd about those Somali pirates that plunder the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea is how come they are still doing it? One would have thought they'd have been exterminated by now. But no, they're still at it. Not only that, they are alarmingly successful. [snip]

"News reports tell of a Canadian frigate's encounter with pirates -- which may help explain why these brigands of the sea not only still exist, but seem to operate with impunity when confronted by the world's navies.

Apparently last weekend, HMCS Winnipeg, a frigate and a component of NATO'S counter-piracy mission (Operation Allied Protector) spotted three small pirate skiffs closing in on an Indian merchant ship, the Pacific Opal, in the Arabian Gulf.

Instead of demanding the pirates surrender or be sunk, the Winnipeg's helicopter hovered between the pirates and the threatened vessel, and dangled a large sign over the side of the helicopter, alongside the chopper's machine gun, that had the word "Stop" written in Somali.

The news report quoted the Winnipeg's skipper, Cmdr. Craig Baines, as saying: "They got the idea that we don't like what they're doing," and the pirates called off their attack.

Surely peace, security and common sense would have been better served if the Winnipeg and its helicopter had given the crews of the three pirate skiffs a one way trip to Davey Jones' locker, and sunk them?

And then turned their attention to the pirate's mother ship, from which the three skiffs departed. At least the captain didn't apologize for interrupting their activities. "[snip]

Unbelievable!!!!!

I can’t understand why no one has brought up the point (or pounded it home anyway) the fact that the U.S.A. is now officially NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORISTS as a diplomatic procedure, something is not right. I can feel it. I was trained to be alert to certain social signals. I feel a revolt in the air, and I’m not talking about the tea parties. I was in Naval Intelligence and I know our Government only tells us 1/4 of what is really going on...Either Obama is the most naive politician in centuries, not having a clue of what he hath wrought, maybe the greatest appeaser in history, or he is a ONE MAN SLEEPER CELL. Yes, I said it..and think about it. When he bowed to the king, he may not have said “ It is an honor to meet you sir” I think rather because he is so flaky in his faith, and getting caught up in enormous ego, and the influence of his middle name, etc. he may have just gotten carried away and said “How can I be of use to you Sire?” America is in BIG trouble. It is getting flushed down the toilet right before our eyes.