Pirates Hijack Second US Vessel

BBC ^ | 11 April 2009 | Staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

Somali pirates have hijacked a US-owned tugboat in the Gulf of Aden with 16 crew on board, reports say.

Maritime industry sources say the tug, which sails under an Italian flag, was towing two barges at the time of the attack, at 1100 local time (0800 GMT).

The crew are said to be unharmed. The US and Italian governments have not confirmed the hijacking.

Meanwhile pirates holding a US captain hostage have warned that using force to rescue him could result in "disaster".

The pirates said they hoped to transfer Capt Richard Phillips from a lifeboat to a bigger vessel, as US and other naval ships made their way to the area.

He is being held by four pirates hundreds of kilometres off Somalia.

 

In other developments:

- Sailors on a Panama-flagged bulk carrier repulsed a pirate attack with water hoses. Nato officials on a nearby Portuguese warship said an unexploded rocket-propelled grenade landed in the commanding officer's cabin

- On Friday, one Frenchman and two pirates were killed in a rescue operation by French troops on another vessel captured off Somalia. Four others, including a child, were freed from the yacht

 

[ozarkgirl]

? I don’t think I understand what you mean?

[BykrBayb]

Pirates Hijack Second US Vessel

And why not? It's not like as if we're going to do anything about it.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"Somali pirates? Can't you see? I'm eating my waffle. Can't I just eat my waffle?"

[dalereed]

“To all those who think we should just bomb Somalia, you do realize the captain will die?”

He voluntarly went with them rather than fight, consider him dead meat and turn Somolia into a glass parking lot.

[Sir Gawain]

Distraction!

[mamelukesabre]

...takes too long. One shot from one bofors 120mm.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The second Carter era continues.......

[ozarkgirl]

He voluntarly went with them rather than fight, consider him dead meat and turn Somolia into a glass parking lot.

Of course I don't know all the details but they keep saying on FOX that he sacrificed himself to save his crew. Not sure how that happened because I understand the crew had already taken back the ship. Hopefully we'll find out just how the Captain "sacrificed" himself to save the others.

[Polybius]

This ship was flying the Italian flag. This is just another routine hijacking. The ship just happens to be American-owned. I don’t think there are any Americans on board.

American tug owner + no American flag in order to save money + Italian flag + no American sailors in order to save money + foreign sailors + pirates + hijacked tug = American tug owner that needs to take his gripe to the Italian Embassy, 3000 Whitehaven St NW, Washington, DC 20008

[Heavy Fuel]

They know he is weak and of the Clinton mindset that a dead foreigner even though deserving it, wont make good poll numbers.

[tc45a]

He voluntarly went with them rather than fight,

He voluntarily went with them in agreement the rest of the crew would not be taken.

[KTM rider]

If you remember the Clinton incident in Mogadishu (black hawk down), those terrorists, (and I would assume they are the same bunch, who are robbing booty areconnected to the Iraqi branch of the Mujahadeen, who is also connected to Iran ( google Mujahadeen and it is easy to find).

There was also a connection with Bin Laden. So I think people are in error when they say this is not terrorism connected. It may not be terrorism but it is connected. The money is probably going to fund the efforts in Iraq.

It is also plausible that Bin Laden (if alive) could be in Iran, (evidence supported by this connection)

[EGPWS]

Reagan would have solved this problem in 5 minutes spoken from the Oval Office, conveyed concern, and shown resolve and eased our minds that all would be taken care of, which is what happens when you have a MAN who loves his country, or a woman who thinks like a MAN who loves his country, in charge.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

the pirate town of eyl, somalia

I would turn "Eyl" into "Howl", ala William Tecumseh Sherman.

[Sudetenland]

Absolutely! Without hesitation. To do otherwise is to invite further attacks.

Any Conservative should know this intuitively. Negotiation with a terrorist is intolerable. These men are pirates; piracy, just like terrorism, is a crime against humanity and therefore outside the bounds of normal behavior. They must be dealt with mercilessly and without hesitation.

You sure you are on the correct forum? The folks over at DU would probably agree with you.

[DesertRhino]

And our Navy be *damned* if they see pirates controlling a ship, then fail to assist some good men from a western nation, because the ship has an italian flag.

Imagine any USN destroyer from he 1940s or 50s. Then thrt to imagine what would have already happened. 10 to 1 the captain would be warming up from his swim by now, drinking a medicinal whiskey.

[randog]

And the Obscenity in Chief struts the stage with his thumb in his butt.

...and one in his mouth. Rotates thumbs every 30 minutes.

[Deo volente]

I like your plan!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

5) Both are married to luntaics.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

5) Both are married to lunatics.