Posted on 04/11/2009 9:11:19 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. warships are trying to stop Somali pirates from sending reinforcements to a lifeboat where an American captain is being held hostage as the high-seas standoff off Africa's eastern coast entered a fourth day Saturday.
Underscoring the high stakes involved, France's navy on Friday freed a sailboat seized off Somalia last week by other pirates, but one of the hostages was killed.
A Nairobi-based diplomat, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to reporters, said the pirates have summoned assistance but at least two American ships and U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft are deterring pirate ships and skiffs from contact with the lifeboat.
The pirates have threatened to kill their American hostage, Capt. Richard Phillips, if the U.S. attacks them, according to a Somali who has been in contact with the pirates.
The Somali said the pirates had called in four commandeered ships with hostages from a variety of nations including the Philippines, Russia and Germany.
The vice president of the Philippines, the nation with the largest number of sailors held captive by Somali pirates, appealed Saturday for the safety of hostages to be ensured in the standoff.
How Past Hijackings Have Been Resolved
"We hope that before launching any tactical action against the pirates, the welfare of every hostage is guaranteed and ensured," said Vice President Noli de Castro. "Moreover, any military action is best done in consultation with the United Nations to gain the support and cooperation of other countries."
U.S. rules of engagement prevent the Americans using their vastly superior fighting power to engage the pirates if there is any danger to civilians.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
No matter what we do in this pirate situation and even if we kill the pirates or bomb Somalia it is way too late to change the perception that our enemies have about our current situation. They realize that Obama is the weakest President ever and because of this they are going to cause us and the world incredible damage.
If the pirates get to shore with the American hostage - America fails.
If a ransom is paid to secure the hostage -America fails.
If the hostage is killed - America fails.
If pirates fire on our Navy vessels and escape death - America fails.
If any pirates achieve prisoner status - America fails.
If he refuses to authorize killing every pirate in sight - America fails.
All the tyrants in the world are now ratcheting up their plans...seeing that Zero is a pussy.
Man made incident not an act of terror...lol
add - kill their goats.
Oh, I think that "closet" adjective was surrendered last week. No need to guess any more.
What ever we do now is too late to change the perception that our other more dangerous enemies have about us. Even if we end up killing the pirates and go on to bomb Somalia the Al Qaeda terrorists, the Taliban terrorists, the Iranian terrorist regime, the North Korean communist regime, etc... know that Obama is the weakest President ever and they are going to take full advantage of this and cause us a lot of harm.
Quite obviously the U.S. has been complicit in the ongoing piracy over the past few years since the pirates’ automatic weapons have been funneled to them through U.S. firearms dealers.
I had to get this out there before Hillary does!
Why doesn’t the great King of America tell these half wits ...
Because he doesn’t believe in anything after that word.
Leaders don’t waffle.
AMEN!
People of America vote these Turds out of office
We no longer have free and fair elections in America.
Nothing we can do, or so I'm told.
Exactly - after one warning, blow anything away within 50 miles.
How could we forget to take out the goats...Geez...
the obamination on the campaign trail last year:
CAN I JUST EAT MY WAFFLE?
I don't believe there are a bunch of them, only 4.
Man made incident not an act of terror...lol
Time for an Overseas Contingency Operation?
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