Posted on 08/11/2002 12:18:23 PM PDT by colette_g
There are reports a British-registered tanker has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia.
Reuters news agency said the Somali hijackers were demanding $1m for the release of the Russian crew.
Britain's Foreign Office could not confirm the reports.
Helicopter
A spokesman said the a British frigate had dispatched a helicopter to find the ship, but nothing was seen.
The tanker was hijacked about two weeks ago and its crew taken ashore to a location in Alula district on Somalia's north-eastern coast, the militiaman told Reuters.
"The ship was registered in Britain," one of the militiamen told the agency.
Dangerous waters
He said the ship, which was carrying fuel from Dubai to South Africa, had been moored in a natural harbour about 30 miles away from Alula's main settlement.
One eyewitness said he saw the tanker's captain being held in a house.
Somalia's waters are considered to be among the most dangerous in the world - piracy is relatively common.
That would be un PC, and we are a very PC nation, unfortunately. I think it would work, however.
Did you guys watch the movie SwordFish? Whatever you thought of the actual film it did have a rather interesting premise where this organization is formed to use the tactics of America's enemies on them. For example jehadis bomb one bus this group goes and bombs 7 busses in the terrorist region. The leave a car bomb on an American housing complex they would go leave several incendiary devices in a couple of neghborhoods in jehadi areas. So on and so forth.
This would be a step up from what the Spetsnaz do when they go and capture the families of terrorists and cut them up. What the Spetsgruppa did in 1985 made the PLO and other Jehadi terrorists to leave the Soviet officials in Beirut alone. And up to today the only Muslim problem in Russia is the Chechnyans and even they prefer to stay in the mountains and fight there (where by the way they have become very efficient in guerilla warfare). However the incident at Gorky where they told the Russian authorities where they had planted the dirty bomb so it could be defused just goes to show that they know just how far they can push the envelope when it comes to Russia.
Why can't we, the US, the most powerful nation in the globe, inspire such fear in our enemies! It is one thing for some Islamic jehadi to fear a JDAM being dropped by a B-1B Lancer, however it is a whole other thing for the Jehadi to know that Delta Force ops are hunting for his family and they plan to do some bad stuff to them. Most jehadis do not give a darn what happens to them, which is why they will listen tot heir demagogues and attack the US knowing very well that chances are they will be dead very soon (either in the attack if it is suicidal in nature, or in an American reprisal). However they do not care since they have made up their minds to be matyrs, and have no fear of death (actually this is one the biggest reasons why the Islamic hordes used to win virtually every battle in centuries past ...they would go to battle without fear of death or injury, while their enemy would fight while trying to protect themselves. Similar to the Vikings and their beserkergang).
However if they knew their families are in jeopardy, and that they are a viable target for the most militarily capable nation on earth, meaning US operatives are working towards them using all the resources available and applicable, i think that wold give them pause. After all even if a person is willing to perish does not mean they would be willing to see their loved ones go to.
And it is not that we do not have the guts to do it. Delta force guys are like a rabid dog on a leash ....they would go hunt these guys down at moments notice. However we are so PC that chances of it happening are almost nil.
Would it be effective? To be honest with you i do not know. However based on the example of the Spetsgruppa Al'fa Spetsnaz attack on the PLO guys in 1985, the chopping of the body parts of 4 of their fellow terrorists and some of their families , and having them sent in a duffel bag seemed to send a big message. Such a big message that no mid eastern jehadis messed with Russia since then.
What some of these guys need is for the US to flex its muscles and show them that when need be we can make things totally vicious for them. Totally. If they think JDAMs are bad we should show them that we can up the ante when we need to and blow these suckas up!
And personally this goes against some of my core beliefs, however if it would stop the attacks then so be it. I know it sounds a little evil and utilitarian to advocate going after the families of terrorists and hunting them down, but i really think it would work. What if the Israelis instead of demolishing the buildings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad sent Sayeret Mat'kal operatives to 'neutralise' their families? I think what would happen is that in the short term there would be a great backlash, and a spike in terrorism activities. However as long as the Sayeret continues its 'activities' the jehadis would soon get the message and stop.
Why has such a thing not happened yet? Because the UN would be down their throats (as well as some American senators who would be saying Israel is bad), and also because there is something wrong in attacking people who have not done anything bad themselves apart from giving birth to the terrorist. However would it work? Chances are yes!
Should it be done, and should we do it? That answer is not up to me.
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