M
Mary
NBC is reporting the American captain held hostage by Somali pirates (thugs is a better description in my book) attempted to escape overnight but was recaptured. Think it's time to reclaim the Seven Seas?
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K
Karlynn
I'm wondering why they don't get 4 sharp shooters and take out the 4 pirates in the lifeboat? Must be something to do with distance, or safety. But military sharp shooters can hit incredibly difficult targets. Not a criticism - just wondering.
I think something needs to be done soon. Word is that while more Navy vessels are racing to the area, more pirates, on previously captured ships, are also going to the area and they have captives they intend to use as human shields.
I think something needs to be done soon. Word is that while more Navy vessels are racing to the area, more pirates, on previously captured ships, are also going to the area and they have captives they intend to use as human shields.
G
Guest
That Navy helicoptor should have had snipers on board, if they have them in sight, they should be able to take them out.
Hard for me to understand why shipping in that region doesn't go with armed protection.
K
Karlynn
And I also wanted to add - what a brave man the Captain is! Turned himself over so his crew could go free. And to top it off - he tried to escape by jumping off the life boat.
Tom F.
Well-known member
SEAL Team travels by submarine which stops right below the bad guys. SEAL Team operators come to the surface at night or in low light conditions. With suppressed weapons the operators take out the bad guys, rescue the ship captain, and that is that!
Impossible since the lifeboat is encapsulated. They're actually quite comfortable albeit no toilet facilities.
One word -- money.
The offshore barge my son worked on did have British security, but the security was kidnapped too, along with 5 workmates of my son. This was in the Gulf of Guinea in Feb 2006. He worked for an American - Texan - oil and gas pipeline construction company - offshore and they were constantly harrassed by MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta). The "terrorists" have AK47's, RPG's, fast boats and nerves of steel. In Nigeria, it was a political situation and it'd take mounds of space for me to describe that. Put "MEND NIGERIA KIDNAPPING" in google and you can read about it.
He continued working for the company and they moved operations up the coast to Ghana, but 'moved on' and now works for a Mexican company in the Bahia de Campeche.
I agree with Chou. And I hate guns, but there is a time and a place for everything.
Being out on the open seas without any form of quick self defence is just nuts.
Being out on the open seas without any form of quick self defence is just nuts.
Well, really..
Well, really..
All the shipping companies need to do is call Xe Worldwide...I mean, didn't they get all those non-bid contracts in Iraq, Afghanistan and points beyond??
Well, really..
All the shipping companies need to do is call Xe Worldwide...I mean, didn't they get all those non-bid contracts in Iraq, Afghanistan and points beyond??
K
Karlynn
Just saw a photo of the type of lifeboat they are in. It is totally enclosed. Hence - no sharp shooters.
i saw a photo of pirates in a lifeboat i think on cnn yesterday...can't find it now....
the lifeboat in the picture was not enclosed. maybe it was just an old stock photo?
i did find this here photo of a lifeboat on one of the maersk line ships....
the lifeboat in the picture was not enclosed. maybe it was just an old stock photo?
i did find this here photo of a lifeboat on one of the maersk line ships....
Tom F.
Well-known member
Most modern ships have fully enclosed survival boats. There have been a lot of pics of the bad guys brandishing their AK's in fully open boats, the type seen in "Titanic" for examle, but those are stock shots. Something that is fully open to the elements is pretty much useless in the open ocean under difficult conditions.
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
I agree, BUT, there has to be a reason, probably economic, and it may have to do with INSURANCE and/or LIABILITY (just my Guess), not to mention Political.
I'm sure the reasons are Complex...
Eva, forget about the Easter Bunny & the kitty! Take care of the pirates instead!!! 
Right. This is a job for our temporarily gun-happy Eva.
L
Lisa in Katy
I've watched plenty of pirate movies. Bring out the rum and they'll break out in song! Not to make fun of it, but my nephew was really questioning it, thinking of Jack Sparrow!
I really think it's time to take back the open seas, as well as America and other places. The good guys need to start fighting back so we can win!
Not to make fun of it, but my nephew was really questioning it, thinking of Jack Sparrow!I really think it's time to take back the open seas, as well as America and other places. The good guys need to start fighting back so we can win!
Did you see this about the FRENCH Hostages? http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/10/somalia.france/index.html
CNN) -- A French hostage and two pirates died Friday in a rescue operation off Somalia, the French president's office in Paris said Friday.
Four hostages, including a child, were freed from the hijacked yacht after almost a week of captivity, Nicolas Sarkozy's office said.
The French military decided to move in when pirates refused their offers and increased threats against the hostages, it said.
A defense ministry source told CNN the pirates were threatening to execute their captives.
The four adults and a child had been held aboard their yacht, the Tanit, since it was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, the president's statement said.
CNN Jim Bitterman in Paris reported the French military came under fire as they attacked Tanit using Zodiac motorized rubber rafts.
.......
CNN) -- A French hostage and two pirates died Friday in a rescue operation off Somalia, the French president's office in Paris said Friday.
Four hostages, including a child, were freed from the hijacked yacht after almost a week of captivity, Nicolas Sarkozy's office said.
The French military decided to move in when pirates refused their offers and increased threats against the hostages, it said.
A defense ministry source told CNN the pirates were threatening to execute their captives.
The four adults and a child had been held aboard their yacht, the Tanit, since it was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, the president's statement said.
CNN Jim Bitterman in Paris reported the French military came under fire as they attacked Tanit using Zodiac motorized rubber rafts.
.......
Seems to me that they would make great target practice......
