Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/12/somalia.pirates/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/...dex.html</a> As it should be. Not many details are known yet, but you've got to admire this captain. He offers himself up, escapes once, is captive almost a week, and lives to tell about. He's got a huge set of cajones, that's for certain.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb The pirate they were negotiating with at the time of the escape/shootings is in custody. I agree, good news. Especially for the captain's family, I imagine Easter will be their favorite holiday from now on.
Originally Posted By DAR Great news and if we're going to have boats in that area then maybe it's time we armed them.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb That would be prudent, at least until they get this piracy issue under control.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Great news and if we're going to have boats in that area then maybe it's time we armed them. >> A very expensive proposition and not really all that practical.
Originally Posted By DAR Well then what we do give them an escort. Sorry if this is going to be a problem these ships have the right to defend themselves.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Piracy affect about 0.15% of the world's shipping. When it's successful, it makes international headlines. In the big scheme of things, there are better ways to deal with this problem than arming all the ships that transit this part of the world. We have navies to deal with this problem and they are tackling it. It will take some time. Piracy in the Horn of Africa only skrocketed in the past 2 years. Before that, it existed on a very small scale. Navies are just now starting to catch up to a problem that only surfaced very recently.
Originally Posted By mawnck "The operation and use of force was personally approved by President Obama" <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/12/captain-richard-phillips_n_185983.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...983.html</a> I can't wait for the GOP to start criticizing our trigger-happy President. In 3, 2, 1 ...
Originally Posted By dshyates I believe that all our ships should be equipped with an automatic defibrillator and a grenade launcher.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << "The operation and use of force was personally approved by President Obama" >> Pretty gutsy move actually. I'm sure there was a lot of hand-wringing about whether this would turn out like the botched rescue of the American hostages in Iran during the Carter years. This could have turned out very badly if not executed right.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<He's got a huge set of cajones>> You mean cojones. "cajon" means large box.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones ""cajon" means large box." He thought Hilary approved the use of force.
Originally Posted By ecdc What a great ending. Here's hoping these dead pirates will deter others. And thanks for the perspective, Sport Goofy. It's always interesting how this stuff ends up in the media. Apparently shark attacks are actually down the last several years, but coverage of them is up literally 1000% percent. While pirate attacks have spiked, it sounds like it's still a small phenomenon, just one that garners lots of attention (not to take away from the horror of those that are victims).
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt This is such an amazing story. Very happy that it turned out the way that it did. The captain of that ship is a very courageous fellow.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Here's hoping these dead pirates will deter others.*** I certainly hope so too, but their rhetoric sounds like the opposite (hopefully it's just bluster)... "Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over the shooting of their comrades, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday. "The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now," Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone."
Originally Posted By DAR Yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for me we pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot Drink up me 'earties, yo ho. we kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot Drink up me 'earties, yo ho. Yo ho yo ho, a pirate's life for me. we extort, we pilfage, we filch and sack. Drink up me 'earties yo ho Maraude and embezzle and even hijack Drink up me 'earties, yo ho. Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me. We kindle and char and flame and ignite Drink up me 'earties yo ho. We burn up the city, we're really afright Drink up me 'earties, yo ho! We're rascals, scoundrels, villans and naves Drink up me 'earties, yo ho. We're devils and blacksheep and really bad eggs Drink up me 'earties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for me We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do well cats Drink up me 'earties, yo ho I think we're loved by our mommies and dads. Drink up me 'earties, yo ho! Some eerie and prescient words in that song. <<Here's hoping these dead pirates will deter others.>> It hasn't worked with terrorists unfortunately. <<While pirate attacks have spiked, it sounds like it's still a small phenomenon, just one that garners lots of attention (not to take away from the horror of those that are victims).>> But shouldn't these ships have the right to A)Either be protected or B) Have the right to protect themselves?
Originally Posted By Mr X Hmm... I always thought it was "we riffle THE loot", but yours makes more sense. ***we extort, we pilfage, we filch and sack.*** Okay, I thought THAT one was "pillage". And I'd like to know what the act of "filching" consists of, sounds pretty dirty to me. ***villans and naves*** Villains and knaves, even. (I'm just messin with ya here ) ***<<Here's hoping these dead pirates will deter others.>> It hasn't worked with terrorists unfortunately.*** They *are* terrorists. And the more dead ones, the better.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I was happy to see the outcome of this as well. The media had made this a big story, and I already saw some Fox people saying Obama was Jimmy Carter redux - well-meaning but ineffectual and would make the US look weak. This shut them up for a good 24 hours on that one, though inevitably they'll be back. (And I think it's "ne'er do well cads" and Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads.")
Originally Posted By mele <<"Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over the shooting of their comrades, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday.>> I love that they act like they're the ones who have been wronged here.
