Pajamas Media

58 Comments

1. Bilgeman:

Ms. Jacobsen:
“The 200 mariners held hostage in Somalia should be freed in a U.S.-led multinational effort.”

What are you, nuts?

Those very same nations that take a big pass on aiding us in the War on Terror…we should save their bacon in the War against Piracy?

I…don’t…think…so.

The Euros and Japanese have some very capable military and naval units with which they should be rescuing their own citizens.

Let me clue you into something about piracy, if everyone sees to their own peoples’ security, there woun’t be any targets of opportunity.

“By sending the U.S. Navy to the aid of Phillips after he was taken hostage, the message to the pirates was don’t mess with Americans.”

That’s how it starts, it’s now up to the other maritime nations to send the same message regarding their ships.

It isn’t incumbent on the US military and naval forces to protect the ships and seamen of countries that could damned well afford to do the job themselves, unless it serves OUR interest.

Apr 13, 2009 - 9:48 am 2. Dee:

Bilgeman-

Absolutely correct!

Apr 13, 2009 - 9:56 am 3. wancow:

Bilgeman said it best: you’re nutz to suggest the U.S. be responsible for policing the Horn of Africa or anywhere else.

Americans are valuable to Americans, they are our highest priority. Screw the rest. The Mersk Alabama had FOOD AID for Somalia! They pay us back by taking our crew hostage.

Insidentally, the last time a pirate took an American ship:

1975, Cambodia. The ship was SS MAYAGUEZ which, if memory serves, was a U.S. Flagged Mersk Ship as well…

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:07 am 4. Marie Claude:

pirats mustn’t be considered as “normal” citizens, but as criminals, as they were in previous centuries, and thus punished as so.

Our countries have laws for such people, then they sould apply for the modern piracy.

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:08 am 5. The Historian:

OBAMA USED MILITARY TO ADVANCE DOMESTIC AGENDA
The real pirates are in Washington DC. Obama followed Bush template to curry public favor.

http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2009/04/pirates-obama-does-bush-thing.html

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:08 am 6. Terry Gain:

My liberal friends tell me that attacking these Money Transfer Agents will only create more Money Transfer Agents and will be a distraction from the Overseas Contingency Operation. And it will take our eye off the Man-Caused-Disaster ball.

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:10 am 7. Meryl:

“If not, the U.S. State Department — under the command of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — will be seen as Osama bin Laden’s newest paper tiger.”

How on earth can you expect SOS Clinton to attain any level of credibility in the arena occupied by pirates after the silly, giggling monologue she did with the Moroccans last week on the first day of the pirate event?

PLEASE don’t say things that could give this Ad hoc Admin the impression that if they send the SOS out “to talk tough” that that will raise her/their credibility. All that could do is create additional numbers of crises all around the Gulf of Aden.

Anything they gain politically from this (and it IS all political for them) is due specifically to the bravery of Capt. Phillips, his crew and the Navy SEALS and their superiors.

Do not be so foolish as to think that this outcome is transferable to similar situations as though this outcome is traceable to the skill of Precedent Training Pants.

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:10 am 8. Dark Helmet:

We have the position to do what ever needs to be done to protect the innocent. BUT ONLY AFTER those who the hold allegiance to have failed. Not a single bullet nor drop of American blood for anyone who has not seen their nation put it’s best and brightest on the line to save them.

We are here to protect those who can not, not those who will not.

DH

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:18 am 9. Marie Claude:

umm, a swiss paper (in french) says that the somalian chief of the pirats will revenge ! and extend his expeditions further in somalians water to look for indivual Americans, and that they have no pity to expect

http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/monde/story/Le-chef-des-pirates-tues-menace-de-s-en-prendre-a-des-Americains-21285831

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:40 am 10. Hotpatch 6:

Since a bunch of ACLU lawyers are going to Somalia to represent the next of kin of the dead pirates against those “murdering Americans”, maybe they can negotiate the release of the 200 hostages (for a fee, of course. After all, they are lawyers).

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:05 am 11. Gato:

Our author must make the distinction between “sacrifice” and “honor.” The captain displayed HONOR, no “sacrifice.”

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:36 am 12. Lost Plot:

“In December, the U.S. State Department, under the command of the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, issued an edict saying its top priority in Somalia is “to ensure the protection of shipping lanes and to bring pirates to justice.”

HilBil was not confirmed until 2009, after January 20,2009. December 2009
has not arrived yet. Maybe the author is confused with the giggly/cackling
response HilBil gave in the press conference.

Thanks to the US Navy and Seals, we have a “boat load” of real heros.

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:41 am 13. Peter the Bubblehead:

Annie Jacobsen wrote: In December, the U.S. State Department, under the command of the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, issued an edict saying its top priority in Somalia is “to ensure the protection of shipping lanes and to bring pirates to justice.”

Peter asks: Is this a typo or mis-information? Because the State Department was most certainly NOT under Hillary Clinton in December 2008!

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:43 am 14. Blackwell:

Agree with Bilgeman: volunteering our young soldiers as international mercenaries to free citizens of other countries from that hellhole is hubristic intermeddling. Many countries are mad at us anyway for freeing our own and “upsetting” business a usual. Probably the same countries that thought doing business with Saddam was just fine too and were mad at us for ruining that business. We’ve spent enough money on two wars as it is.

If other countries find ransoms preferable to a navy, that’s their business. Our navy should escort our ships. Allow friendly helpful nations to tag along and mercilessly destroy any pirates that interfere. But assuming the responsibilities of numerous other countries? Forget it.

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:46 am 15. Peter the Bubblehead:

11. Gato wrote:
Our author must make the distinction between “sacrifice” and “honor.” The captain displayed HONOR, no “sacrifice.”

Peter asks: And how do you define sacrifice? Captain Phillips literally gave his LIFE for his ship and crew. He had no expectation of living through the ordeal he has managed to survive. He had no expectation of being rescued within any resaonable amount of time. He literally laid down his life to make sure his crew were unharmed and his cargo reached its ultimate destination. Just because he was not killed, do not tell me he did not sacrifice!

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:53 am 16. Sherab Zangpo:

“President Obama should spearhead a multinational operation to free the 200 mariners still held captive.”

I have bad news for you.

No, maybe I shouldn’t…
Live happily, wait for Santa.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:57 am 17. jvon:

I don’t think we should be risking our troops in Somalia. It’d make Iraq look like Grenada.

Now if press reports are right (far from a sure thing) and there are “pirate settlements”, these should be flattened from the air.

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:17 pm 18. Edmund Jenks (MAXINE):

Last March, the Obama Administration decided to remove the term “Enemy Combatant” from the terminology used by the American Government in dealing with people who committed acts of war but were not controlled or governed by any organized country. A term was needed after 11 September 2001, to deal with people who caused acts of war, mass murder, and were not governed by an organized country after hijacked passenger jets were flown into the World Trade Center Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C..

Why don’t we just call them Pirates?

Pirates are not governed by any country, they terrorize, disrupt a culture, murder and profit from their uncivilized and illegal acts just as “Enemy Combatants” and the international laws of piracy are clear and the punishment is harsh … first offense can get one life in prison!

We, at MAXINE, suggest that we call “Enemy Combatants” (EC’s) … “Pirates” (P’s).

EC’s and P’s are all working to disrupt the way life is carried out because of some perceived nonnegotiable grievance. EC’s and P’s all will use what ever means to achieve their ends that include violence, kidnapping, theft, and destruction. With EC’s and P’s, the war never ends until they choose not to act, otherwise all of these acts must be dealt with at the time they happen and harshly … these acts should never be appeased.

It is time to end … Piracy (read that as terrorism), once and for all!

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:21 pm 19. AThinkingPerson:

I’m dying to see how my liberal friends comment on this. They have trumpeted that the Iraq war was preemptive and therefore wrong. Wouldn’t going into Somalia be a bit preemptive? My vote would be to arm American ships that pass through that area and protect our own. The way the liberal media is treating the war in Iraq and will undoubtedly mistreat the soldiers coming home, I’m not willing to give them the satisfaction again in another part of the world. The Democrats cannot have it both ways much to their chagrin. Either they’re for military intervention or they’re not. Interesting to see how Obama will straddle this line.

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:23 pm 20. Frank:

In my view, the shipping companies should put armed security on their ships. If I were a shipping company owner, I would hire two Navy Seals and two Delta Operators. They would be in charge of security for my shipping company. They would train the second in command of each ship on ship retention techniques and tactics. The second in command would be responsible for training their entire crew in firearms usage and tactics for ship retention. The crew members would be armed with AR-15 rifles, tactical shotguns and pistols. The ship should also have bullhorns, night vision equipment, approaching watercraft detection equipment, and a 50 Cal. Barrett Rifle. The 50 Cal. rifle would have sufficient range and power to keep the pirate boats away from the ship. If the pirates don’t heed the warning to stand off; you shoot their boat out from under them. The ship itself, while sailing, could be used for training and crew defensive training should be ongoing when not engaged in other duties. If the pirates should attack and get onboard, they would be met with a coordinated defense of the ship by the entire crew. No crewman locked in a room and the captian surrendering.

For far too long we have acted like victims who are depending on their government to take care of them and keep them safe. If we look at how the government has protected schools against school shooters, we can see that the government will never be where we need them when we need them. The only security we can really rely on is that which we provide ourselves.

As for being the world’s policeman, we have been fighting wars almost constantly since the beginning of the 20th Century. Pulling other countries out of the fire has cost us hundreds of thousand in war dead and a huge national debt that is largely war related. It has also created a tryannical government that has gotten used to oversteping its bounds and today we live in a society with limited freedoms as a result. It’s time to wean ourselves from big brother and take care of ourselves, both personally and as a nation.

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:33 pm 21. Marie Claude:

“Probably the same countries that thought doing business with Saddam was just fine too and were mad at us for ruining that business”

BlackWell, the kind of country, you’re subtly pointing on, didn’t do what you’re evocating,or, much less than your country, plus, the kind of country didn’t wait for your help to take care of its citizen

now, if you need sources, I’ll have them in store

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:37 pm 22. Frank:

In my view, the shipping companies should put armed security on their ships. If I were a shipping company owner, I would hire two Navy Seals and two Delta Operators. They would be in charge of security for my shipping company. They would train the second in command of each ship on ship retention techniques and tactics. The second in command would be responsible for training their entire crew in firearms usage and tactics for ship retention. The crew members would be armed with AR-15 rifles, tactical shotguns and pistols. The ship should also have bullhorns, night vision equipment, approaching watercraft detection equipment, and a 50 Cal. Barrett Rifle. The 50 Cal. rifle would have sufficient range and power to keep the pirate boats away from the ship. If the pirates don’t heed the warning to stand off; you shoot their boat out from under them. The ship itself, while sailing, could be used for training. Crew defensive training should be ongoing when not engaged in other duties. If the pirates should attack and get onboard, they would be met with a coordinated defense of the ship by the entire crew. No crewman locked in a room and the captian surrendering.

For far too long we have acted like victims who are depending on their government to take care of them and keep them safe. If we look at how the government has protected schools against school shooters, we can see that the government will never be where we need them when we need them. The only security we can really rely on is that which we provide ourselves.

As for being the world’s policeman, we have been fighting wars almost constantly since the beginning of the 20th Century. Pulling other countries out of the fire has cost us hundreds of thousand in war dead and a huge national debt that is largely war related. It has also created a tryannical government that has gotten used to oversteping its bounds and today we live in a society with limited freedoms as a result. It’s time to wean ourselves from big brother and take care of ourselves, both personally and as a nation.

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:38 pm 23. Nomad:

Do not send ground troops to find the 200. Keep an eye on the pirate bases and boats and bomb them away. Let those nations of the 200 rescue them if those nations want them rescued or they can pay the ransom.

If American flagged ships continue going thru that sealane. Have armed people from companies like Blackwater on board or have them guarded in a convoy by the US Navy.

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:39 pm 24. Paul from Hamburg:

Bilgeman: Well said.

A big part of the problem is with flags of convenience. For too many years, it has been easy to assume that all ships are equally safe on the ocean and it didn’t matter what flag was hanging off of the stern.

In reality, if a nation wants to be involved in international maritime commerce, it needs a Navy to protect its interests. If a company wants to avoid US taxes and regulations by flying the flag of Liberia, fine. If there is a problem, the Liberian Navy can protect their ships.

Apr 13, 2009 - 12:42 pm 25. MarkT:

The USS Boxer joined anti-piracy Combined Task Force 151 off the northern coast of Somalia at the beg8inning of March, and takes over as flagship of the task force.

This beefs up the strike capabilities of Combined Task Force 151, and may signal a shift in operations. Unlike the ship it replaces (the USS San Antonio), USS Boxer has shown up with a full crew, which includes a reinforced battalion of marines.

The USS Boxer is a Wasp class amphibious assault ship, an LHD type vessel, displacing 41,000 tons. Unlike the San Antonio, the Boxer arrived with its normal load of a reinforced battalion of marines and aircraft (several dozen helicopters, and I am assuming drones). The ship also has landing craft and a beach master unit (for managing cargo and troop movements across a beach.) There are 1,800 marines and 1,100 sailors on the Boxer.

The Boxer has been in service for 14 years, and has spent a lot of time in the Persian Gulf. The only reason for adding the Boxer to CTF 151 is to either conduct amphibious operations, or to shake up the pirates by threatening to do so. Since it is common knowledge the pirates are operating from shore, this may signal a change in how the pirates will be dealt with.

There has been significant intelligence work done to determine which families and gangs are involved in piracy. Should the US Navy and CTF151 choose to eliminate the shore facilities of the pirates (along with most of the pirates) the rest of the world is likely to approve.

Combined Task Force 151 is a multi-national task force and was formed at the beginning of 2009 solely to deal with the piracy problem. Navy Vice Admiral William E. Gortney, who commands U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, said “the problem of piracy is and continues to be a problem that begins ashore and is an international problem that requires an international solution.”

US Navy Rear Adm. Terence E. McKnight is commander of CTF151.

Back in December 2008 the United Nations Security Council authorized foreign forces to pursue pirates inside Somalia. This was a US sponsored resolution that was unanimously approved by the 15 member body, to use “all necessary measures” to stop anyone using Somali land or sea to plan or carry out piracy.

Capt. Mark Cedrun, is the Boxer’s commanding officer.

Boxer’s embarked units include the Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 Detachment 3, Naval Beach Group (NBG) 1, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, ACU 1, Beach Master Unit (BMU) 1, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5 and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

The 13th MEU is comprised of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 163 (Reinforced), Combat Logistics Battalion 13 and Battalion Landing Team 1/1.

“If you are going to do kinetic strikes into the pirate camps, the positive ID and the collateral damage cannot be overestimated. It’s very difficult,” Gortney told reporters back in December. “They are irregulars; they don’t wear uniforms.”

Every nation is fed up with the problem, and will probably be supportive of US forces if and when the strike comes. By bringing in the USS Boxer and it’s full combat compliment, that time may be very soon.

Apr 13, 2009 - 1:03 pm 26. Blackwell:

#20: Marie: I only meant to match countries doing more than $1 billion in sales to Iraq pre-2003, with those that sent no troops to Iraq to assist in removing the monicidal maniac and offered no financial support or those that did. They obviously prefer, by and large, to peacefully do business with bad people, and it makes no sense for us to expend blood and money to rescue their hostages. Especially if they’ll likely be mad at us for trying to do so. (I understand that France recently slapped some pirates about–and good for them– and don’t need our help in Somalia anyway)

Apr 13, 2009 - 1:23 pm 27. Professor Guvinoff:

What the crew of the Alabama started could be some sort of a grass-root movement. (Or is it a seaweed movement?)

By showing so much courage and initiative, the ship’s Captain triggered the whole chain of events leading to this examplary rebuff of the terrorists on water, a.k.a. “pirates”!

So what’s the right follow up, and how to go about it?

I don’t see how to do anything before getting all the nations who have these 200+ hostages taken from them involved, so in this case there is a whole bunch of diplomatic work to be done up-front.

The so-called “international community” (what does this mean, really?) is more on the side of the pirates than on the side of human rights, no matter what the slogans, declarations and irresolute “resolutions” are.

We can help the nations who want to help themselves and participate in the effort, but not until they pledge their willingness to share the risks as well as the benefits. Until that time, we just defend our own ships. If this deters the pirates from attacking other nation’s ships in the meantime, that’s wonderful, but we cannot take on the burden of policing the Gulf of Aden just for the sake of it.

Three cheers for the Captain, his family, the Navy seals, the Navy, America, and freedom! Freedom is constantly challenged by terror. It is for us to defend.

Once Ben Franklin said to a lady who asked “what kind of society we are going to be?”: “A republic, if you can keep it!”

Apr 13, 2009 - 1:47 pm 28. Edmund Jenks (MAXINE):

Somali Pirate Or Enemy Combatant – What’s The Difference?

Last March, the Obama Administration decided to remove the term “Enemy Combatant” from the terminology used by the American Government in dealing with people who committed acts of war but were not controlled or governed by any organized country. A term was needed after 11 September 2001, to deal with people who caused acts of war, mass murder, and were not governed by an organized country after hijacked passenger jets were flown into the World Trade Center Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C..

Why don’t we just call them Pirates?

Pirates are not governed by any country, they terrorize, disrupt a culture, murder and profit from their uncivilized and illegal acts just as “Enemy Combatants” and the international laws of piracy are clear and the punishment is harsh … first offense can get one life in prison!

We suggest that we call “Enemy Combatants” (EC’s) … “Pirates” (P’s) during this Carter’s Second Term. At least Obama didn’t try to micro-manage this hostage situation as Carter did during his problem with enemy combatants in Iran (oops! that is an organized country).

EC’s and P’s are all working to disrupt the way life is carried out because of some perceived nonnegotiable grievance. EC’s and P’s all will use what ever means to achieve their ends that include violence, kidnapping, theft, and destruction. With EC’s and P’s, the war never ends until they choose not to act, otherwise all of these acts must be dealt with at the time they happen and harshly … these acts should never be appeased.

It is time to end … Piracy, once and for all!

Apr 13, 2009 - 1:54 pm 29. Marie Claude:

Blackwell, I am sure you’re well intentionned, but your monicial maniac was a parapet to rampant jihadism, can’t see that terrorism has decreased, in the contrary ! umm businesses, you can’t imagine to whom they benefitted,

you don’t want to know

I also understand that your previous administration had no intention to get involved in the Somalia piracy hunting, and let China go ahead, did you hear of China these days ?

an interesting article from last 19th of december :

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,470344,00.html

Apr 13, 2009 - 1:59 pm 30. Leatherneck:

Before any force use over there, force sould be used here to protect Americans from a lawless southern border, and millions of illegal aliens dealing durgs, murdering, and sucking on the American sugar tit!

Oh yea, I’m way off base on this one.

Apr 13, 2009 - 2:38 pm 31. Marie Claude:

Blackbell, with good will or forced, we’ll have to deal the piracy problem together, umm, as we have both become their priority targets

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aN._wmrxsF98

Apr 13, 2009 - 2:51 pm 32. Vaughn:

Wait until the ACLU lawyers show up, THEN, ’send in the drones’!!! No offense meant, to Stephan Sondheim.

Apr 13, 2009 - 3:21 pm 33. Blackwell:

#28 I’m not sure I even understand what you’re saying. But if the idea is that “things were better” before Saddam was deposed, you have lots of current and historical company in preferring the “more orderly” way things are done under a succession of dictators. And the jihadists were quite busy before we went into Iraq in 2003. Fewer states seem so blase about sheltering them any more however. Good that China is doing something to safeguard its own shipping and eliminate pirates. The idea that we should do it all ourselves is silly.

Apr 13, 2009 - 3:24 pm 34. Cybergeezer:

Yea, right; Get this rap star to go global; Other societies aren’t as DUMB AND RETARDED as ours.

Apr 13, 2009 - 3:40 pm 35. Blackwell:

#31: yes that works for me.

Apr 13, 2009 - 4:13 pm 36. Annie Jacobsen:

Lost Plot,
Thanks for catching my error about Hillary Clinton. The editors at PJM corrected.
–Annie Jacobsen

Apr 13, 2009 - 5:03 pm 37. Donna V.:

Peter the Bubblehead: Just wanted to say, you should be damn proud of how the US Navy conducted itself here. ‘Cause I sure am

I agree with Bilgeman on this.

Apr 13, 2009 - 5:38 pm 38. AThinkingPerson:

The rest of the hostages in Somalia are in dire straights at this point. It’s being reported today [ http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1235409220090413 ]that the pirates will seek revenge and I’m guessing they will use the hostages as bartering chips. How far all this is allowed to continue is a scary prospect indeed. Hopefully Obama is done campaigning and ready to roll up his sleeves and finally get to work.

Apr 13, 2009 - 5:52 pm 39. Bilgeman:

#38 A Thinking Person:
“The rest of the hostages in Somalia are in dire straights at this point. It’s being reported today [ http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1235409220090413 ]that the pirates will seek revenge and I’m guessing they will use the hostages as bartering chips.”

Not my problem and not our problem. I hope they all get home safely, but hoping is about as far as I’m prepared to go. Their nations and companies paid the ransoms which made piracy and hostage-taking profitable in the first place.

They made the bed, their people sleep in it.

Take that Reuters hand-wringing bunk to the blogs of those nations that have skin in the game.

That ain’t here.

“How far all this is allowed to continue is a scary prospect indeed.”

If you good folks do your part and get us some .30 caliber M-60 machine guns, ammo, and the authorization to use them to defend ourselves and our home, you’ll never have to worry about it much again.

The first grappling hook that comes up on our rail, and those chaps in that boat down at the waterline are going to be in for a hell of a surprise.
That’s as far as it’ll be allowed to continue.

“Hopefully Obama is done campaigning and ready to roll up his sleeves and finally get to work.”

The fellow who claims to have been born in Hawaii could outfit every US flag ocean-going merchant ship as I’ve outlined for less than 25 million dollars. Chicken-feed, in DC Fed context.

Pass the legislation granting us absolute immunity from prosecution in any court for any acts we take against pirates, and then he’s free to have a pizza and house-train his new dog.

That’s all I need and all I ask from him or from any of you.

Give me the tools I’m telling you that I need, and then leave me alone to get on with the job.

This is NOT a big problem…and I’m the schmuck who has stood pirate watch at the rail with nothing more than a charged fire hose.

Apr 13, 2009 - 6:17 pm 40. e:

The entrepreneurs here would start a business selling a service where you man 3 .50 cal machine guns with six men on 12 hour shifts (with night vision goggles). One weapon on each beam, the third aft.

Ports of call not allow weapons onboard? No problem, have a ship to onload/offload your men and equipment while they’re in port. Plus this way you can keep switching your people between ships entering and exiting the ‘hotzone’.

Even better fly your own ensign underneath the ships while you’re on board, that way the pirates know to stay away.

Apr 13, 2009 - 6:41 pm 41. Kelly:

Leatherneck.. totally agree….after we get the Mexican mess of our hands we need to carpet bomb the Somalian coast.

Apr 13, 2009 - 7:03 pm 42. WhyamInotsurprised?:

“… failure of American principle” my ass! Let the countries of other hostages grow a pair and take care of their own citizens.

Apr 13, 2009 - 7:10 pm 43. Delia:

The Islamic bullies have found a target.

I say, “Blow these muthafu*kin bullies’ out of the ater and rid our seas of pirates.

These scum are CRIMINALS and MURDERERs,

KILL them. They are scum. I have no sympathy for people who rape and pillage people. Die and because I have a big heart I’ll wish only the death you put upon others in the name of Islam… BEhEADING’. Git’er done.

Apr 13, 2009 - 8:51 pm 44. Shari:

The Rockstar administration taking credit while not giving an official word about the Navy Seals who saved the captain and were TRUE heros representing the USA.

Tourism for Somalia should be in the minus numbers. Where are the UN forces or humanitarian groups? Crickets are chirping while those captured are in dire peril.

Apr 13, 2009 - 9:17 pm 45. Noesis Noeseos:

Bilgeman (1) said it best, but I cannot restrain my astonishment at Annie Jacobsen’s naivete. If other countries’ governments lack the testicular fortitude to protect and rescue their own citizens from these pirates’ depredations, it is insanity for the U.S. to commit its troops to such a mission. Our brave soldiers don’t need the hassle that would follow from the lunatic international tribunals and their “human rights” zealots.

Apr 13, 2009 - 9:22 pm 46. Edmund Jenks (MAXINE):

#33 – Blackwell

To be clear, what is the difference between an enemy combatant and a pirate … absolutely nothing. We all (the civilized world) are in the middle of a war on terror and piracy is only one of many terror fronts. Iraq not withstanding … what is done, is done and the world is the better for it at the time being.

Our leadership does not want to even consider that we need to be building up and investing in our military instead of taking money away through disarmament and expansion of social programs and socialism.

This world needs to be willing to participate in the process of direct shots to the head of a few more souls before it will become safer.

Apr 13, 2009 - 9:46 pm 47. Berlet98:

Let the nations in which those 200 captives “spearhead” their rescue and we can provide support, maybe. I’m sick and tired of the USA doing all such heavy lifting and the rest of the planet spitting in our faces!

Apr 13, 2009 - 10:41 pm 48. PatriotUSA:

Bilgeman:

Excellent pots and I could not agree with you more. We need to arm you and your fellow crew members with WHATEVER weaponry you need, and then some. It is not up to just the USA to handle this entire pirate/islamofacist problem. If some of you do not think these thugs have connections to islamofacist terroism, then keep drinking your KOOL AID and bowing down with BHO.

Kudos to France for handling their hsotage situation. It is rare I tip my hat to the french but they deserve it on this one. Job well done. That is for you; Marie Claude!

Should there be a decision to use a multi-national force to eradicate these low life musses, then it should be an action that goes all the way to ensure that the city and harbor in Somalia are removed from the piracy equation, for good. The 200 hostages are a problem, but not for the U.S. There can be negotiations until hell freezes over and that situation will probably not change.

Bilgeman, any comments on reports that I have heard about the Alabama asking for help days before this incident really blew up and Captain Phillips was taken hostage? Perhaps you may know more on this than I do, or others can comment as well. Again, arming you all would certainly put a serious tactic in your hands that would well put a stop to much of this piracy that has gone on for far too long. I have contacted my legislators about your suggestion.

Apr 13, 2009 - 11:13 pm 49. AThinkingPerson:

Bilgeman… With all due respect, I agree with you BUT these people being held hostage are there before all of this talk of arming ships. It’s not the US’s problem of course and I would never want to put US servicepeople in harms way to attempt a rescue, but as a human being I can’t help but feel for these people who will be used as pawns in an escalating pissing contest. That was my point.

Apr 14, 2009 - 6:14 am 50. Barry 0351:

“FOK THAT!” let each nation protect or pay for it’s own maritime defense against pirates, HELL arm the crews of merchant ships and let them protect their ass’ets in a region well known for the danger of piracy.
“It ain’t our job to protect those who condemn us for doing the job they won’t, can’t or don’t care to do.”

Apr 14, 2009 - 6:18 am 51. Meryl:

The Speaker of our House of Representatives has publicly stated that she doesn’t think it is legitimate for Americans to enforce their own laws combatting illegal immigration.

Where on EARTH would the motivation come from to take care of all the hostages in Somalia!

If indeed there was a sudden source of integrity to apply justice to the Somali pirate community, I certainly would hope that 10-15% of could be brought the US to be applied to ACORN and our SOVEREIGN (or not?)borders.

Apr 14, 2009 - 7:02 am 52. N1P:

So why don’t these shipping companies just quietly hire Blackwater or another private security company to go rescue their crews and ships? Has to be cheaper than the lost cargo or ransomes.

Apr 14, 2009 - 7:23 am 53. Bilgeman:

#48:PatriotUSA:
“Bilgeman, any comments on reports that I have heard about the Alabama asking for help days before this incident really blew up and Captain Phillips was taken hostage?”

I kinda doubt it, frankly, our intelligence resources among the pirate community of Puntland can’t be all that and a bag of chips.
And if these boys were operating from a mothership, then it’s likely they were analogous, (roughly), to the whaling ships of an earlier century…all about getting into the migration routes and then keeping a lookout for targets of opportunity.
If Maersk Alabama asked for any kind of assistance, it’s likely that it was far too late, help was too far away, and that they were already being chased.
They were between 200 and 300 nautical miles off the coast, so they were already “sailing prudently”.

“Again, arming you all would certainly put a serious tactic in your hands that would well put a stop to much of this piracy that has gone on for far too long. I have contacted my legislators about your suggestion.”

Hey, I really appreciate that. The Somali boys have been in it for the dough, but over in the Straits of Mallacca, those lads get NASTY, and it gets pretty lonely out there in constricted waters.

Apr 14, 2009 - 8:36 am 54. Paul -Indiana:

Those countries which have their citizens [subjects?] held as hostages should lead the effort. Are those people worth enough to their governments?

Apr 14, 2009 - 11:22 am 55. Mark in Dayton:

This has been an excellent thread.

Apr 14, 2009 - 11:29 am 56. Duane Phinney:

The only reason Thomas Jefferson started the US navy was to combat pirates. He must be turning over in his grave. Russia offered to go in with us and clean the rats nests out. No one is going to help us except maybe the UK and Russia.

This is just the beginning, as the UN and international law experts have given the pirates a green light to go ahead. They have ruled pirates can only be arrested if they are caught in the act. Old Europe is worried about violating the human rights of the pirates, whatever that means. Muslims are using our own laws to defeat us. Political correctness and newspeak will destroy us all.

Apr 14, 2009 - 11:45 am 57. Alex:

They are freeking pirates…not underprivileged economically disadvantaged seaborne indigenous peoples.

They are found with RPG’s, etc on their ship, skiff, or raft, let them swim back to shore. They try to take a ship, blow them out of the water, end of story. Shipping companies need to arm ships and accept help from security forces; private of govt, whatever. Pacifism only works to embolden groups like this. When piracy is no longer profitable, it will cease.

How much have shipping companies and govts already paid out in ransom…..all they have done is provide recruitment incentives as somali’s see pirates retiring at age 20. It was incredibly shortsighted to pay ransom, there is a reason Nations dont negotiate with terrorists or pirates.

Apr 15, 2009 - 12:15 am 58. Marie Claude:

“No one is going to help us except maybe the UK and Russia.”

have you heard of them lately ?

not me, any question ?

Apr 16, 2009 - 10:45 am

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