Somali Pirates vow to fight US Navy

DaemonSeid · #1 04-10-2009, 08:34 AM

MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somali pirates holding an American hostage on a drifting lifeboat vowed on Friday to fight any attack by U.S. naval forces stalking them at high sea.

"We are not afraid of the Americans," one of the pirates told Reuters by satellite phone on behalf of the gang holding ship captain Richard Phillips in the Indian Ocean.

"We will defend ourselves if attacked."

Despite their defiant talk, maritime groups tracking the saga -- the first time Somali pirates have captured an American -- say a more likely outcome is a negotiated solution, possibly involving safe passage in exchange for their captive.

Four pirates have been holding Phillips, a former Boston taxi driver, since Wednesday after a foiled bid to hijack the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama several hundred miles off Somalia.

The ship's lifeboat has run out of fuel, other pirates are too nervous to help them due to the presence of foreign naval ships, and the USS Bainbridge destroyer is up close.

link

AOII Angel · #2 04-10-2009, 08:45 AM

How exactly do they plan to fight the US Navy with four people in a lifeboat? Apparently they're so bold because they're dumb!

DaemonSeid · #3 04-10-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

How exactly do they plan to fight the US Navy with four people in a lifeboat? Apparently they're so bold because they're dumb!

I'm not sure if it's the gusy on the lifeboat that we are concerned about...I was wondering why can't a group of SEALs justs imply go out there do what they do and call it a day, but I suspect this is something bigger....or...just hot air.

KSig RC · #4 04-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I'm not sure if it's the gusy on the lifeboat that we are concerned about...I was wondering why can't a group of SEALs justs imply go out there do what they do and call it a day, but I suspect this is something bigger....or...just hot air.

The lifeboat is closed off - it's more like an "actual" boat than a life raft - so it's not like they can just shoot the four of them and grab the guy a la Jack Bauer. If they "storm" it, they'll just kill the captain.

Also, the "fighting the Navy" part is that the Somalis are sending in reinforcements - it's not the four guys on the lifeboat that are the issue, it's the other commandeered ships that have armed dudes on them (and a bunhc of hostages being used as human shields) that have been dispatched to the area, along with the pirate motherships. They have anti-tank rockets and possibly some SAMs according to reports, although there's little indication they could take down a destroyer - still, it's dicey, and really way beyond where it should be.

The Navy is, correctly, taking this very seriously. Also, there is a SEAL team on the original vessel heading for Nigeria, and likely others in the area or on the way. The pirates, however, are successfully leveraging innocents to put the Navy in a tough spot.

DaemonSeid · #5 04-10-2009, 10:30 AM

Thanks,

I was also reading an update where it indicated that the captain tried to escape but failed and 2 more US ships are coming to the area.

Anybody have any idea why this activity has increased or has it always been this bad and only now just really being publicized?

KSig RC · #6 04-10-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Thanks,

I was also reading an update where it indicated that the captain tried to escape but failed and 2 more US ships are coming to the area.

Yeah - the report I read said he jumped off the boat and tried to swim for it, but was quickly recaptured. That's ballsy as hell- big props.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Anybody have any idea why this activity has increased or has it always been this bad and only now just really being publicized?

It hasn't increased per se - it's just moved. The US and other nations have ships patrolling the Gulf of Aden, so the pirates have simply moved further away from the Gulf. The original US vessel was captured like 300 miles off the coast of Somalia. The area the pirates infest is something like 1,000,000 square miles, making patrol pretty much impossible.

PeppyGPhiB · #7 04-10-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Thanks,

I was also reading an update where it indicated that the captain tried to escape but failed and 2 more US ships are coming to the area.

Anybody have any idea why this activity has increased or has it always been this bad and only now just really being publicized?

It IS increasing, because the pirates have been successful in holding ships/tankers for ransom for tens of millions of dollars. They're buying more boats and weapons with that money.

It is getting to the point where I can see the Navy eventually just bombing all of the ships, despite the human shields on board. The harm that could come from these fools continuing to hijak international trade vessels - at an increasing price - might be to great to allow this to continue.

NinjaPoodle · #8 04-10-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

How exactly do they plan to fight the US Navy with four people in a lifeboat?

well, they could go all out McGuyver with a paper clip and a rubber band!

But seriously, I pray for the safe return of the American captain.

Kevin · #9 04-10-2009, 09:35 AM

If we do arrest these guys, I hope Panetta reconsiders his new policy not to allow third parties to 'interrogate' prisoners.

DaemonSeid · #10 04-10-2009, 09:45 AM

I just read about that this morning

PhiGam · #11 04-11-2009, 09:14 PM

These pirates are all hopped up on amphetamines which is why they act so erratic. There has to be some way that we could take out the four of them without harming the captain...

ZTABullwinkle · #12 04-11-2009, 10:13 PM

Okay, I want to know how in the hell these pirates on their little dingys are able to take over the boats of these sizes. Someone want to explain that to me?

I agree, time to forget political correctness, and let the Navy SEALS do what they are trained to do to rescue the Captain.

PhiGam · #13 04-11-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTABullwinkle

Okay, I want to know how in the hell these pirates on their little dingys are able to take over the boats of these sizes. Someone want to explain that to me?

I agree, time to forget political correctness, and let the Navy SEALS do what they are trained to do to rescue the Captain.

They have guns and the crewmen don't. Most shipping companies won't allow their crewmen to carry guns because the last thing they want is for their crews to get in a shootout with pirates who almost always have heavy weaponry such as automatic weapons and RPGs.

ZTABullwinkle · #14 04-11-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhiGam

They have guns and the crewmen don't. Most shipping companies won't allow their crewmen to carry guns because the last thing they want is for their crews to get in a shootout with pirates who almost always have heavy weaponry such as automatic weapons and RPGs.

Thanks for answering my question PhiGam. This looks like an idea for someone like Blackwater to offer. Security for these ships going through dangerous channels.

moe.ron · #15 04-12-2009, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTABullwinkle

Thanks for answering my question PhiGam. This looks like an idea for someone like Blackwater to offer. Security for these ships going through dangerous channels.

Not a good idea, last thing you wanna do is escalate the situation into an all out blood bath everytime there is a piracy. There is a way to cut down on piracy, settle the somalia problem. Get a working government there with a strong law and order mandate. You'll see piracy cut down in no time. It work in the Malacca Strait. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia just got tired of the pirates and started naval patrol in the area. It also helped that GAM is no longer active since they signed a peace treaty and transformed themselve into a political party.