By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY and MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writers Elizabeth A. Kennedy And Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press Writers – 33 mins ago
NAIROBI, Kenya – FBI hostage negotiators joined U.S. Navy efforts Thursday to free an American cargo ship captain held captive on a lifeboat by Somali pirates. A U.S. destroyer and a spy plane kept a close watch in the high-seas standoff near the Horn of Africa, and more U.S. ships were dispatched to the area.
The pirates tried to hijack the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama on Wednesday, but Capt. Richard Phillips thwarted their takeover by telling his crew of about 20 to lock themselves in a room, the crew told stateside relatives.
The crew later overpowered some of the pirates, but Phillips surrendered himself to the bandits to safeguard his crew, and at least four of them fled with him to an enclosed lifeboat, the relatives said. It was the first such attack on American sailors in about 200 years.
Kevin Speers, a spokesman for the Maersk shipping company, said the pirates have made no demands yet to the company and the captain's safe return is its top priority.
The Maersk Alabama is again sailing toward the Kenyan port of Mombasa — its original destination, according to Capt. Joseph Murphy, a professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy whose son, Shane Murphy, is second in command. A person reached by The Associated Press by phone on the bridge of the vessel confirmed: "We're moving."
A U.S. official, speaking on grounds of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, also said a military team of armed guards was aboard the Maersk Alabama. Joseph Murphy said there were 18 guards aboard.
Earlier Thursday, the USS Bainbridge arrived near the Maersk Alabama and the lifeboat with the pirates and Phillips, Speers told AP Radio, adding that the lifeboat was out of fuel and "dead in the water."
The U.S. Navy sent up P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft and had video of the scene.
More U.S. ships will be in the area within 48 hours, said Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command. He did not give specifics, but said "we want to ensure that we have all the capability that might be needed over the course of the coming days."
The lifeboats usually are about 28 feet long, designed to hold a maximum of 34 people, and made of reinforced Fiberglas, Joseph Murphy said. They carry water and food for 34 people for 10 days and with portholes closed, no one can see inside, he added.
President Barack Obama, facing one of his first national security tests, declined to comment on the standoff. Attorney General Eric Holder said the FBI was assisting the Navy.
"We're in contact with the people on the scene off the coast of Africa," he said. "The FBI people are here at Quantico and so they are using telecommunications means to stay in touch with them."
FBI spokesman Richard Kolko described the bureau's hostage negotiating team as "fully engaged" with the military on ways to retrieve Phillips.
One senior Pentagon official, speaking on grounds of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, described it now as a "somewhat of a standoff."
Though officials declined to say how close the Bainbridge is to the pirates, one official said of the bandits: "They can see it with their eyes." He spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of talking about a military operation in progress.
The Bainbridge was among several U.S. ships that had been patrolling in the region when the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama was attacked. It was the sixth vessel to be hit by pirates in a week.
After the pirates came aboard the Maersk Alabama, Phillips told the rest of his crew by radio to lock themselves away in a room, according to the wife of Ken Quinn, a second mate on the vessel.
"He said the pirates were desperate," said Zoya Quinn of Bradenton, Fla., who spoke to her husband via phone and e-mail. "They were going all over the stairs, back and forth, trying to find them and they couldn't find them."
Quinn and the crew held one of the pirates for about 12 hours before releasing him in hopes of winning Phillips' freedom, she said, adding that the crew communicated with the bandits with hand signals until they left with the captain.
Quinn said he dressed an injured pirate's cuts with bandages "because he was bleeding all over the ship," she said, adding it was unclear how he was hurt.
The Maersk Alabama is expected to arrive in Kenya on Saturday, said Murphy, who spoke to the shipping company.
"From the standpoint of the families, we're ecstatic," he said. "The families, the crew themselves have been under a lot of stress."
Somali Foreign Minister Mohamed Omaar told the AP that the pirates "have got themselves into a situation where they have to extricate themselves because there is no way they can win."
Phillips' family was at his Vermont farmhouse, anxiously watching news reports and taking telephone calls from the State Department.
"We are on pins and needles," said Gina Coggio, 29, half sister of Phillips' wife, Andrea. "I know the crew has been in touch with their own family members, and we're hoping we'll hear from Richard soon."
Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates to keep the crew safe, Coggio said.
"What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," she said. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain."
Steve Romano, a retired head of the FBI hostage negotiation team, said he doesn't recall the FBI ever negotiating with pirates before, but he said this situation is similar to other standoffs. The difficulty will be negotiating with people who clearly have no way out, he said.
"There's always a potential for tragedy here, and when people feel their options are limited, they sometimes react in more unpredictable and violent ways," Romano said.
The question now, he said, is: "How much do they value their own lives? Because their only motivation now is to try to survive this incident."
With one warship nearby and more on the way, piracy expert Roger Middleton of the London-based think tank Chatham House said the pirates were in "a very, very tight corner."
"They've got only one guy, they've got nowhere to hide him, they've got no way to defend themselves effectively against the military who are on the way and they are hundreds of miles from Somalia," he said.
Other analysts say the U.S. will be reluctant to use force as long as one of its citizens remains hostage. French commandos, for example, have mounted two military operations against pirates once the ransom had been paid and its citizens were safe.
Many of the pirates have shifted their operations down the Somali coast from the Gulf of Aden to escape naval warship patrols, which had some success in preventing attacks last year.
Ship owners often do not arm their crews, mainly because of the cargo. A Saudi supertanker hijacked last year was loaded with 2 million barrels of oil. The vapor from that cargo was highly flammable; a spark from firing a gun could cause an explosion.
There is also the problem of keeping the pirates off the ships — once they're on board, they will very likely fight back and people will die.
Pirates travel in open skiffs with outboard engines, working with larger ships that tow them far out to sea. They use satellite navigational and communications equipment, and have an intimate knowledge of local waters, clambering aboard commercial vessels with ladders and grappling hooks.
Any blip on a ship's radar screens is likely to be mistaken for fishing trawlers or any number of smaller, non-threatening ships that take to sea every day.
It helps that the pirates' prey are usually massive, slow-moving ships. By the time anyone notices, pirates will have grappled their way onto the ship, brandishing AK-47s.
___
Kennedy reported from Nairobi, Apuzzo from Washington. Associated Press writers Pauline Jelinek in Washington, Katharine Houreld in Nairobi, Ray Henry in Bourne, Mass., John Curran in Underhill, Vt., and Christine Armario contributed to this report.
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 05:34 PM
Somebody get our commander in chief his teleprompter so he can finally give a comment ... what a joke ..Guess he cant "multitask" any longer huh
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama declined to answer reporters' questions on Thursday on a hostage crisis off the coast of Somalia, where a U.S. ship captain is being held captive by pirates.
Obama was asked to comment on the situation several times by reporters at a White House event on refinancing for homeowners. Obama, however, stuck closely to the script and replied that he wanted to remain focused on housing.
does this really warrant a response from the president? the FBI is on it, what is him addressing it going to do? are they going to hang over the ships captain b/c obama asked them to? no, probably not.
if he took time out to address every instance of a US citizen being detained somewhere in the world, he'd be a much busier man than he is now.
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 05:48 PM
does this really warrant a response from the president? the FBI is on it, what is him addressing it going to do? are they going to hang over the ships captain b/c obama asked them to? no, probably not.
if he took time out to address every instance of a US citizen being detained somewhere in the world, he'd be a much busier man than he is now.
if you were a family member you bet it does.. one president lost an election over a hostage crisis .. leon klinghoffer made headlines around the wortld when he was tossed overboard by islamic militants .. so yeah when our service men or civilians are kidnapped you best believe its his business to respond and have a solution
Rover
04-09-2009, 06:03 PM
you're right. the fact that the FBI is involved does nothing to raise my confidence in the fact that our president is fully aware of whats going on over there. additionally, has it ever occured to you that him avoiding to address the situation could be due to the sensitivity of the matter and not just his "ignorance" or "defiance" to address it?
and great correlation btw. you're comparing a bunch of dumbshit pirates with rusty AK47's to the PLO..does it ever fucking stop with you? you'll pretty much grab @ anything to make a point
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 06:06 PM
you're right. the fact that the FBI is involved does nothing to raise my confidence in the fact that our president is fully aware of whats going on over there. additionally, has it ever occured to you that him avoiding to address the situation could be due to the sensitivity of the matter and not just his "ignorance" or "defiance" to address it?
and great correlation btw. you're comparing a bunch of dumbshit pirates with rusty AK47's to the PLO..does it ever fucking stop with you? you'll pretty much grab @ anything to make a point
they may be smarter and more ruthless .. they made of with 30 million in 2008 not bad huh? .. once again your ignorance is blind as you know nothing about what your talking about .. its quit a sophisticated operation
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 06:08 PM
FBI?? did you say Rover .. lmao try naval warships are on the mission ..he is the Commander in chief correct?
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 06:09 PM
A U.S. warship arrived before dawn Thursday near a 28-foot lifeboat holding four pirates and the kidnapped captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, officials said.
The USS Bainbridge, a guided-missile destroyer, is heading to the area to assist.
1 of 2 Also nearby was the Maersk Alabama -- which had been seized early Wednesday off the Horn of Africa. All 20 of its remaining crew members were in good physical shape, said Ken Quinn, second officer of the ship, in a satellite call placed by CNN.
"There's four Somali pirates, and they've got our captain," Quinn said.
Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge was near the Maersk Alabama and that its crew was talking to the Navy.
"When the Navy comes in, they're in charge," Speers told CNN.
and ..if US warships r shadowing the lifeboat...and he's the commander in chief...does this not mean HE IS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON??
Rover
04-09-2009, 06:12 PM
A U.S. warship arrived before dawn Thursday near a 28-foot lifeboat holding four pirates and the kidnapped captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, officials said.
The USS Bainbridge, a guided-missile destroyer, is heading to the area to assist.
1 of 2 Also nearby was the Maersk Alabama -- which had been seized early Wednesday off the Horn of Africa. All 20 of its remaining crew members were in good physical shape, said Ken Quinn, second officer of the ship, in a satellite call placed by CNN.
"There's four Somali pirates, and they've got our captain," Quinn said.
Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge was near the Maersk Alabama and that its crew was talking to the Navy.
"When the Navy comes in, they're in charge," Speers told CNN.
whats your point? you said yourself hes the commander in chief and our navy is now involved. does that not mean that hes not involved and fully aware? what the hell are you trying to say??
Rover
04-09-2009, 06:13 PM
yes the Navy is in charge..so theyve called in FBI negotiators
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7991114.stm
again..wheres your point james?
James Maxx
04-09-2009, 06:53 PM
They should just have military troops with missile launchers on the ship if any of those Somali speedboats get withing visual range you blow them to pieces. What are they gonna do? They have no government the country is either poverty stricken starving people or bandits and thieves.
James Maxx
04-09-2009, 06:53 PM
Its messed up to say but I hope they do something to this captain and Obama goes apeshit and cleans out that "region"
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 06:53 PM
yes the Navy is in charge..so theyve called in FBI negotiators
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7991114.stm
again..wheres your point james?
why he has absolutly nothing to say???. .and why a news conference on housing is more important to him .. just seems very odd
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 06:54 PM
whats your point? you said yourself hes the commander in chief and our navy is now involved. does that not mean that hes not involved and fully aware? what the hell are you trying to say??
i dont know he not talkin about it ..lol..where the leadership?
Rover
04-09-2009, 07:05 PM
why he has absolutly nothing to say???. .and why a news conference on housing is more important to him .. just seems very odd
you're a clown and completely desperate @ this point. why is a news conference on housing more important? i dont know. it may have to do something with the economy..not exactly sure. wish i could understand why a discussion on the housing market could be so important at this time...:rolleyes:
i dont know he not talkin about it ..lol..where the leadership?
clown. complete clown with this statement. you know you're wrong and yet you're reaching. pathetic
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 07:18 PM
you're a clown and completely desperate @ this point. why is a news conference on housing more important? i dont know. it may have to do something with the economy..not exactly sure. wish i could understand why a discussion on the housing market could be so important at this time...:rolleyes:
clown. complete clown with this statement. you know you're wrong and yet you're reaching. pathetic
what am i wrong about? the president seems not to be even interested the way he barely responded .. seems weak and inexperienced and lacking leadership in time of crisis .. i would definitly expect the President to respond... i guess its not important to you so it doesnt faze you
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 07:26 PM
So lets examine .. since his election an american journalist being held against her will in Iran .. we have 2 female reporters (lucy liu's sister and another) being held in North Korea... We have an american ship over taken ..we have NK testing nukes the day he is in europe talking against nukes.. he wont do anything tangible .. and now he hiding ... what else i mean he in over his head ..he a left wing community organizer probally has no clue what to say ..except apologize to europe for us liberating them oops i mean for our arrogance
Rover
04-09-2009, 07:27 PM
if the president wasnt interested there wouldnt be navy warships shadowing the lifeboat at this moment, or negotiators speaking with the pirates. you may have heard this oft uttered cliche but actions speak louder than words
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 07:42 PM
if the president wasnt interested there wouldnt be navy warships shadowing the lifeboat at this moment, or negotiators speaking with the pirates. you may have heard this oft uttered cliche but actions speak louder than words
there wouldnt be a response?? ok rover .. :lol
Rover
04-09-2009, 07:45 PM
what are you saying? do i have you this flustered that you're just not going to make any sense?
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 07:48 PM
what are you saying? do i have you this flustered that you're just not going to make any sense?
whats sensible saying that if the president wasnt interested there would be no response ??lmao ..
Rover
04-09-2009, 08:38 PM
don try to take this and twist it around. you tried to paint obama as if he didnt give a shit about what was going on..then you were completely unaware of the fact that the FBI was involved...then you contradicted yourself by saying that there are Navy ships involved when this clearly indicates that Obama is well aware..and now you're harping on semantics. good work.
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 08:54 PM
don try to take this and twist it around. you tried to paint obama as if he didnt give a shit about what was going on..then you were completely unaware of the fact that the FBI was involved...then you contradicted yourself by saying that there are Navy ships involved when this clearly indicates that Obama is well aware..and now you're harping on semantics. good work.
twist what? you said if the president wasnt interested he would not have sent aid ..lmao.. your words not mine.. The navy is in charge .. he is commander in chief .. 2 days into this we have hillary giggling about it like its a joke and barry nowhere to be found on this issue.. thats the facts rover .. wondering where the leadership is.. concerned he such a rookie he like a deer caught in headlights.. for you to defend him for doing and saying nothing is pure entertainment :heythere
jameznyhc
04-09-2009, 08:57 PM
Boy i feel safe here the administration saying absolutly nothing and laughing?? ..
Acting with President Obama’s authorization and in the belief that the hostage, Capt. Richard Phillips, was in imminent danger of being killed by captors armed with pistols and AK-47s, snipers on the fantail of the destroyer Bainbridge, which was towing the lifeboat on a 100-foot line, opened fire and picked off the three captors
The Defense Department twice sought Mr. Obama’s permission to use force to rescue Captain Phillips, most recently on Friday night, senior defense officials said. On Saturday morning, the president agreed, they said, if it appeared that the captain’s life was in imminent danger.
That was it: the provocation that fulfilled the president’s order to act only if the captain’s life was in imminent danger, and the opportunity of having clear shots at each captor. The order was given. Senior defense officials, themselves marveling at the skill of the snipers, said each took a target and fired one shot.
Defekted
04-13-2009, 11:55 AM
Somebody get our commander in chief his teleprompter so he can finally give a comment ... what a joke ..Guess he cant "multitask" any longer huh
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama declined to answer reporters' questions on Thursday on a hostage crisis off the coast of Somalia, where a U.S. ship captain is being held captive by pirates.
Obama was asked to comment on the situation several times by reporters at a White House event on refinancing for homeowners. Obama, however, stuck closely to the script and replied that he wanted to remain focused on housing.
Man you are really NCC's biggest loser. Dmitry, please create a smilie that has a big foot entering a little mouth. Its the only thing missing in this amazing forum. :)
April 13, 2009
In Rescue of Captain, Navy Kills 3 Pirates
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN and SCOTT SHANE
Navy Seal snipers rescued an American cargo ship captain unharmed and killed three Somali pirates in a daring operation in the Indian Ocean on Sunday, ending a five-day standoff between United States naval forces and a small band of brigands in a covered orange lifeboat off the Horn of Africa.
Acting with President Obama’s authorization and in the belief that the hostage, Capt. Richard Phillips, was in imminent danger of being killed by captors armed with pistols and AK-47s, snipers on the fantail of the destroyer Bainbridge, which was towing the lifeboat on a 100-foot line, opened fire and picked off the three captors.
Two of the captors had poked their heads out of a rear hatch of the lifeboat, exposing themselves to clear shots, and the third could be seen through a window in the bow, pointing an automatic rifle at the captain, who was tied up inside the 18-foot lifeboat, senior Navy officials said.
It took only three remarkable shots — one each by snipers firing from a distance at dusk, using night-vision scopes, the officials said. Within minutes, rescuers slid down ropes from the Bainbridge, climbed aboard the lifeboat and found the three pirates dead. They then untied Captain Phillips, ending the contretemps at sea that had riveted much of the world’s attention. A fourth pirate had surrendered earlier.
Shortly after his rescue, Captain Phillips was taken aboard the Bainbridge, underwent a medical exam and was found to be in relatively good condition for a 53-year-old seafarer who had been held since Wednesday by pirates who had demanded $2 million for his life. He called home and was flown to the Boxer, an amphibious assault ship also off the Somali coast. Arrangements were being made Sunday night for his return home to Vermont.
“I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. “His courage is a model for all Americans.”
Jubilation over the dramatic rescue reached from the White House to Underhill, Vt., Captain Phillips’s hometown, and from personnel aboard the Bainbridge to the cheering, fist-pumping 19-member crew of the captain’s cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama, docked in Mombasa, Kenya.
Captain Phillips, who was said to be resting comfortably, spoke to officials of the Maersk Line, who quoted him as saying: “The real heroes are the Navy, the Seals, those who have brought me home.” He also spoke to his wife, Andrea, and two college-aged children in Underhill, where dozens of yellow ribbons fluttered on the white picket fence of his home and two small American flags jutted up from the lawn.
“This is truly a very happy Easter for the Phillips family,” said Alison McColl, a Maersk representative assigned to speak for the family. “They are all just so happy and relieved,” she said. “I think you can all imagine their joy and what a happy moment it was for them.”
On the family’s behalf, Ms. McColl thanked the nation and the people of Vermont for their prayers and support. “Obviously, this has been a long journey for the family,” she said. John Reinhart, president and chief executive of Maersk Line Ltd., praised the Navy and federal officials for their performance. “Everyone’s worked around the clock,” he said. “It’s magnificent to see the outcome.”
While the outcome was a triumph for America, officials in many countries plagued by pirates said it was not likely to discourage them. Pirates are holding a dozen ships with more than 200 crew members, according to the Malaysia-based International Maritime Bureau.
In Somalia itself, other pirates reacted angrily to the news that Captain Phillips had been rescued, and some said they would avenge the deaths of their colleagues by killing Americans in sea hijackings to come.
“Every country will be treated the way it treats us,” Abdullahi Lami, one of the pirates holding a Greek ship anchored in the pirate den of Gaan, a central Somali town, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying in a telephone interview. “In the future, America will be the one mourning and crying.”
Aboard the Maersk Alabama, a 17,000-ton cargo ship, Captain Phillips’s crew erupted in cheers, waved American flags and fired off flares. When four pirates attacked the ship on Wednesday, the crew escaped harm after the captain offered himself as a hostage. He told his crewmen to lock themselves in cabins, and allowed himself to be taken at gunpoint into the lifeboat in which the pirates fled.
Over the ensuing days, according to official accounts of the episode, the pirates made repeated threats to kill the captain as their motorized lifeboat moved about 30 miles off the Somali coast. It was closely watched by United States warships and helicopters in an increasingly tense standoff.
Talks to free the captain began Thursday, with the commander of the Bainbridge communicating with the pirates under instructions from F.B.I. hostage negotiators flown to the scene. The pirates threatened to kill Captain Phillips if attacked, and the result was tragicomic: the world’s most powerful navy vs. a lifeboat.
Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of the United States naval forces in the region, said in a briefing in Bahrain that despite ransom demands from the pirates the United States had not discussed any ransom and had talked to the pirates only about the release of Captain Phillips and the pirates’ surrender.
The Defense Department twice sought Mr. Obama’s permission to use force to rescue Captain Phillips, most recently on Friday night, senior defense officials said. On Saturday morning, the president agreed, they said, if it appeared that the captain’s life was in imminent danger.
By Friday, with several warships within easy reach of the lifeboat, the negotiations had gone nowhere. Captain Phillips jumped into the sea, but was quickly recaptured. On Saturday, the pirates fired several shots at a small boat that had approached from the Bainbridge.
By the weekend, however, the pirates had begun to run out of food, water and fuel. That apparently provided the opening officials were hoping for. In briefings, senior officers who spoke anonymously because they had not been authorized to disclose information said that the pirates agreed to accept food and water. A small craft was used to deliver them and it apparently made several trips between the Bainbridge and the lifeboat.
On one trip, one of the four pirates — whose hand had been gashed during the capture of Captain Phillips — asked for medical treatment and, in effect surrendering, was taken in the small boat to the Bainbridge. Justice Department officials were studying options for his case, including criminal charges in the United States or turning him over to Kenya, where dozens of pirates have faced prosecution. Three pirates were left on board with Captain Phillips.
Meanwhile, members of the Navy Seals were flown in by fixed-wing aircraft. They parachuted into the sea with inflatable boats and were picked up by the Bainbridge. On Sunday, the pirates, their fuel gone, were drifting toward the Somali coast. They agreed to accept a tow from the Bainbridge, the senior officials said. At first, the towline was 200 feet long, but as darkness gathered and seas became rough, the towline was shortened to 100 feet, the officials said. It was unclear if this was done with the pirates’ knowledge.
At dusk, a single tracer bullet was seen fired from the lifeboat. The intent was unclear, but it ratcheted up the tension and Seal snipers at the stern rail of the Bainbridge fixed night-vision scopes to their high-powered rifles, getting ready for action.
What they saw was the head and shoulders of two of the pirates emerging from the rear hatch of the lifeboat. Through the window of the front hatch they saw the third pirate, pointing his AK-47 at the back of Captain Phillips, who was seen to be tied up.
That was it: the provocation that fulfilled the president’s order to act only if the captain’s life was in imminent danger, and the opportunity of having clear shots at each captor. The order was given. Senior defense officials, themselves marveling at the skill of the snipers, said each took a target and fired one shot.
“This was an incredible team effort,” Admiral Gortney said when it was over. “And I am extremely proud of the tireless efforts of all the men and women who made this rescue possible.”
Robert D. McFadden reported from New York, and Scott Shane from Washington. Mark Mazzetti contributed reporting from Washington, Serge F. Kovaleski from Underhill, Vt.; and employees of The New York Times from Somalia.
Defekted
04-13-2009, 01:36 PM
Funny blog post by J. Klein
Obama and the Pirates
Posted by Joe Klein | Comments (50) | Permalink | Trackbacks (2) | Email This
It's better to be lucky than good. It's even better to be lucky and good. One can easily imagine all the different ways the rescue of Captain Phillips might have been screwed up--and the political firestorm that would have resulted. But President Obama appears to have been crisp and decisive throughout...and what can one say about the SEAL sharpshooters--firing from a bobbing ship at a bobbing dinghy and recording three headshots?
But it could easily have gone wrong, through no fault of the President and the SEALs--a gust of wind, whatever...and then the Administration would have had to waste all sorts of energy on damage control, fending off the second-guessers--Republicans and, all too often, people like me--and perhaps overreacting to the pirate "threat" as a result. Presidencies are, sadly, built or crippled on such quirks of fate.
As it stands, our socialist, pacifist, crypto-Muslim President has bagged three terrorist in the most dramatic fashion and saved a Captain. Congratulations to all concerned--and let's hope that the good luck continues to roll.
Update: Commenter Sgwhiteinfla points out that Newt Gingrich had a busy twitter weekend backseat-driving the situation and he's right. Here's a sample:
President obama is making a major mistake in not forcefully oulining the rules of civilization for dealing with pirates We look weak9:55 AM Apr 11th from TwitterBerry
newtgingrichThe correct answer to piracy is to destroy it not negotiate with it Seals can retake the lifeboat Track every boat leaving somalia9:35 AM Apr 10th from TwitterBerry
Oh well. Nevermind. I might point out that if we hadn't been negotiating with the pirates they wouldn't have been under tow by the US Navy and therefore accessible to the SEALs. But this has been another chapter in the saga: Republicans Making Fools of Themselves. What a sorry run.
ShaE
04-13-2009, 01:42 PM
newt twitters, what a fucktard.
Rover
04-13-2009, 03:19 PM
dear Jamez
please address Obamas non-involvement as reported by the Times. we are dying to hear your spin.
thanks,
the liberal loons
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:20 PM
newt twitters, what a fucktard.
but Obama did what he was twittering about.. lol ..used force .. cause negotiations failed as he predicted .. 5 days a big chance .. im glad he made it
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:21 PM
dear Jamez
please address Obamas non-involvement as reported by the Times. we are dying to hear your spin.
thanks,
the liberal loons
it would be the same as your reply ..shoulda been done much earlier ..the military made the call only when a rifle was stuck in the captains back .. but why no comment for 3 days? that made no sense
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:24 PM
dear Jamez
please address Obamas non-involvement as reported by the Times. we are dying to hear your spin.
thanks,
the liberal loons
but obama would not authorize use until sat morning? ..and only *if* the captains life was in jeopardy .. thats way to risky you ask me .. why do we have sharp shooters? .. why was the fuckin fbi neghotiating? ..bad moves.. the negoitiations failed
Benny B
04-13-2009, 03:25 PM
it would be the same as your reply ..shoulda been done much earlier ..the military made the call only when a rifle was stuck in the captains back .. but why no comment for 3 days? that made no sense
when you playin poker do you show everyone your cards?
Rover
04-13-2009, 03:31 PM
when you playin poker do you show everyone your cards?
ex..fucking..actly.
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:37 PM
ex..fucking..actly.
why you agreeing i thought you said this should have been done on day one? lol ..the hesitation, negotiation proved to fail .
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:39 PM
when you playin poker do you show everyone your cards?
then why send hillary out to giggle? lol
Benny B
04-13-2009, 03:41 PM
then why send hillary out to giggle? lol
cause it like showing you for a pair of 2's when you holding marine snipers in your back pocket to win.. lol
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:43 PM
cause it like showing you for a pair of 2's when you holding marine snipers in your back pocket to win.. lol
Lol!!
Rover
04-13-2009, 03:47 PM
ok there stretch armstrong..keep reaching with your ludicrous arguments. neither you or i know the details regarding this situation..so for us to wish that it happened sooner is only a wish and nothing more. this was handled with the utmost precision and everyone came out clean. take your head out of your ass and pay attention to what happened. the lifeboat they were in was hooked onto the ship..and then brought within a reasonable range where snipers could take a shot.
at this point we can assume that the negotiation part was a stall tactic..and never was intended to solve anything. i feel like im talking to fourth grader who wont clean their room when talking to you. you always have some kind of excuse
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 03:56 PM
ok there stretch armstrong..keep reaching with your ludicrous arguments. neither you or i know the details regarding this situation..so for us to wish that it happened sooner is only a wish and nothing more. this was handled with the utmost precision and everyone came out clean. take your head out of your ass and pay attention to what happened. the lifeboat they were in was hooked onto the ship..and then brought within a reasonable range where snipers could take a shot.
at this point we can assume that the negotiation part was a stall tactic..and never was intended to solve anything. i feel like im talking to fourth grader who wont clean their room when talking to you. you always have some kind of excuse
but i read they only took the shot when the gun was placed to the captains back ..not what you just posted ..secondly if Obama gave the order to shoot on sat and the navy did not shoot until sunday is that insubordibnation ? ..
Rover
04-13-2009, 04:05 PM
:yourcrazy what..the...seriously speaking have you ever been to a shrink?
ShaE
04-13-2009, 04:27 PM
but Obama did what he was twittering about.. lol ..used force .. cause negotiations failed as he predicted .. 5 days a big chance .. im glad he made it
how does this change the fact i find it absolutely retarded members of our gov't TWITTER?
jameznyhc
04-13-2009, 04:32 PM
how does this change the fact i find it absolutely retarded members of our gov't TWITTER?
here's retarded for ya.. Newt is an activist ..not a member of govt
Benny B
04-13-2009, 06:34 PM
how does this change the fact i find it absolutely retarded members of our gov't TWITTER?
so let me get this straight shae..
first you criticize Dubya for lack of computer use.. now you criticize for too much use??? what if it was obama?? ohh then it be "he just doing something different"
John Kennedy
04-13-2009, 06:49 PM
but i read they only took the shot when the gun was placed to the captains back ..not what you just posted ..secondly if Obama gave the order to shoot on sat and the navy did not shoot until sunday is that insubordibnation ? ..
You think all they were waiting for was an order to shoot from 5k miles away? They had the authority from day 1. They boat was covered, they had to wait for all 3 of their heads to be exposed outside of the boat cover. The pirates made a desperation move and agreed to let the Navy drag them out to safer waters, so as soon as they started bringing them over, got all 3 heads exposed, 3 shots in sync, pulley down the rope and snatch up the captain.
The pirates were asking for prayers 4 days ago.. they basically committed suicide and gave in by letting the Navy pull them out in the middle of the night, they were delirius. This was as perfect a rescue as it gets IMO, sorry to burst your bubble. It was humiliating to the pirates, let it marinate on TV for almost a week for the world to see, and changed the game in that area as far as US ships are concerned. You really think the Navy rolled up with 3 warships to chat with 3 pirates? This was a piece of cake for Navy and a great opportunity for the US in that area.
ShaE
04-14-2009, 10:46 AM
here's retarded for ya.. Newt is an activist ..not a member of govt
i'm aware of that.
members of congress twitter jamez, look it up. they were doing it during obama's speech at congress.
retarded.
ShaE
04-14-2009, 10:48 AM
so let me get this straight shae..
first you criticize Dubya for lack of computer use.. now you criticize for too much use??? what if it was obama?? ohh then it be "he just doing something different"
i criticized dubya for lack of computer use?
i criticized mccain for not knowing how to use email or computers.
and i'm not discussing computers here, i said TWITTERING IS STUPID, not computer use.
read please.
James Maxx
04-14-2009, 01:02 PM
You think all they were waiting for was an order to shoot from 5k miles away? They had the authority from day 1. They boat was covered, they had to wait for all 3 of their heads to be exposed outside of the boat cover. The pirates made a desperation move and agreed to let the Navy drag them out to safer waters, so as soon as they started bringing them over, got all 3 heads exposed, 3 shots in sync, pulley down the rope and snatch up the captain.
The pirates were asking for prayers 4 days ago.. they basically committed suicide and gave in by letting the Navy pull them out in the middle of the night, they were delirius. This was as perfect a rescue as it gets IMO, sorry to burst your bubble. It was humiliating to the pirates, let it marinate on TV for almost a week for the world to see, and changed the game in that area as far as US ships are concerned. You really think the Navy rolled up with 3 warships to chat with 3 pirates? This was a piece of cake for Navy and a great opportunity for the US in that area.
And now the US wants to bring military there and go after the pirate bases. Stupid ass Somalis watching Black Hawk Down too many times.
Were not pussies like the Saudis who just hand over money to terrorists.