I can hear the forum buzzing now...

"The freaking Navy...what were they thinking?! I thought our military was supposed to protect us! The CO of that ship should face a courts martial for killing the Captain with those pirates!"

There's no winning for us. No balls or no sense. Nothing in between. It's all good, though, because I know what's happening out there AND behind the scenes. It's not the first time we've been faced with difficult decisions and sure as hell won't be the last. The problem is that there is little faith in the decision making ability of those of us who have the charge of making things happen.

Lack of "action" IS action in A LOT of cases. Some times decisiveness requires one to decide NOT to run in guns-a-blazin' and see what plays out. I'm probably wasting by breath, so I'll stop now.

Good plan, shoot 'em all. Maybe you should join the Navy. We could use some backbone! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I understand that there is lots going on that we don't know about. I'm just saying that's how I would deal with it if I were king.

Having the president at the wife's side at the time the radio communication takes place would be a nice touch.

No I understand the backlash the Navy would get, and I am not saying you guys don't have any backbone either. I understand that your hands are tied by policy, and will be scrutinized regardless of the outcome. I just prefer to take a more direct approach to solving problems. We aren't negotiating with a nation here, just a bunch of thugs who will likely kill the Capt. anyways if they don't get the money. Worse yet if we give in and pay them their ransom they will just keep doing it, or if we pay them w/fake(or real money) and then kill them, next time they will just keep the hostage until they are safe, then likely kill the hostage. What we have to do is stop them from wanting to ever take another U.S. flagged ship and try ransoming the crew or cargo again, and that is done by no negotiations. You life for the hostage, or you all die. If we will not pay a ransom or negotiate other things for a hostage, there is no reason to take a U.S. flagged ship crew members or cargo hostage for ransom purposes. It is a very simple solution to the problem of Pirates as it concerns U.S. flagged ships.

We don't have to be overt about it, just claim the boat blew up unfortunately killing both the Pirates and the hostage. It might take a few of these accidental explosions for the Pirates to get the message, but eventually they would.

Guys calm down... We know what were doing. Time is on our side. They will get tired and either give up or fall asleep.

If they fall asleep then a SEAL team in a mini-sub will take them out. I'm sure there is a dedicated Global Hawk eye in the sky on station. They are not going to kill the Capt, it's thier only card and once it's played it over. SEAL's and other HRTs have other options than just bullets. We might be waiting for the right weather to gas them. The heat wave gun, lasers who the hell knows it's all classified <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Bottom line the USN is not held hostage by anyone, at the blink of a eye they would be gone. We could even drop a Marine Expeditionary Force on their shores and take them all out at home <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Wow... someone's taking things WAY too personally. I didn't attack you in any way, shape or form, so I'd apprecaite it if you'd offer the same courtesy to me. If you're unable to separate the fact that our government is neutering our armed forces left and right from the people in the armed forces, then I can't help, or engage in conversation with you.

You're right, I do take it personally when people belittle the work and intelligence of our services. I won't claim not to, nor will I apologize for it. If I did, I wouldn't be worthy of the respect of the sailors that I serve or are in my charge. It's not as simple as you SEEM to think.

That said, I wasn't making a personal attack on you, I was simply stating that if you should join the Navy if you want to understand what it is we do before you make "assessments" as to whether our manhood is in tact. That said, please read your original statement and tell me where I was supposed to read what you really meant.

I've got no problem with you, personally. I have a problem with what you said. I, too, am direct and have a tendency to take things straight on...

Have a good day! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to interrupt you guys... and sorry for my ignorance... Can anybody explain why the crew was not armed ? A couple of good stationary auto machine guns on the deck in .50 caliber or something like that would make the attack impossible... I am just not getting it. The machine guns are much cheaper than the possible pirate attack damage.

Can they just hire a couple armed marines per ship ?

In short, foreign ports have varying laws on carting weapons in and out of port. International Law of the Sea has something to say, I'm sure. I'm not a JAG and won't pretend to know the answer to this question, nor am I a merchant mariner who can speak as an authority on the matter.

Here's a discussion on the matter, and I'm sure there are several others out there.

Happy hunting! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Interesting discussion here.

Has anyone wondered WHY pirates from Somalia are holding up freighters off their shores?

Is anyone aware that the Somalian coast is the Western world garbage dump for hospital waste and yes, nuclear waste (european)? It was a mystery why the hell everyone was getting sick and even dying from radiation until the tsunami in 05 washed up barrels of this crap on their shores.

Don't believe it? What do the 'pirates' say? ôto stop illegal fishing and dumping in our waters à We donÆt consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits those who illegally fish and dump in our seas and dump waste in our seas and carry weapons in our seas.ö - Sugule Ali

70% of the Somali population supports the only interdiction they can muster - that is why we aren't laying them to waste (at least militarily). No need to escalate something that can be glossed with buzzwords like 'pirates' (immediately followed by American Idol and Dancing with Stars)



>>>'Turn off the news and read.' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Yes, there is a conspiracy, and the brave "pirates" are fighting back. The world leading governing boards (the UN, the USA, China, Chevron and NRA) are conspiring to destroy the proud freedom lovers of Somali... the small fearless nation is holding its ground. Their wise leaders are taking the weapons and bravely push back those steel sea monsters.

This is great comforting picture. We need to send the humanitarian aid to those "pirates".