Somali Pirates attack U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama - for 2nd time this year

[Harry]

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama for the second time in seven months on Wednesday, but guards on board the U.S.-flagged cargo ship repelled the takeover attempt, the EU's naval force said.

 

Pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama last April and took ship captain Richard Phillips hostage, holding him at gunpoint in a lifeboat for five days. Navy SEAL sharpshooters freed Phillips while killing three pirates in a daring nighttime attack.

 

Somali pirates attacked the ship with automatic weapons early Wednesday about 350 nautical miles east of the Somali coast, but guards on board the craft fired back and thwarted the attempted hijacking.

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/11/18/2009-11-18_somali_pirates_attack_usflagged_maersk_alabama__for_2nd_time_this_year.html#ixzz0XDhyhWLi

[St Louis Car 09]

This reminds me of call of duty Modern Warfare`s first mission where the SAS had to infiltrate the cargo ship.Seriously maybe we need to get the SAS on these guys.

[error46146]

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama for the second time in seven months on Wednesday, but guards on board the U.S.-flagged cargo ship repelled the takeover attempt, the EU's naval force said.

 

Pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama last April and took ship captain Richard Phillips hostage, holding him at gunpoint in a lifeboat for five days. Navy SEAL sharpshooters freed Phillips while killing three pirates in a daring nighttime attack.

 

Somali pirates attacked the ship with automatic weapons early Wednesday about 350 nautical miles east of the Somali coast, but guards on board the craft fired back and thwarted the attempted hijacking.

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/11/18/2009-11-18_somali_pirates_attack_usflagged_maersk_alabama__for_2nd_time_this_year.html#ixzz0XDhyhWLi

Unfortunately this problem is all too real abroad..

 

Perhaps we need to start having some sort of police patrolling these ships if there isn't already any

[metsfan]

Reminds me of the tall ships era with navies & hired guns going after pirates.

 

I just wish the socioeconomic situation in these parts of the world were less inclined to produce desperate hopelessness which drives people to risk their lives.

 

- A

[Grand Concourse]

Whatever happened to "shoot first and ask questions later"? I say blow the crap out of those mini boats before they have a chance to board the ships.

Better the ships than the scumbags.

[metsfan]

Whatever happened to "shoot first and ask questions later"? I say blow the crap out of those mini boats before they have a chance to board the ships.

Better the ships than the scumbags.

 

They aren't scumbags, they are desperate people who have -nothing-.

 

- A

[Joe]

They aren't scumbags, they are desperate people who have -nothing-.

 

- A

 

I think you missed the part of the article where the pirates attacked a ship.

 

GC is right, they should be dealt with accordingly. Give all merchant vessels a rocket launcher.

[INDman]

I think you missed the part of the article where the pirates attacked a ship.

 

GC is right, they should be dealt with accordingly. Give all merchant vessels a rocket launcher.

 

Enforce the laws of the Sea, kill all pirates.

[Joe]

Enforce the laws of the Sea, kill all pirates.

 

Perps o' the sea ARRRRR!

[INDman]

Perps o' the sea ARRRRR!

 

Time to send in PBBN to take care of them.

[Mrs Edwards1]

Where is cap n` crunch when you need him:) Ohhh Cap N`!!!

[Grand Concourse]

They aren't scumbags, they are desperate people who have -nothing-.

 

- A

 

They are terrorists that resorts to extortion of money for the release and safety of the crew. Because of that, they deserve no sympathy.

You don't see bums on the streets trying to mug you because they want money do you? The police, if they catch the bum, would deal with them accordingly.

[metsfan]

You know, they are humans too. Imagine if the situation in your country was so bleak you had to risk your life to be able to do anything about it. Not saying what they are doing is good or right or legal, just saying there's reasons behind it.

 

If my country was a wartorn famine plagued wasteland and off the coast a few miles were huge ships carrying things like cars, food, electronics worth ~500 million bucks per ship for the bigger ones i think i might have ideas about going after them too.

 

Not everything requires you to "kill them all". Bit 1200's thinking there, this is 2009 ya know?

 

- A

[Joe]

this is 2009 ya know?

 

Imagine that, it's 2009 and people are still committing 1200-era crimes. I still don't get why you're going to such great lengths to defend these people...they are criminals.

[INDman]

They are pirates, nothing more.Piracy is punishable by death and becuase they have nothing makes it likely that they will attack again.

[SubwayGuy]

The other thing that has been an issue with this is because it is "offshore" who polices them? Politically correct "laws" and "treaties" have hamstrung anyone capable of enforcement.

 

"Why Don't We Hang Pirates Anymore"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122757123487054681.html

[metsfan]

Not defending them. The world is not a simple yes/no black/white place. Nowhere do i say that it's ok or good or legal. Read what i typed again & again till you understand it, it's a huge part of our human landscape, part that is often conveniently overlooked.

 

- A

[INDman]

Not defending them. The world is not a simple yes/no black/white place. Nowhere do i say that it's ok or good or legal. Read what i typed again & again till you understand it, it's a huge part of our human landscape, part that is often conveniently overlooked.

 

- A

 

So not having gives people the right to kill? I'll remember that next time I go and get pizza, instead of paying I'll just kill the guy.

[Joe]

Not defending them. The world is not a simple yes/no black/white place. Nowhere do i say that it's ok or good or legal. Read what i typed again & again till you understand it, it's a huge part of our human landscape, part that is often conveniently overlooked.

 

- A

 

Creating excuses is defending them. You are excusing their behavior.

[metsfan]

Again i didn't say it was good ok or legal, i guess people just have their own agenda & ignore the real message & intent of the information. Thanks for ignoring everything i've typed.

 

- A

[Grand Concourse]

What agenda? Criminals are criminals. Like in my example of the bums on the street, if they tried to rob you with a gun, are you going to 'excuse' their behavior because they are in that situation where they need to rob people to survive?

I don't see how holding rpgs or AK47s to anyone's head as excuseable.

[Joe]

What agenda? Criminals are criminals. Like in my example of the bums on the street, if they tried to rob you with a gun, are you going to 'excuse' their behavior because they are in that situation where they need to rob people to survive?

I don't see how holding rpgs or AK47s to anyone's head as excuseable.

 

GC for prez.

[Grand Concourse]

heh, thanks Joe

[metsfan]

What agenda? Criminals are criminals. Like in my example of the bums on the street, if they tried to rob you with a gun, are you going to 'excuse' their behavior because they are in that situation where they need to rob people to survive?

I don't see how holding rpgs or AK47s to anyone's head as excuseable.

 

Criminals are people who made mistakes.

 

- A

[INDman]

Criminals are people who made mistakes.

 

- A

 

But they are still criminals. They were not forced to do anything and anyone whos says they were is just making excusses for them and is just as guilty.