BS: Update on Somali Pirates

Subject: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 04:03 PM

Here's a good report on the present day Somali pirates and their base of operation at the Port of Eyl in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland: Click here for website!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 04:27 PM

Piracy is probably the second oldest profession. It was Barbary Coast pirates who, holding a US ship ransom, elicited the response in Congress "Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute!"
Although the "millions for defense" comment is trather laughable in a day when 20 million won't buy a single Coast Guard cutter, the "not one cent for tribute" is still sound. Since this piracy is confined to a fairly small region of the ocean, I would suggest a united approach by maritime nations affected to marshall an escort force off the Somali coast who would be authorized to fire only one warning shot across the bow of any fast-approaching motor launch, that to be followed by a shot in the center of the hull.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 05:29 PM

Me too. When it comes to piracy on the high seas? No mercy. There is no point negotiating with pirates, it just encourages them and enriches them. I would also quietly equip numerous vessels with hidden military forces like the WWII Q-ships and use them as bait and then exterminate those bastards when they pull alongside until they collectively decided on an easier and safer means of earning a living.

All you need is 15 or 20 commandos, well-armed and waiting on the ship of choice.

Considering the ridiculous amount of money that is pumped into futile efforts like the Iraq war, I think some could better be allocated to wipe out piracy.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 05:40 PM

If there were an easy solution, you would think that someone would have coordinated it.

Evidently no one wants to try blockading the Port of Eyl.

Charley Noble, who prefers to sing about pirates

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 05:46 PM

The solution wouldn't be easy. It would take a sustained and costly effort on the part of many nations to stop piracy. It would take an iron political will to do it, and I think that that is what is probably lacking right now, because the powers that be mostly have their minds on other matters...such as fighting wars in the Middle East.

Believe me, if those pirates were causing a serious interruption in the USA's international oil supply...then the big hammer would come down.

The piracy itself, of course, is partly driven by extreme poverty in places like Somalia. That's another problem that would require a sustained and costly effort to fix.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Amos
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 07:21 PM

We;;, if their biutts were kicked into action to the point of building a government it would be a start. It's worse than West Texas in 1805 over there.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 08:11 PM

For the last six weeks (four more to go), the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec has been trudging back and forth between Mombasa and Mogadishu, escorting freighters loaded with World Food Programme corn and soy meal through those pirate-infested waters. Until this week we also had three ships in Combined Task Force 150, the coalition fleet patrolling the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and northwest Indian Ocean. They were supposed to be conducting "maritime security operations" (code for hunting terrorists) off the coasts of Iran and Pakistan. They ended up chasing pirates off Somalia.

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the northwest Indian Ocean won't go away until somebody acts in a frankly imperial manner to straighten out the mess that is Somalia.

The Horn of Africa controls the southern access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, so don't hold your breath waiting for the United States or NATO or anybody else to wade into Somalia to kick ass and take names. That job would take a major invasion followed by occupation, military government -- the full meal deal, and the big Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya and the United Arab Emirates, would never stand for that. Ethopia, Eritrea and Sudan wouldn't be too happy, either.

I think an effort to square away Somalia would just start a massive war in east Africa. Gee, what a good idea.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Escapee
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 09:05 PM

The US Navy runs decoy operations in that area. They do not indulge in warning shots.
Fair winds (but not for pirates)
SKP

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 09:19 PM

Charmion-

A "solution" requires more focus and resources than anyone is willing to commit at this point.

Pirates do operate in the "margins" of the maritime world, be it off the Horn of Africa or in the China Seas.

Escapee-

And where are you from? It would be interesting to get another perspective on this question.

Amos-

You can do better than that.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 10:49 PM

The Russians have sent a Frigate - that'll fix 'em!


Btw, the Pirates are currently holding for ransom a ship with 37 battle tanks for the Kenya Army...

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 11:03 PM

Charmion, I think you are absolutely right when you say that, "I think an effort to square away Somalia would just start a massive war in east Africa."

I'm not recommending any such military intervention in Somalia. I'm simply recommending a very vigorous policing of international waters in such a way as to definitely discourage piracy. It's become a growing problem in many other areas too, not just off the horn of Africa.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Escapee
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 01:17 AM

Charley Noble,What does that mean, "where are you from?" I didn't say they would solve the problem, just that they run Q-ship type operations. How many perspectives does a bare fact need?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 09:49 AM

The Somali pirates have been very busy this year, astonishingly busy. In addition to the Ukrainian transport with its 33 Russian made T-72 tanks (and ammunition) they've attached 60 other ships this year alone, 17 in the first two weeks of september. Evidently the Somalis are currently holding for ransom "14 oil tankers, cargo vessels and other ships with a total of more than 300 crew members."

Last year there were only 13 ships attacked in this part of the world. Clearly, more Somalis view piracy as a lucrative enterprise.

Seems as if a convoy system needs to be employed.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 09:51 AM

Escapee-

"Charley Noble,What does that mean, "where are you from?"

I've sent you a PM and for anyone else concerned I was only curious about his/her geographic location.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Sawzaw
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 09:58 AM

"exterminate those bastards"

No Habeas Corpus?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Escapee
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 03:54 PM

Thanks for the PM Charley Noble. My perspective is that It's not really a naval or Military problem. Piracy is repeatedly "wiped out" only to re-emerge when political and economic factors stimulate its re-birth.Until Somalia can be repaired, The only solution I can see is dealing with pirates one at a time.Dangerous, inefficient and expensive, but probably better than a Barbary Pirates type war.
SKP

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 04:38 PM

Sawzaw, there are certain rare cases where I am willing to exterminate specific people who are caught red-handed in the act of committing a violent crime. Piracy on the high seas is one of them. I consider it an act of open war, you see, and open war involves killing people.

In this case it's a privately waged open war on the part of some criminal individuals against society in general all around them. I don't have any sympathy for pirates.

Mind you, if they surrendered, I would consider imprisoning them...providing they had any time to surrender, I mean. It would all depend on the exact circumstances, wouldn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: PoppaGator
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 05:38 PM

"...privately waged open war..."

I think that is an exact description of what the US is up against, and has been up against, since 9/11. The enemy is not, and never has been, any other nation-state, and the effort to fight back in terms of old-fashioned conventional nation-vs-nation warfare was completely wrong-headed and doomed from the start.

Maybe we need to take on these pirates as an exercise in learning how to deal with all the other kinds of terrorists.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 07:53 PM

Evidently, from BBC news this evening, the pirates are battling it out among themselves aboard the MV Faina; those who want to surrender and those who want to hold out for millions of dollars.

No honor among these pirates, if there ever was honor among pirates.

Charley Noble, safe in my office chair

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 09:35 AM

This morning's newspaper quotes a press release from the pirates aboard the MV Faina denying reports of a "shootout" among them; they say they were just celebrating the end of Ramadan in their traditional fashion.

Evidently the various naval ships surrounding the MV Faina are permitting additional food supplies and water to be brought in.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 09:47 AM

Great name for a band

Black Jake and the Somali Pirates

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Sawzaw
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 10:36 AM

I don't see the difference between the Pirates and Terrorists except Pirates are in it for the money. Some of the money probably eventually goes to terrorists anyway.

I see no reason why convicted murderers should not be executed when Pirates can be executed with no trial.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 10:46 AM

Arms runners & Pirates, hmm who do we save...neither

surround, torpedo, and sink all survivors.

Let the insurance companies pay or not pay, I have no sympathy for arms runners or pirates or arms sellers or arms buyers.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 10:48 AM

Why stop at murderers. What about people who start singing with their guitar out of tune. People who put huge speakers in the boot of their car and wear baseball hats back to front. People who eat foreign foods and people who fart in the lift.....

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 11:47 AM

Weelittledrummer-

You might be on to something! And while we're at it could the executioners be executed as well.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 04:50 PM

There are too many different reasons and different individual circumstances involved with civil cases of murder to simply say, "We should execute all convicted murderers." That's why, Sawzaw. Many murders involve very complex human situations.

*****

Now, regarding piracy...

I have a lot more respect for someone who engages in violent acts over some political beliefs or ideals they have than someone who does it just to get a bunch of money.

For instance, Sawzaw, the American revolutionaries in 1775 were terrorists of their time in a legal sense, because within the British Empire they were committing treasonous acts causing property damage and death, and the British considered them as terrorists and traitors and would definitely hang them if they caught them.

But...I respect those revolutionaries because they were fighting for certain ideals which they felt were right. I have some measure of respect for anyone who lays his life on the line over a political or social ideal that he holds. (That doesn't necessarily mean I agree with him or what he'd doing.)

A pirate who boards a ship, however, is not fighting on behalf of any ideals. He's simply stealing from other people for his own gain. I have no respect for that. Therefore, I am less inclined to show him mercy.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 05:19 PM

"For instance, Sawzaw, the American revolutionaries in 1775 were terrorists of their time in a legal sense,"

No they were not "terrorists", they were "revolutionaries", in the period you state people changed things by either voting with their feet, resorting to treason to over throw the government or system they objected to in collusion with another power, or you stood in open rebellion. In the 18th Century there was no such thing as a "terrorist" in the sense we have "terrorists" nowadays.

"A pirate who boards a ship, however, is not fighting on behalf of any ideals. He's simply stealing from other people for his own gain. I have no respect for that." - Little Hawk

I take it that you do know how those "terrorists" that you respect initially obtain the funds that their organisations needs to grt started and keep functioning??

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 07:36 PM

Ask someone else about it. I simply can't be bothered talking with you, mate, because you are completely lacking in any human quality or shred of goodwill that would even make you worth talking to.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 01:07 AM

A correction to what I said above regarding the 18th Century. Late 1700's is when "terror" was deliberately imposed upon a civilian population to keep it in order - This was "The Terror", whose symbols were the Tumbril and Guillotine, introduced by "revolutionaries" supposedly bringing "Liberty", "Fraternity" and "Equality" to the people of France.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 03:02 PM

I understand that the Somali "Government" has given its permission for foreign powers to do whatever needs to be done within their territorial waters. Of course they don't have an air force or navy, and I doubt if the Ethiopians who are providing most of their military muscle have any desire to get more involved.

This could be an interesting and instructive thread if posters would do some more homework, and not just shoot from the hip. Sigh!

I don't object to thread drift but personal attacks are just annoying, and I may ask that they be deleted.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 12:19 AM

"Since this piracy is confined to a fairly small region of the ocean"

The trouble is that it is not, the coast of Somalia, the Horn of Africa and the approaches to the Red Sea is only one area where piracy exists. The Malacca Straits (where the warning phrase associated with pirates and designed to scare, "The boogie-man'll get you" was first coined) is as bad if not worse and off the West Coast of Africa are another two.

You deal with it in exactly the same manner as it was dealt with previously, I'll amend what Charmion suggested as follows:

"Piracy won't go away until somebody acts in a frankly imperial manner to straighten out the mess."

Piracy has always been dealt with harshly because an attack at sea means that survivors of the initial attack are entirely at the mercy of their attackers, they are on a ship in the middle of an ocean, they cannot get away. As such the easiest and most efficient means of dealing with prisoners has been to put them to death - "Dead men tell no tales". Historically the "law of the sea", demanded the same fate for Pirates, summary justice.

I can remember a conversation while I was in the Navy when Harold Wilson announced the plan to withdraw from "East of Suez", one participant in this discussion stated, "10 years after we leave Singapore, piracy in the South China Sea and in the Straits of Singapore will be as much of a problem as it was one hundred years ago". His prediction has proved to be true. By that time we had already quit Aden and pirates had already begun to operate from the small islands in the approaches to the Red Sea.

The vessel currently being held apparently was transporting Russian T-72 Battle Tanks, supposedly to Kenya for the Kenian Army, now it transpires they were bound for the Sudan, for use I would presume in Darfur. The Russian frigate that is hastening towards the scene is there to do what? Ensure that the ship and it's cargo are not destroyed??

Oh and before anyone thinks on quick fix solutions, there aren't any. Again as stated previously it will take time, effort and a great deal of expense if you want to protect your trade - it always has - in the areas we are talking about between the early 1800's up to about the mid-1960's that protection was provided courtesy of the Royal Navy and the "evil British Empire". On thing is for certain the United Nations will do damn all about it, simply because it has nothing to do anything about it with.

But a good start would be to make sure anybody toddling about a beach or quayside in Somalia think twice about setting out to sea in anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 07:53 AM

A short rope and a long drop.

Sorry to offend anyone, but piracy -- now and historically -- has been one of the nastiest things humans do to each other. Edward Low, Teach, the creatures who inhabited Cave-In-Rock and the rest have nothing over the modern sludge who preyed on fleeing Vietnamese boat people and still prey on whatever and whoever they can. Pirates have, and still do, sell people into slavery.

A coalition of nations, a joint naval task force dedicated to wiping them out, would meet with my approval anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 08:40 PM

Unfortunately, the situation with Jack Ketch is similar to the torture conundrum.

They currently have prisonrs/hostages. If we respond with deadly force after capturing pirates, more hostages are likely to wind up dead before their time. On the other hand, sentencing them to a lifetime in a Turkish or Mexican style jail might be an effective deterrent.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Sawzaw
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 11:07 PM

Send Obama over to talk to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Sawzaw
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 11:26 PM

The Pirates are in for it now, The UN is after them:

AP, UNITED NATIONS
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008

A proposed new UN resolution calls on all countries with a stake in maritime safety to send naval ships and military aircraft to fight piracy on the high seas off the coast of Somalia, a draft report states.

The draft UN Security Council resolution would also call on ships and planes to use "the necessary means" to stop acts of piracy. It was drafted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which means its provisions can be enforced militarily.

The French-drafted resolution was expected to be put to a vote in the council early next week, council diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions are taking place in private.

The draft resolution expresses grave concern at "the recent proliferation of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea against vessels off the coast of Somalia." It also notes with concern "that increasingly violent acts of piracy are carried out with heavier weaponry, in a larger area off the coast of Somalia" using mother ships and more sophisticated methods of attack.

On Thursday, Somali pirates holding a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship loaded with tanks and heavy weapons said they will not release it for less than US $20 million and warned they would fight back against any commando-style rescue attempts. A half-dozen US Navy warships have surrounded the MV Faina, which was seized last Thursday off the central coast of Somalia.

The new draft resolution only applies to pirates off Somalia, whose 3,025km coastline is the longest in Africa and near key shipping routes that connect the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea.

Most pirate attacks occur in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, to the north of Somalia. But recently pirates have been targeting Indian Ocean waters off eastern Somalia.

More than 60 ships have been attacked in the notorious African waters this year.

The draft resolution says the pirates and robbers pose a "serious threat ... to the prompt, safe and effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia," where as many as 3.5 million Somalis will reportedly be dependent on food aid by the end of the year.

It urges all states and regional organizations to continue taking action to protect UN World Food Programme maritime convoys, which are vital to bring humanitarian assistance to as many as 3.5 million Somalis who will reportedly be dependent on food aid by the end of the year.

A resolution adopted by the Security Council in early June authorized countries, for a period of six months, with advance notice, to enter Somalia's territorial waters and use "all necessary means" to stop acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 03:29 AM

I am in agreement with Rapaire, 100%. However, we may differ just a little on method. The rope and drop thing works, but it would be much easier to use air power or sea launched cruise missles. Save the cost of a trial. And feed the sharks at the same time. It's a "win win" situation. (Keriste, I hate that cliched term!)

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 08:41 AM

"Send Obama over to talk to them."

but surely Palin would disarm them?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 09:03 AM

If they had to listen to her talk, they'd hang themselves!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: bubblyrat
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 10:11 AM

At least the pirates can sleep safely in their beds knowing that the British Government will,as usual,do absolutely nothing militaristic or bellicose,even if every ship in the British Mercantile Fleet is taken on the high seas ! Something about "pirates rights", I expect.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Sawzaw
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 10:21 AM

Send Moose Palin and Obambi both.

Good cop / Bad cop. But which is which?

Which is Dirty Harriet and which is the Pillsbury Dough boy?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 01:44 PM

Peace, to use missiles would wreck or destroy the ship that the pirates have taken over. I don't see that as being a good solution. ;-)

No, I think that small arms fire at close range is by far the better way to go in this case. If you want to use missiles, use them before the pirates have boarded a merchant ship, not afterward.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 12:18 AM

Well there's the 'scorched earth' policy LH - if we can't have it, neither can they... of course, in the situation, there's a few dampeners to that...

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 12:22 AM

Good eye, Little Hawk. OK, plan B. Air drop lots of really good drugs with acid in it.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 12:27 AM

"small arms fire"

These days 'small arms fire' can probably sink ships too...

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Sawzaw
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 12:20 AM

Somehow, not talking to pirates is punishment to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 01:56 AM

Sometimes, not talking about pirates makes them invisible!

Nothing in our news about this at all!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: vectis
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 08:07 AM

As i understood the situation there was, until fairly recently, a British warship on patrol in the area quietly dealing with the pirates. The rise in attacks by pirates began when it was replaced by UN ships who couldn't coordinate a session in a brewery...

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Paul Burke
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 03:19 AM

I can't find any reference to the UN having any naval patrols off Somalia. According to the LA Times on 28th September, "During the summer, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution to allow foreign ships in Somalia's territorial waters to combat piracy. The U.N. may take additional measures to curtail the banditry and European nations are considering establishing a new naval mission for the region."

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: bubblyrat
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 05:51 AM

I can just see the head line now !!....
    "Boarding -party from British warship captured by Somali pirates ! Sailors ask for mercy and return of their I-Pods ! "

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Gulliver
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 09:13 PM

"Some will rob you with a shot-gun,
Some with a fountain pen"

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Gulliver
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 09:14 PM

"Ain't never saw a pirate
Drive a family from their home"

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 10:23 AM

The news media is oddly silent about the current situation but then everyone is probably awaiting the arrival of the Russian Navy; they are probably sending the Potemkin.

Charley Noble, on his way back North from Getaway

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 May 09 - 07:21 PM

Here's the latest update on how the Somali pirates are organized: Click here for article!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 May 09 - 03:43 PM

Another interesting article indicating that pirate captures are still on the rise despite more successful enforcement by the international naval force: Click here for article!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 May 09 - 08:28 AM

Well, it was bound to happen. Columbia Pictures has just announced it will be producing a major film of the capture and rescue of Capt. Philips from the Somali pirates: Click here for article!

Any suggestions as to what actors should portray the major characters? And what will be the love story triangle? And who will play the intrepid reporter who spends the entire film at the China Bar in Addis Ababa, having wisely decided not to parachute into Puntland or onto the captured tanker in the India Ocean?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 May 09 - 08:37 AM

In the meantime, the "good times" for Somali pirates may be drawing to a close, according to this recent interview with Mohamed Said one of the more successful pirates: click here for article!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 01:44 PM

Oopsie-dasiy... my bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 02:58 PM

My broker does not recommend investment in Somali pirate enterprises.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 03:24 PM

Gnu-

Nice update to this continuing saga.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Gulliver
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 09:04 PM

Leave the pirates alone! They've got wives and families to provide for, same as everyone else.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:29 AM


For instance, Sawzaw, the American revolutionaries in 1775 were terrorists of their time in a legal sense, because within the British Empire they were committing treasonous acts causing property damage and death, and the British considered them as terrorists and traitors and would definitely hang them if they caught them.

Wrong. You're fuzzing up the meaning of the word "terrorist", and not adding any light to the discussion.

Terrorism is a line of action which is basically political psychological warfare (advertising, if you will) with little or no attempt at actual military or geographic gain from the act performed. To set off a bomb in a public market, for instance, is intended to terrorize the populace . The Ku Klux Klan's lynch actions in the American South were terrorism. John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, on the other hand, was a military action, intended to seize weaponry and to mobilize what Brown thought would be thousands of slaves revolting and joining a revolutionary army.

The American revolutionaries of 1775 were treasonous, all right, from the King and Parliament's point of view, but not terrorism. The one exception might be the Boston Tea Party, which was not really directed toward military advantage but was political propaganda.

But rebellion and treason and revolutionary warfare are not the same as terrorism, and to call them that damages the utility of the term "terrorism".

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: meself
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 11:09 AM

Similarly, it would be a stretch to say the Boston Tea Party was meant to "terrorize" anybody. Although in the post-9/11 use of the term "terrorism", any act of political dissent seems to fit the bill ....

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 12:14 PM

Nor should the Somali pirates be characterized as "terrorists." "Terrorists" generally have a political agenda. The Somali pirates so far have only demonstrated an economic interest in securing ransom for their prizes, and unlike some traditional pirates do not seem to indulge in gratuitous violence. They generally take reasonable care of their hostages (if they don't resist or try to escape) and return them unharmed when ransomed.

They are, however, "pirates."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 01:01 PM

Although in the post-9/11 use of the term "terrorism", any act of political dissent seems to fit the bill ....

As an observation of how people tend to speak today, that's correct. But that's exactly the kind of loose use of language I was complaining of.

However, I admit that an argument could be made that the Twin-Tower and Pentagon attacks had both terroristic and operational/strategic objectives. It seems to me, though, that the terroristic or propagandistic aspect was more central to the motivation. It seems clear to me that, in the event, the end effect on the United States of those attacks was much greater on the terroristic front than the operational/strategic.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: meself
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 01:24 PM

We're in agreement. The term "terrorism" should only be applied to violent acts that have the express purpose of spreading terror for political and/or military ends.

It is ironic that while the 9/11 attacks gave a clear illustration of the meaning of the term "terrorism", the reaction of Bush & co. had the effect of blurring and weakening the meaning of the term, as it came to be applied in a hyperbolic way to any action a user of the term didn't like. (Mis)Users of the term usually being power-holders, or their supporters.

Clearly these pirates aren't terrorists (did someone suggest they were?) - they are not even particularly violent, from what I can see.

As for the American Revolutionaries - someone who knows their history better may correct me on this, but it is my impression that there were both Loyalist and Revolutionary guerilla bands operating off the beaten track who engaged in what we would today call, legitimately, terrorism.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 04:41 PM

Meself-

I think it would be a correct statement that Loyalist and Rebels both indulged in terrorist acts during the American Revolutionary War, and so did the British soldiers as well.

As for the Somali pirates, I think most people who contributed to this thread now understand that they are primarily economically motivated, rather than politically. No doubt being captured by a group of Somali pirates is no picnic, and may even inspire terror among the captives. I say, "Steer clear of the Red Sea!", unless you are in a well-armed or well-guarded ship.

Charley Noble, safe at home in his armchair

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:22 AM

Chalk up another major capture for the Somali pirates: click here for story

This time they've captured a huge Chinese bulkcarrier:

"The De Xin Hai was carrying about 76,000 tonnes of coal from South Africa to India when it was seized by gunmen yesterday about 700 nautical miles east of the Horn of Africa."

The Chinese are threatening to mount a rescue operation. The pirates are threatening to kill all the crew.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 03:28 PM

The papers this morning also reported that piracy is on the upswing in spite of increased defense.
Be interesting to see what the Chinese do.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Royston
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 06:22 PM

If they've any sense they will take the French approach: Special forces assassinate as many pirates and as few hostages in a overwhelming use of deadly force to recover the ship. If a few hostages get caught in the crossfire then so be it.

The French have done this. French ships get left alone. Ruthless but effective.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 07:08 PM

Ditto, Royston.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 10:31 PM

Well, that may work. But the owners might not be too happy if their ship is also blown up by the pirates. The pirates do hold a strong hand.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 08:31 AM

Meanwhile the pirates have snagged another ship:

"Pirates have struck again in the waters off Somalia, hijacking a Panamanian registered cargo ship.

NATO's anti-piracy mission, which has warships patrolling the seas off Somalia, has confirmed that a Panamanian flagged cargo ship has been seized by pirates.

The ship's 26 crew members have been taken hostage.

Most of the crew are believed to be Indian.

An Italian bulk carrier also came under attack from pirates in the waters north of the Seychelles, but it managed to avoid capture.

The Somali pirates are holding six commercial carriers.

Earlier this week a Chinese cargo ship with 25 crew members was hijacked and the pirates threatened to execute their hostages if China attempted a rescue operation."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: M.Ted
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 06:37 PM

It will be interesting to see how China responds, particularly because there are many who feel that Chinese authorities and even the Chinese Navy have been complicit in piracy in the South China Sea.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 09:28 AM

This morning a third bulk carrier, the MV Al Khaliq for those keeping score, has been successfully seized by Somali pirates: Click here for report!

Clearly "Pirate Futures" are on the rise in the lowlands sea!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 12:47 PM

Sooner or later, they're going to run out of room.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 03:20 PM

IMO, the only other alternative is to completely ignore the pirates and their demands. "Sorry, nobody home."

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 03:38 PM

Peace, that leaves the pirates with three solutions; kill a hostage or hostages, scuttle the ship or withdraw. The pirates will try the first two methods before giving up. Professionals have moved into the business; that makes piracy even more difficult to combat.

Since there is no universal convention on response, each ship owner must decide the best way to answer the problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: meself
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 03:50 PM

Maybe an international bureaucracy should be set up to deal with the ransom demands as they are submitted - that should at least slow them down. Considerably. Imagine the forms that would have to be filled out, the reports, the assessments, the panels, the consultations, all the standing-in-line, the judgements, the appeals, the reviews, the investigations, the hours on hold being subjected to muzak and feel-good messages ....

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 04:01 PM

meself-

I like the way you think!

I was thinking along similar lines but having some Hollywood producer approach them for the exclusive rights to a major motion picture featuring "Real Somali Pirates." Of course that could result in one group of pirates eliminating their competition, in a battle for the survival of the fittest.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: meself
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 04:26 PM

Hey, that would be a good idea for a reality TV show. Of course, we'd have to arrange for a few blonde-haired, blue-eyed, large-breasted, piratessess. "Pirate Survival: the First Episode".

Meanwhile: "If you have captured a tanker and taken hostages, press 1. If you have captured a tanker but taken no hostages, press 2. If you have captured a smaller vessel and taken hostages, press 3. If you have captured a smaller vessel and taken no hostages, press 4. If you have captured the wrong vessel, and now want to know what to do with it, press 5. If you are a hostage seeking information on how to escape, please stay on the line and a representative will be with you shortly."

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 04:54 PM

And if you blundered and tried to capture a naval vessel, press "Too Bad!"

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: M.Ted
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 01:58 PM

You guys years too late for that reality show idea to be a wicked satirical comment on contemporary media. The fact is that every news event, no matter how terrible, is simply fodder for the entertainment industry, and they are more than willing to create the news when they need to-it isn't even old news::Crime Show Host Arranged Murders

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Riginslinger
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 08:40 PM

Didn't they mistakenly challange a French warship last week, or has that topic already been covered?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 08:59 PM

You're right, Q. I was being somewhat facetious.
Actually, I think the answer is fairly simple. Lots of ex spec ops people are looking for work. Trained personel backed up with the weapons necessary to give an attacker a very bad day.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: M.Ted
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 09:09 PM

The closest I've come to dealing with pirates is when the City of Philadelphia impounded my car because I'd left it parked under a tree in front of my apartment building for longer than two weeks(I was away for a month). The fees for towing and storage were more than the car was worth, so I let them keep it. They didn't have any hostages though.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 09:48 PM

Away, hey! Haul 'em away!
The parking lot pirates are we!
From the Hill to the Ferry,
There's none that's so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
To me way, hey! Haul 'em away!
We plunder the streets of your town,
Be it Edsel or Chevy,
There's no car too heavy,
And no one can make us shut down!

After Steve Goodman

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 10:14 AM

Soon on view at a theatre near you: click here for story

PIRATES OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 01:39 PM

I understand the even if one of our Royal Navy ships catch a pirate boat going about their unlawful activity, the captain must first get permission from the Admiralty in London before any decisive action can be taken. Naturally the Admiralty sits on its` hands, procrastinates,(human rights, political correctness and all the rest of it) and the moment is lost. Vive la Belle France et la Russie!!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 03:42 PM

The pirates aboard the Chinese bulk carrier De Zin Hai have threatened to kill the 26 crew members if a rescue is attempted.
Chinese foreign minister spokesman has said his government had "actively started rescue operations" but gave no details.
Observers said they expected a 'diplomatic resolution'.

Although a considerable value rests on the coal and ship, I would like to see what reaction a torpedo would bring.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 04:25 PM

There's another side to all this.

Today's BBC news had an item about how local Kenyan fishermen are benefitting because the activities of the Somali pirates have led to a departure from Kenyan waters of another variety of pirate - the illegal foreign fishing boats which had moved in to the area in recent years, as reported in this story last year - Pirate fishing boats target Africa:

According to today's story things have got a lot better since then, and the Somali pirates are in high regard among Kenyan fishermen, and no doubt by Somali fishemen as well. In fact it appears that many of these pirates used to be fishermen, who turned to piracy when the foreign "pirate fishing boats" wrecked their livelihood.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 07:28 PM

Youse just gotta 'ope the b'yes ou' a Tickle 'arbour don't get a mind ta go after da Nort' Atlantic shippin traffic er dem Parchageese fishin ships what's fuckin wit' da cod off'na shore eh buddy?

Dem lads can knock a seal bobbin in a tirty sea wit a tree ot tree wit yer iron sights from a dory aff salted. Yer 'igh tech snipers wit dem fancy roifles wouldn't even phase n fellas.

Ever ere a any pirates messin wit nare a dory? Not fookin likely. I say, send the Newfs in and let the dories loose on the bastards.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 02:55 PM

Jaysus, Gnu, after reading Q's post and before reading yours, I was about to say, "There will be shit flying when the Newfies hears of this, me son."

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 06:09 PM

Well, me zon, me zon.... ain't no torpedoes required nor advised if ya sends in da lads see? Fact is, two Newfs in a dory could innocently row up alongside and surround the buggers. Screwed as a June bug at dawn on a lone spruce in a bog them buggers.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Peace
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 06:10 PM

I shall quote you on the "Common Language" thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 06:20 PM

Don't forget to mention the ravens.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: folk1e
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 02:51 PM

BBC news has it that a British couple are the latest victims of the pirates.
Their yacht has been found following a distress call and a spokesman for the pirates has admitted they are holding 2 Brits ...... demands for a ransom are to follow!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: folk1e
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 12:45 PM

The pirates are demanding £4.3 Million!
Something about this one just doesn't seem right to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 01:32 PM

Nuke em.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 03:29 PM

Rachel Chandler worked with people I know. She and her husband put all their money into the boat.   Fingers crossed for a safe return.....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 03:59 PM

Chandlers' kidnap and ransom demand story here

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 08:09 PM

Well, it does seem dumb to me that such yachting folks as the Chandlers would choose to cruise through this area. I wish them well but what were they thinking? No doubt the pirates will settle for considerably less than £4.3 Million, especially after providing hospitality to this couple for several weeks.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 08:24 PM

If you are planning to go through the Suez Canal rather than go the long way round, you have to go that way.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: folk1e
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:20 AM

It's a bit like sailing through Manchester on the canals ...... you do it in groups for safety!
An "expert" suggests that a reduced ransom of a mere £100,000 may suffice!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 08:09 PM

As McGrath notes, the Suez is the short route for Europeans. The two were on their way to the Seychelles, prime resort islands and a favorite with UK visitors for many years.
Easily reached by air, but yachters and ships have to pass close to the horn of Africa (and Somalia) as they come out of the Red Sea.

I can't see that groups would help, the pirates would just cut one out of the herd. They are heavily armed, the average yachtman is not.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 01:17 AM

All reports I have read had the couple sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania. Their route was considered to be clear of the pirates area of operations and their vessel not of the type that the "pirates" would be interested in

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Arnie
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 11:54 AM

Unfortunately events may be about to take a turn for the worse for the Chandlers. Latest reports are that Islamic militants are heading for the area where they're being held with a view to 'liberating' them from the pirates. On past form, the pirates are only interested in a ransom. The militants however want two Western hostages and I don't think they'll be interested in issuing ransom demands.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 04:17 PM

No further word with regard to the Chandlers.

However, the Somali pirates just launched their longest range attack 740 kilometers northeast of the Seychelles Islands: Click here for article!

I'd not be surprised if they start capturing lobster boats in the Gulf of Maine next.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 04:53 PM

Ahhhnope, Charley. They would not mess with thaahat thah Maine Coast Gaahd.

Kendall would come out of retirement and **** them up royally, after he has hahd his lobstah.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 01:56 PM

Now the unmanned aircraft have entered the fray. Everybody out there run for cover!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 02:07 PM

Here's a link to Q's story about U.S. drone aircraft being deployed against Somali pirates: click here for story

Down along the coast of the Seychelle Isles!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:57 AM

Things are getting tougher for wannabee Somali pirates: Click here for report!

"Guards aboard the Maersk Alabama used guns and a sound blaster Wednesday to repel the second pirate attack in seven months on the U.S. vessel at a time when ships are increasingly hiring armed security teams to thwart hijackings."

The Maersk Alabama, as you may recall, was the same container ship that made headlines when it was captured several months ago, her captain held hostage by the pirates after the crew recaptured the ship and later successfully rescued by a Navy Seal team.

Evidently, there are lessons being learned here with regard to how to successfully defend a ship against pirates. Maybe someone has been monitoring this thread!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 05:40 PM

The use of sonic weapons has been successful. ]
I wonder if they are using Captain and Tenille songs to scare pirates away.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:07 PM

"Horse With No Name" should do it.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:08 PM

Saw a news trailer on BBC that the pirates had killed the captain when they took over a vessel.
Was that incorrect? I have heard no more.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:24 PM

One of the stories mentioned that a captain had died of his wounds. I can't seem to find it now.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:34 PM

It was the captain of a North Korean vessel. Story was in the Times. Peace pm'd me about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 04:26 PM

Mr and Mrs Chandler the British couple who were captured 29 days ago, this film would make you angry, the pirate scum with enough arms to start a war,http://www.channel4.com/news/

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 10:01 AM

ard mhacha-

Well, they were captured by pirates and they want their ransom! I suppose if pirates captured some of my friends, I'd also be tempted to call them "scum."

I do hope the Chandlers will be released successfully, whether by ransom, voluntarily by the pirates, or by rescue. It still strikes me as dumb that they put themselves in "harm's way."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Nov 09 - 04:35 PM

"They put themselves in harms way" as did every oil tanker, fishing boat, cargo boat etc. Fair play to the Yankee boat, giving them a taste of their own medicine did the trick.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 07:10 PM

Time for another update. The Somali pirates have captured another major cargo ship but another group of them were captured in turn by the Dutch Navy: click here for story

"The Dutch navy captured 13 Somali pirates and seized a haul of weapons off the coast of Oman after the pirates attacked a merchant ship, the Defense Department reported Thursday."

Good for the Dutch!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 05:07 PM

Good news Charley.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 09:12 PM

Evidently the Somali pirates are roaming further out to sea. They are now reported in the Gulf of India and off the coast of Tanzania: click here!

It won't be long before they're cruising in the Bay of Biscay or even the Gulf of Maine!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:29 PM

Bolt your doors in Baltimore, Ireland that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:49 PM

Well, finally the academics are getting into the game. Here's a link to a financial analysis of what the Somali pirates are achieving: Click here for article!

And evidently there's a game based on this analysis as well.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:53 PM

And if you're looking for a high risk/high return investment opportunity for your retirement dollars consider carefully what this website has to offer: Click here at your own risk!

Clearly what is happening in this world is even beyond my cynical imagining.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 03:56 PM

What exchange has the listing for stock in the Somali Pirates enterprise? Current quotation?
I would like to buy shares.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 08:00 PM

Q-

Well, it evidently was a great deal for some investors (from above link):

Piracy investor Sahra Ibrahim, a 22-year-old divorcee, was lined up with others waiting for her cut of a ransom pay-out after one of the gangs freed a Spanish tuna fishing vessel.

"I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade for the operation," she said, adding that she got the weapon from her ex-husband in alimony.

"I am really happy and lucky. I have made $75,000 in only 38 days since I joined the 'company'."

I don't suppose you have an extra rocket launcher you'd like to invest?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 08:12 PM

No, Charley. Not available to ordinary inhabitants of Canada, but those stationed with UN forces in Afghanistan might be able to come up with one.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 11:58 AM

Here's an interesting article on Somali ex-patriot singer K'Naan who believes that the Somali pirates have justification for their piratical activities: Click here for article

His song, "Waving Flag," has been picked as the anthem of 2010 finals in South Africa and he will lead the singing.

Perhaps this will elevate this thread to the musical realm.

Perhaps, not!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 03:38 PM

From the link... "Massive western companies would come to Somalia and dump nuclear toxic waste containers on the shore because there was no government controlling the shorelines. So these pirates initially went into the ocean to make them pay for that sort of thing. So they just take everything for ransom. That actually helped us clear our environment."

Idiot.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:50 PM

Gnu-

No. it doesn't make much logical sense to me either, except as an initial motivation. Now everyone is in it for the money.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:00 PM

It's $ for him, the scumbag. And he's a Canuck. Ooooohhh me nerves mezon, mezon.

Dumping on the shore? Yeah. Sure. Smart plan... on the shore. Jaysus!

Idiot times ten.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 08:11 PM

Geeze, there's been a lot more news and no one, including me, has updated this thread.

The latest news is that now the Somali pirates are praying on one another. Is there no honor among pirates? Evidently not. Just as one group of pirates was preparing to get their hard earned $5.5 million ransom for a captured supertanker a rival gang of pirates showed up and tried to rip them off. Well, the original group called in the Navy and the Dutch evidently sent over a helicopter gun ship to chase off the intruders. Here's more details: click here for report!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: beardedbruce
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 09:55 AM

Danish forces free ship captured by pirates
         

Katharine Houreld, Associated Press Writer – 57 mins ago

NAIROBI, Kenya – Danish special forces stormed a ship captured by armed Somali pirates Friday and freed the 25 crew on board, an EU naval spokesman said, marking the first time a warship has intervened during a hijacking.

After the vessel Ariella sent out a distress signal early Friday, the Danish warship Absalon sent a helicopter to confirm the presence of pirates, and communicated with the crew to ensure they were in a safe location, said Cmdr. John Harbour, spokesman for the European Union Naval Force.

Then Danish special forces aboard the Absalon approached the Ariella in inflatable dinghies. The forces scaled the side of the ship and freed the 25 crew, who had locked themselves in a secure room, Harbour said. The forces continued to search the vessel for the pirates.

Harbour praised the NATO forces for their fast reaction and coordination with other forces in the area.

"There's been many instances where there's been excellent cooperation and three, four or even five nations have helped deter a pirate attack," he said. But, he added: "This is the first where a warship has been able to send forces to stop a hijacking while it was in progress."

Warships typically do not intervene in hijackings because of the danger that crews may be hit by crossfire. Forces were able to intervene in this case because the ship had registered with naval authorities, was traveling along a recommended transit corridor and was part of a group transit, ensuring the ships had a helicopter within 30 minutes' reaction time, Harbour said.

Denmark rarely releases information on operations carried out by its elite forces, but the storming of the ship may have been carried out by the country's elite Frogman Corps, which were part of a NATO deployment.

"There is an operation going on down there and we're involved. It is still going on right now," Pernielle Kroer, spokeswoman for the Danish Navy told The Associated Press.

The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Ariella sent out a distress signal early Friday that was picked up by the Indian warship Tbar in the Gulf of Aden. The Indians relayed the signal to a French plane overhead, which spotted a group of armed pirates on the deck. Then the Danish troops were notified.

Other EU and American forces have intervened in pirate hostage situations, but not during the hijacking itself.

French commandos stormed a yacht last April with five hostages on board but one, skipper Florent Lemacon, was killed during the operation. American snipers also shot dead three pirates in April 2009 holding an American captain hostage on board a lifeboat after the crew of the Maersk Alabama had persuaded the pirates to leave the main ship.

Details on the nationalities of the crew on board the Arielle and its cargo were not immediately released.

Somali pirates have seized three ships this year and hold a total of nine vessels and more than 180 crew.

Piracy is one of the few ways to make money in Somalia, an arid, impoverished land torn apart by civil war. The government does not hold its own capital and can't send forces to counter the flourishing pirate bases that dot its 1,900-mile (3,100-kilometer)-long coastline.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:36 PM

Fantastic, good for the Danes, damned somali scum.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:57 PM

Don't fuck with Vikings!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Riginslinger
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 03:25 PM

Do suppose they used a long boat?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 05:24 PM

Not bad at all!

It will be interesting to follow this story.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 09:59 AM

Score one for the South Koreans in their successful commando rescue of hostages aboard a freighter captured recently by Somali pirates.

Eight pirates were killed and the rest captured in the daring operation. The captain of the freighter was shot in the stomach but is expected to recover: click here for story

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Arnie
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 10:46 AM

Well done the S Koreans! I had read that naval forces would only intervene in any hijacking if the crews were locked in a safe room. As the Korean captain was shot in the stomach by a pirate, this suggests that he at least was not in a safe room. Makes it all the more remarkable that the commandos were able to take out so many pirates without any fatalities amongst the crew. And the helicopter crew deserve special mention as they attacked knowing that the pirates were armed with anti-tank missiles that could have blown the heli out of the sky. Lets hope the pirates start to see a bit of sense now and give up this bloody business.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 10:49 AM

Not much difference between the Somali pirates and multi-nationals, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 10:27 AM

Well, the hostage rescue attempt went very bad. All four American hostages were executed by their captors: click here for story

No doubt there will be some words of wisdom offered by commentators. But right now prayers would seem best for the victims and their families.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 11:55 AM

One wonders if the Korean incident angered theSomali pirates, who have been known, in past actions to hold their prisoners for extended periods until getting ransoms. Perhaps it is now time to deal with them in a more confrontational way if their patience has shortened and they are going to kill at any provocation.

Meanwhile, one can only have sympathy for the relatives of the murdered
innocents on the yacht.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:08 PM

At this point we don't have a clue what the rescue options were or how the negotiating was going. What's clear is that for whatever reasons the pirates decided they were in a no win situation for themselves, and that perhaps by executing their hostages they might provide other pirate bands more leverage for bargaining.

Not all encounters with pirates end up with happy endings.

Why on earth did these yachtsmen risk their lives in these waters sailing solo?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:12 PM

While I am saddened to hear of this, I am not surprised. People have been, continue to and will continue to be warned of the dangers relating to certain passages. Some choose to ignore the warnings.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:18 PM

Tragic.

Part of an article I just found...

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A friend and former professor of a California man whose yacht was hijacked by Somali pirates said that Scott Adam wanted to combine his love of adventure with his faith by spreading Bibles around the world.

Professor Robert K. Johnston of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena told The Associated Press on Sunday that Adam — who last year earned a master of theology degree from the school — had sent friends emails detailing his international sailing trip. But Adam went silent Feb. 12 to avoid revealing the location of his yacht, the Quest, to pirates.

"He was sailing around the world and serving God, two of his passions," Johnston said.

Organizers of the Blue Water Rally yacht race said passengers of the sailboat owned by Adam and his wife, Jean, carried them and two other Americans, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, both of Seattle. It was hijacked Friday off the coast of Oman. It is now in the waters between Yemen and northern Somalia, two pirates and a Somali government official told The Associated Press.

Johnston said that despite an adventurous spirit, the Adams were meticulous planners who knew the dangers they faced. The couple had sailed with a large flotilla to stay safe from pirates near Thailand earlier in the trip.

"They knew and we knew they still had to go by the Somalia coast," he said. "We're asking people to pray for them."

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 08:26 PM

The ABC News report this evening suggested that while two of the Somali pirates where negotiating with the US Navy aboard their warship, someone aboard the sailing yacht fired a rocket from a recoilless rocket launcher at the warship which missed. Then there were shots heard aboard the sailboat and several of the pirates were then seen up on the bow with their hands up. When the boarding party arrived they determined that two of the hostages were dead below and the other two were mortally wounded. Several more Somali pirates down below engaged in a firefight with the marines and were killed.

Again, this is just the story that has been released to the media at this point and reality could be much different.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 08:13 AM

A few more details from the Somali pirates ashore:

Pirates vow revenge

Two Somali pirates who spoke with Reuters by telephone Tuesday said the hostages were ordered killed since the pirates themselves were under attack by U.S. forces.

"Our colleagues called us this morning, that they were being attacked by a U.S. warship," Mohamud, a Somali pirate, told Reuters. "We ordered our comrades to kill the four Americans before they got killed."

Pirate leader Farah, speaking from Bayla, a pirate haven in the northern semi-autonomous region of Puntland, vowed to avenge the deaths and capture of his comrades.

"I lost the money I invested and my comrades. No forgiveness for the Americans. Revenge. Our business will go on," he said, adding he had spent $110,000 so far in the hijacking, including on weapons and food and salaries.

So far the stories about this incident don't exactly correlate which is not surprising.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 01:29 PM

It would be impossible to police effectively the Indian Ocean even if all the naval ships of the world were involved.
The horn of Africa is mostly Somalian, and UN peacekeepers have their hands full with the area around Mogadishu.

Reports indicate more than 30 ships are under pirate control.
There can be no quick solution.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 03:13 PM

""I lost the money I invested and my comrades. No forgiveness for the Americans. Revenge. Our business will go on," - Pirate Leader Farah

Interesting how he lists his losses by importance. I can recall another turbaned leader calling on revenge and and no forgiveness for the Americans and it didn't work out too well for him and his colleagues.

As for "Their business going on" I think that they are about to find safe havens anywhere on God's earth are going to be few and far between.

You do not negotiate with pirates you kill them.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 03:15 PM

I`m with Teribus on this. Said as much a few years back on Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 03:29 PM

Me too... extract info and then the yardarm and then fishfood.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 04:31 PM

More spring up every day.
Compare Mexico, 45,000 dead, mostly drug dealers at all levels, killing eash other, yet no end in sight.
One may dispose of those caught, but that won't stop the practice.

Armed commercial shipping and cessation of pleasure use of the Indian Ocean may help.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Amos
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 05:16 PM

For once, T and I see eye-to-eye on this issue; once you cast your lot as a pirate, you are fair game for the exercise of overwhelming force.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 08:31 PM

Amos et al-

I have to agree with T as well.

This particular incident is a "game changer" and from now on no one will see much point in negotiating with Somali pirates. They have always been in it for the money but now its an international syndicate running things rather than small gangs of underemployed fishermen.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 01:52 PM

"One may dispose of those caught, but that won't stop the practice."

It will however ensure that the 'disposed' do not do it again.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 08:36 PM

999-

Draining the Red Sea might slow them down but it would also be short-sighted.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 09:10 PM

No simple solution.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Midchuck
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 09:25 PM

Had I had guns (as I had goods) to work my Christian harm,
I had run him up from his quarter-deck to trade with his own yard-arm;
I had nailed his ears to my capstan-head, and ripped them off with a saw,
And soused them in the bilgewater, and served them to him raw;
I had flung him blind in a rudderless boat to rot in the rocking dark,
I had towed him aft of his own craft, a bait for his brother shark;
I had lapped him round with cocoa husk, and drenched him with the oil,
And lashed him fast to his own mast to blaze above my spoil;
I had stripped his hide for my hammock-side, and tasselled his beard i' the mesh,
And spitted his crew on the live bamboo that grows through the gangrened flesh;
I had hove him down by the mangroves brown, where the mud-reef sucks and draws,
Moored by the heel to his own keel to wait for the land-crab's claws!

- Kipling, The Rhyme of the Three Captains

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Janie
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 10:31 PM

The only objection I have to T's statement is I can recall another turbaned leader....

But my objection to his implication is a strong one.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 02:03 AM

Janie you can object to the truth all you want but it still does not detract from the fact that it still remains the truth, irrespective of your sensibilities.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 09:53 AM

Peter-

What a fine set of Kipling lines! Do you have a tune yet or is it just one diatribe? I'll have to revisit this poem myself.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 10:02 AM

Peter-

Ah, I see now where the lines came from and whom they refer to, the "pirate" John Paul Jones: click here for poem

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Midchuck
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 03:00 PM

I was told that Kipling wrote the poem as a metaphor, to let off steam at the fact that American "pirates" were publishing his stuff over here, and not paying royalties, and he couldn't stop it because there was no international copyright agreement at that time.

P.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 03:56 PM

Kipling was a cruel badass. I'd just swing the trash. Oh, yes, I know that would be cruel as a bullet is more humane, but rope is a green solution and we all should be environmentally concious eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 06:52 PM

I knew Kipling complained about not receiving American royalties, but I hadn't associated that with the poem.

Keelhaul in shark-infested waters? Ecologists are worried about the overfishing of sharks. Pirates a new food source for them?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 07:03 PM

Q... sharks? I rescind my posts. The green thing to do would be to use em as bait.

Hmmm... I think I have even offended myself with that one. Hard to do most of the time. But, a joke is a joke so I'll let it stand.

I look forward to being told and even any PMs.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 08:42 PM

From what I understand of the economics of Somali piracy, there is only one weakness to attack.

The financiers put up millions for the mother ships and the weapons. The worlds navies have to hurt their profits and make it too expensive to carry on the business.

Here is my plan. It is similar to the way that some us counties finance their police departments.

satellites and computers keep track of shipping in the affected area, suspicious ships are stopped and searched. If evidence of piracy is found the ship is sold for scrap with the proceeds going to pay for more searches.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 09:16 PM

Jack-

It's a good plan and something like it is going on now, I'm sure. But it's a big ocean.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 09:24 PM

It's very small ocean on satcam.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 01:23 PM

gnu-

Now that's an idea. If there were hundreds of us watching a different sector of the India Ocean on SatCam, we might be able to spot something of interest and alert authorities. I'd be happy to take a shift. I wonder if I could re-use my old Ground Observer Corps Caller-ID letters, FOXTROT PAPA 1-4-BLACK?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 09:52 PM

I hear there's consideration being given to creating a Somali Coast Guard from non-pirate Somalis to help interdict their pirate countrymen. So how big a bribe do you think it would take to get a Somali Coast Guard to overlook those grappling hooks and RPGs in the wheelhouse?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 02:59 AM

"The financiers put up millions for the mother ships and the weapons."

No they do not, the "mother ships" used (usually fishing vessels) have themselves been hijacked or "pirated" they cost the pirates nothing. The last two "mother ships" captured (one by the South Koreans and the second by the Indian Navy) still had their original fishing crews held onboard as hostages.

Fishing vessels are ideal for use as "mother ships" because they do not transit the areas they "loiter" in it. There are also hundreds of them and it is very easy for the pirates to hide in a "fishing fleet", your faith in satellite surveillance is rather naive.

As in the 17th & 18th centuries there is only one way to eradicate the menace of pirates, you destroy the bases from which they operate.

Your "financiers"? A thirty-odd year old Somali widow contibuted her inheritance from her late husband (an AK-47 with three magazines) worth $60. Her return on her investment was reportedly $131,000. Now you tell me if that is an attractive proposition?

Destroy their bases, smash their boats and make them think twice about even walking along a beach let alone attempt to put to sea from one.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 10:38 AM

Teribus is absolutely correct. The only certain way to stop piracy is to eliminate the shore bases of the pirates. Without secure harbours to operate from, pirates are finished. So...you have to assault their harbours, sink all their boats, destroy their repairing and refueling facilities, and blockade or occupy those harbours from that point forward. Full military response, in other words. That's what was done to shut down piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries, and that's what would have to be done now.

There is apparently a lack of political will out there to do it. I wonder why that is? Can they just not be bothered? Do they consider it too politically risky or too expensive? Are the various nations all waiting for someone else to shoulder the burden? Or is someone profiting from simply maintaining the present situation as is?

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 01:14 PM

Somalia is what some call a failed state. The government can't govern and largely subsists on UN and US handouts.
Take the troops out of Afghanistan ans put them in Somalia.
It wouldn't be an easy job; Somalia has a very long coastline, curling around the horn of Africa.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 08:18 PM

If you take over a large ship, you can't just beach it on any convenient shore and then negotiate its ransom. You have to take it into a deep water harbour and hold it there, where you can dock or anchor it, unload what it's carrying with shore cranes, and so on. To stop the piracy, therefore, you must shut down the Somalian deep water harbours and make it impossible for the pirates to use those harbours. I doubt there are very many such harbours on that long coast.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 12:56 PM

Large vessels, esp. tankers, are not taken into port. Negotiations are carried out on the sea. One giant carrying $200 million in oil is occupied by pirates and talks are ongoing with insurers/owners, who have too much at stake to see the vessel heavily damaged or set on fire.


On BBC this morning, a pleasure yacht has been taken, 7-8 Danes aboard including three children. Haven't seen any details yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:49 PM

With that much at stake, I suggest that several governments put together a large military force and neutralize the Somalian ports that the pirates are based in. That's what the US Navy did once to the Barbary Pirates, and it worked quite well. They stopped bothering American shipping after that. Of course, they actually had a functioning government and chain of command to negotiate with, which the Somalian pirates do not, I gather...nevertheless I think that shutting down and blockading their ports is really the only way to stop them. You have to take the initiative to get control in this sort of situation, not just respond to various separate incidents like a fire brigade.

It would not be necessary to occupy the land in Somalia, and I wouldn't recommend anything of the sort. Just effectively blockade their ports and their seacoast, that's all.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 06:22 PM

Just effectively blockade- 3300 kilometers- it is not that simple. All vessels would have to be checked in and out to see if they were legitimate fishers-etc., some 'mother' ships seem to be provisioning at ports outside Somalia (Kenya, e. g.).
Port facilities are not needed, since larger vessels can be provisioned by small runabouts.
Smuggling of migrants and slaves (forced workers) also is rampant along much of the coast.

Some reports of the blockade being discussed, but no one in the military units has said it could be practical.

Actually my answer is 'I dunno'. I can't find much information on the coast, the thinking of parties involved, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 12:32 PM

Current count seems to be 30 vessels and 660 hostages held by the pirates.
No news on the Danish family taken last week.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 03:44 PM

I guess part of the problem is that there are always some hostages being held whose lives can be threatened if any major military action is taken. On the other hand, maybe no one wants to spend the money and face the various risks incurred in launching such an operation. How about sending out some nice juicy-looking Q-ships (with lots of hidden firepower waiting on board) and laying traps for the pirates? That might discourage them some. If the odds of not returning from a piracy mission went up steeply, it would become a less popular occupation.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 04:12 PM

I think y`ad have to be an idiot to take a civilian pleasure yacht or other type of boat into `their` waters. I have little sympathy for people who can be that stupid. That said, I don`t understand why big shippers are willing to negotiate million dollar buyouts for the crooks and not hire mercs to take care of business.

The highlight was the seal team who shot the bastards. Calling this scum pirates almost legitimizes them. And even the older days-of-sail pirates were nothing to look up to. Search and destroy has always had a place in warfare, and if this ain`t warfare, then what is!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Teribus
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 05:42 PM

Piracy on the High Seas always used to be regarded as an act of war.

For some reason the EU in its wisdom decided the pirates were criminals and that piracy is a crime, which means the same procedures of arrest apply to an armed pirate as apply to a shoplifter.

"Q"-Ships and what they catch is purely "luck-of-the-draw" its like playing blind man's bluff. They only can serve as a deterrent provided the pirates are aware that the "Q"-ships are out there, there value is that they cause the pirates to be more circumspect in what they attack.

Attack the anchorages where they are holding the ships. Attack the towns nearby, establish convoy routes, use Maritime Patrol Aircraft and watch, watch, watch. The picture will soon emerge and as soon as you have that picture the anomalies stick out like balls on a billiard table.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 06:26 PM

Right on the mark, Teribus. The idea of establishing convoy routes (and well-protected convoys) is an excellent one. It IS a war, so treat it like one, I'd say.

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:37 PM

The US Navy seems to have made a tactical mistake in deciding not to return the two Somali pirates it was negotiating with. That seems to have been the primary reason that triggered the grenade launcher attack and the killing of the hostages by the remaining pirates.

There just are not a lot of good options once the pirates have hostages.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:38 AM

Oh dear! I knew someone would come up with an offer like this, a luxury cruise along the Somali coast: click here for a good time!

I found it hard to believe but check it out yourselves.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 02:41 PM

Now THAT's clever marketing!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 07:58 AM

Momentum appears to be shifting against the Somali pirates as ship owners implement security improvements and the international naval units are resorting to more aggressive intervention. The latest instance was the successful recapture of an Italian cargo ship. Upon being approached by pirates the crew retreated to an armored room and radioed for assistance. The nearby US and UK naval units boarded the ship and captured the Somali pirates without a fire fight. Here are the details: click here for report!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: gnu
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:10 PM

"Pirates currently hold at least 10 ships and 251 people hostage, according to Harrie Harrison, commander of the anti-piracy military coalition European Union Naval Force."

Goodness gracious!

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Newport Boy
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:09 PM

A fuller report in the Guardian

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 10:33 PM

Phil-

Excellent report. So it was a message in the bottle that provided the essential info that the crew was still safe and the ship could be boarded without further endangering them.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 21 Mar 12 - 09:15 AM

UK lady has been freed today after money was paid. I imagine the UK government will organise a nice overseas aid package for the poor souls.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17455284

Subject: RE: BS: Update on Somali Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 08:39 AM

Sad story but at least she is now free "to pick up the pieces of her life."

Charley Noble