FunkyTown Posted April 9, 2009 Report Posted April 9, 2009 US warship arrives as pirates' options dwindle - Yahoo! NewsSo an unarmed US vessel was taken by pirates, only to have the unarmed US citizens overpower the pirates and go to a stand-off when they captured one of them. This was broken when the Captain agreed to act as a hostage if the pirates would leave.Very rarely does a news story resonate with me on this level. A bunch of unarmed men overpowered the armed thugs and managed to force them to withdraw with the noble sacrifice of a person who took his responsibilities seriously.I understand international borders and diplomacy. I comprehend the delicate laws involved in international shipping that allows piracy to occur and why they have to exist.That having been said, I would not cry if a group of independent people "Not associated with the government in any way" broke those laws and brought justice to these pirates and rescued the Captain."If you make any moves, we'll shoot the Captain.""There are ten of you and twenty of us with sniper rifles. I don't like your chances."I'm praying for the Captain and hope everyone else can, too. He's a hero. Quote
Jenamarie Posted April 9, 2009 Report Posted April 9, 2009 I hope the captain survives this and that they hold a freakin' parade for the guy. Talk about honorable service! He is a true hero. Quote
Palerider Posted April 10, 2009 Report Posted April 10, 2009 I think we will also have the making of another movie in the works... Quote
StallionMcBeastly Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 The Captain is a hero. I hear that the Somali pirates are calling in reinforcements.... that's great - we can kill them all at once. Quote
Guest HEthePrimate Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 I haven't been able to get this situation out of my head, either. If we didn't care about the captain's life, the Navy could just take the pirates into custody or blow them out of the water. But we do care about human life, and that's the difference between us and them. From what I've heard, there's a team of SEALs there that's trained in hostage rescue--maybe they'll be able to save the captain. Hopefully, the Navy will also be able to block the pirates who have come to their fellows' aid. Maybe if they can't get help, they'll see the situation is hopeless for them--killing the captain really wouldn't be in their best interest because then they'd have no leverage for a ransom, and we'd have no reason not to attack. I've been thinking of flying a flag in support of the anti-piracy forces, but had trouble figuring out which one to fly. Maybe I'll go with the Star-Spangled Banner flag (15 stars, 15 stripes) that the U.S. was flying during the Jefferson and Madison administrations, when we were fighting the Barbary Wars against pirates. The captain is a hero. I hope he lives and comes home to a hero's welcome. Peace. HEP Quote
Captain_Curmudgeon Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 No doubt that Richard Phillips is a real hero and I hope (and expect) that he'll get out of this all right. I can't find exact information, but I'd be very surprised if his crew were US citizens. Life at sea is too hard for the people we've become. Except for the USNavy, of course.I hope there are SEALS around and that we have the guts to use them. The US Navy (and Marines) in the past have been the pirates' worst fear (does "shores of Tripoli" ring a bell?).I've been thinking of flying a flag in support of the anti-piracy forces, but had trouble figuring out which one to fly.I've been trying to remember (or find on the Net) who it was that flew a whip when he went after pirates. He wanted to make it clear that he was going to drive them from the seas.The real story, of course, is that marine insurance regulations are the determinant. My solution would be to put a mere Marine fire team on a few ships to provide a core of fire power and to train the crew in repelling boarders. Turns out that doing so would make the insurance premiums skyrocket and that the ship owners do better to just keep with the status quo and hope the pirates go after someone else. Quote
Guest HEthePrimate Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 No doubt that Richard Phillips is a real hero and I hope (and expect) that he'll get out of this all right. I can't find exact information, but I'd be very surprised if his crew were US citizens. Life at sea is too hard for the people we've become. Except for the USNavy, of course.I'm pretty sure at least a couple of them are Americans (not that their safety would be any less important if they weren't). On the news the other night I saw a couple of the mates being interviewed, and if they weren't American or Canadian, they did a darn good job of imitating our accent! I hope there are SEALS around and that we have the guts to use them. The US Navy (and Marines) in the past have been the pirates' worst fear (does "shores of Tripoli" ring a bell?).Exactly what I was thinking of when I chose the 15-star flag. :)I've been trying to remember (or find on the Net) who it was that flew a whip when he went after pirates. He wanted to make it clear that he was going to drive them from the seas. I LOVE that!BTW, the USS Bainbridge, which has been dispatched to deal with the pirates, is named in honor of Commodore William Bainbridge, who fought in both Barbary Wars and in the War of 1812. Nice touch, Navy!HEP Quote
Captain_Curmudgeon Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 (edited) I was reading the news this morning and was surprised to find that the crew seems to be American all right. I was wrong and I'm wondering what the current situation is on that. Not that I'm about to come out of retirement and go back to sea.Last I heard, the boat is out of fuel and drifting and and being shadowed by the Navy. Negotiations have broken down. I'm still hoping for this to have a good outcome and for Capt Phillips to be safe. Edited April 12, 2009 by Captain_Curmudgeon Quote
Guest HEthePrimate Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 It's over! The captain has been freed unharmed, and three out of four pirates dead. Here's a news article about it. US sea captain freed in swift firefightWhat a relief! A wonderful Easter gift for him and his family.HEP Quote
Jenamarie Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 YAY!!! Happy Easter to his family! Quote
BenRaines Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 Capt. called it right and what I expected all along. Navy SEALS took out three of the four pirates as one surrendered. Sounds like a fair hostage exchange to me. I bet the situation in the area changes some for the near future. More warlike ships cruising the area protecting shipping interests. Ben Raines Quote
StallionMcBeastly Posted April 13, 2009 Report Posted April 13, 2009 Just heard about this.... awesome! Glad they're dead - hopefully it will send a message to the rest of them to not mess with us. The one that surrendered is going to be given a trial - he'll probably be hung. Quote
Guest HEthePrimate Posted April 13, 2009 Report Posted April 13, 2009 Just heard about this.... awesome!Glad they're dead - hopefully it will send a message to the rest of them to not mess with us.The one that surrendered is going to be given a trial - he'll probably be hung.Though I'm very glad Capt. Phillips is safe, and prefer that the criminal die than the victim, I have a hard time rejoicing that people died. Quote
Still_Small_Voice Posted April 14, 2009 Report Posted April 14, 2009 I was praying for Captain Phillips. I am glad the Lord answered my prayer and that he is able to safely return to loved ones' arms. Quote
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