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April 09, 2009
How's This For A Negotiating Stance:
"Release the Captain or you die. Harm the Captain and you die"
(CNN) -- A U.S. warship arrived before dawn Thursday near a 28-foot lifeboat holding four pirates and the kidnapped captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, officials said.Also nearby was the Maersk Alabama -- which had been seized early Wednesday off the Horn of Africa. All 20 of its remaining crew members were in good physical shape, said Ken Quinn, second officer of the ship, in a satellite call placed by CNN.
"There's four Somali pirates, and they've got our captain," Quinn said.
Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge was near the Maersk Alabama and that its crew was talking to the Navy.
Maybe I'm missing something, but four pirate bastards in a 28-foot lifeboat should not be in a "stand-off" with a 508-foot destroyer. They should be in little pink pieces surrounded by splinters if they don't do what they are told.
But certainly these strong words will shiver the timbers of these sea-scoundrels:
Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, said while Washington was focused on the latest incident, “more generally, we think the world must come together to end the scourge of piracy”.
I'm sure every sailor in the US Merchant Marine fleet is sleeping easier after hearing that.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at April 9, 2009 06:23 AM
Comments
The crew made a deal with the pirates, they reneged: negotiations over. Time for target practice.
And what's with this metro-sexual 'world must come together' stuff Hillary is spouting? That's just a feeble attempt to avoid standing up to the bullies alone. Did she give the family jewels back to Bill when she was sworn in at State?
Posted by: Retread at April 9, 2009 07:38 AM
Posted by: tree hugging sister at April 9, 2009 07:49 AM
Hehehe.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at April 9, 2009 08:03 AM
Retread, now that Hillary's responsible for her actions, she'll tread lightly, pretty much the same way her hubby did when he played strip poker in the White House.
Sis, EXCELLENT!
Posted by: JeffS at April 9, 2009 10:01 AM
Geez, doesn't Obama have the Marine Corps Battle Hymn on his iPod?
From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli
We will fight our country's battles, on the land or in the sea
It's the FIRST TWO LINES. THAT'S the official US policy on piracy. What are these crapweasels doing?
Posted by: nightfly at April 9, 2009 10:28 AM
PS - I apologize if that's what Ms. Sister posted... I can't watch the vids here.
Posted by: nightfly at April 9, 2009 10:29 AM
Nightfly, Sis posted the Coke song, 'I'd like to teach the world to sing'.
On CNBC just now, the Maersk Alabama got some security people (from the Bainbridge, I think) and is leaving the area; apparently there are four pirates in the lifeboat with the captain (only four?!) and those boats typically have food and water for about thirty days, so this could take awhile.
Posted by: Retread at April 9, 2009 12:42 PM
It's been over 200 years since American merchant ships have been seriously threatened by pirates. Strangely enough, they were Muslims in Africa.
A Few Good Men put an end to that shit. Fast Forward to the 21st century: African Muslim pirates have been practicing their trade on vessels from all over the world - including other muslim nations - but leaving American ships alone.
And then The One bows before the sheik of sheiks. Possibly a coincidence, but I doubt it.
Posted by: Mark at April 9, 2009 08:56 PM
I agree with the "little pink pieces" comment. By allowing the situation to go on and on, they're just giving the "pirates" (that sounds so glamorous... let's call them what they are -- thugs) what they want: publicity.
It reminds me of the joke that was going around during the Iran hostage crisis: "What's a big, glow-in-the-dark crater?" "Iran, an hour after Reagan becomes President".
Enough already. Show the thugs how we handle things in America.
Posted by: Julie at April 10, 2009 08:02 AM