The U.S. Navy finally did the right thing, rescuing the captain of the hijacked ship and killing three pirates.
In November of last year, I wrote an article about the pirates of Somalia. Since then, things had not got noticeably better, until today, 12 April. Indeed, from the standpoint of the United States, things had got worse. On 8 April, one of the very few U.S. flag freighters still plying international waters, the Maersk Alabama, was attacked as it was carrying relief supplies to Africa. Although the unarmed officers and crew managed to overwhelm the pirates, the pirates were able to take Captain Richard Phillips hostage. Captain Phillips is understood to have been the first U.S. citizen taken by pirates since 1804. Then, the U.S. Navy responded by defeating the Barbary pirates off the northern coast of what is now Libya, and the U.S. Marines stormed the shores of Tripoli.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Ruvy
Clavos writes: I'm a bit long in the tooth, but I do have combat experience and would gladly ride shotgun on a ship for the welcome opportunity of blowing some of those bastards to hell. Stan adds: Lol. Good to see you haven't lost the will, Clav. If you go, I'm coming too.
I'm also a bit long in tooth, and with a lot less combat experience than Clavos, but I can handle a weapon and I don't get seasick - period. Riding shotgun with Stan and Clavos could be a whole hell of a lot more interesting than the patrol duty I do now. If I bring along about 100 cans of loof, the IDF version of SPAM to go with the hardtack, I'll be good to go....
I'd come back skinny as a rail and tanned like leather.
27 - Baronius
Are we organizing a BC field trip?
28 - roger nowosielski
Count me in. I've always dreamed of being a soldier of fortune.
29 - Baronius
As I understand it, if you arm a vessel sufficiently to withstand an attack by a pirate ship, you pretty much are a pirate ship. I don't know what aspect of naval law allows you to put 18 USN sharp-shooters on a vessel, but I doubt that anyone's going to make a fuss over it. International treaties are kind of sketchy about this stuff.
As a practical matter, insurers won't let you carry weapons on board a ship because too many things can go wrong. A crew is normally trained in the use of flare guns and water cannons, but in case of emergency, the rule is to head for the lifeboats. Really, if you were an insurer, would you let a bunch of armed Blogcritics on a vessel?
30 - Clavos
Really, if you were an insurer, would you let a bunch of armed Blogcritics on a vessel?
After they signed waivers, sure.
31 - Ruvy
Really, if you were an insurer, would you let a bunch of armed Blogcritics on a vessel?
Baronius, Whopper Sandwiches aren't the only things you learn how to cook when you manage a Burger King.... Cooking books (and by extgension, manifests) also come with the job....
32 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
As long as I can wear my sleeveless heavy metal T-shirt(preferably Maiden's "Aces High") while firing an
assault rifleM-60 with acanbottle ofCoors LightCabo Wabo in my hand,then, sign me up!!*Arrgghh* It's drivin me nuts...
33 - Ruvy
Brian, bring your heavy metal tunes and I'll bring my Billy Joel and Dire Straits.... I'm sure Clavos, Stan and Roger can bring more variety (Stan can bring his broom to sing "Waltzing Matilda" to) and we can make this a real fun gig....
34 - roger nowosielski
I am afraid, Ruvy, that me and Stan have reached the point of no return. Too much bad blood. It's not my desire, but I'm certain that's how he feels.
35 - Dan(Miller)
Baronius, if you arm a vessel sufficiently to withstand an attack by a pirate ship, you pretty much are a pirate ship. I thought that the pirates were the guys attacking merchant vessels for booty. Armed merchant ships would probably have defense more in mind; there may be a difference. Defending a ship against half a dozen pirates should not require more than a few, certainly no more than a dozen, well armed and trained people.
My primary concern is with the very few U.S. flag vessels remaining in international waters. Nor do I think it is the proper function of the U.S. to lead an assault on Somalia; She's been there, done that, and didn't even get a tee shirt. It was a dumb thing to do.
As to the BC field trip, sounds like great fun. However, I am probably a bit too long in the tooth and, in any event, doubt that I could hit the water at ten paces with a shotgun; I would be more trouble than I'm worth. No, I would not volunteer to be a hostage.
The United States appears no longer to deem it her proper function to make the world safe for commerce or, for that matter, for democracy. She has received tremendous encouragement from much of the world to repent of, and to make amends for, her wicked, unenlightened and old fashioned ways.
As all right thinking people now realize, the Imperialist United States perversely invaded Europe in 1917 and again in 1941; she massed troops in the Pacific to retaliate most aggressively against peace loving Japan for her well deserved, defensive, attack on Pearl Harbor, and she even had the poor taste to drop atom bombs on two peaceful Japanese cities full of innocent civilians back in 1945. Even the Marshall Plan was an imperialist ploy to control Europe. She invaded Korea in 1950 to assist the puppet regime of South Korea against North Korea's progressive and enlightened forces for good under the benign leadership of her friends in China and in Russia. Soon after she and her legions of baby killers left Vietnam, tail between legs, she went into Somalia and left in much the same way.
For Shame! I say. Never again. Hell, President Obama already has more than enough for which to apologize on behalf of the "old" United States; it will probably take him eight years to do a proper job of it.
The United States should look out for her own interests and the countries in the rest of the world should look out for their own.
Dan(Miller)
The fact that I just returned from transporting a ton of chicken shit to our finca has in no way colored my views.
36 - Dr Dreadful
Whopper Sandwiches aren't the only things you learn how to cook when you manage a Burger King.... Cooking books [...] also comes with the job....
I thought the lettuce tasted a bit woody last time I had a Whopper...
37 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"Soon after she and her legions of baby killers left Vietnam"
Dan...Were you there or were you going by what your forgetful friend Dan(Rather) reported?
38 - Dan(Miller)
Brian,
Why no, I wasn't there. However, there were reliable reports by Jane Fonda and Senator Kerry. Are you suggesting that they should be doubted?
Dan(Miller)
Departs silently for Code Pink Auxiliary meeting.
39 - Baronius
Dan, I'm a "glass half full" kind of guy, who's greatly enthused about the new administration. OK, seriously, this played out about as well as it could have. Some people defied America, and now most of them are dead. Kudos to Obama.
I love this idea of a group of online political foes banding together and defending a ship against pirates. This could be a Hollywood blockbuster - a comedy, with a heroic action-packed ending. Tom Hanks as Ruvy, Morgan Freeman as Dan(M)/narrator, and Julia Roberts as Cindy, the woman who loved them both. Hugh Jackman as Dr. Dreadful and Michale Caine as STM (because Hollywood always gets accents wrong). I see myself as a Vin Diesel or Adam Sandler type. This thing writes itself.
40 - Dan(Miller)
Baronius, my enthusiasm is rather more dilute. However, I think that President Obama did about the best we could have expected in the circumstances. My concerns about why it took so long for the decision to fire to be taken have not been assuaged, nor have the other concerns expressed in the article. Without more information, it would be fruitless to speculate about these things.
In any event, we should, long ago and well before President Obama's watch began on 20 January, have anticipated an incident such as this which, given time, was almost a certainty. We could then have been proactive rather than reactive, which left the officers and crew of the Alabama needlessly in quite a lot of danger. The only solution I can think of which seems to me likely to work is, as I have said before, to provide well trained and armed security forces for all U.S. flag vessels transiting the area. This seems even more appropriate now, since spokesmen for the pirates have threatened revenge against U.S. shipping.
Dan(Miller)
41 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"However, there were reliable reports by Jane Fonda and Senator Kerry."
*Smirk*..Sorry Dan... I didn't catch your sarcasm(?) until it was too late.
"...long ago and well before President Obama's watch began on 20 January, have anticipated an incident such as this which, given time, was almost a certainty."
Ahh...yes, hindsight is a wonderful attribute and is usually 20/20
42 - Dan(Miller)
Brian, yes, I was being sarcastic, pretty much through the entire comment. And yes, hindsight is usually nearly perfect. However, some things are more readily foreseeable than others, and I think the likelihood of a pirate attack either last week or next month or sometime in the near future was readily foreseeable.
This is an obvious solution to the piracy problem which had not previously occurred to me. I wonder how the Chinese navy arranged it.Now for some good news, and I am not making it up: According to the Chinese press, when Chinese merchant ships were being escorted through the Gulf of Aden by a Chinese warships, they were approached by several small pirate vessels. Fortunately for all concerned, thousands of dolphins intervened and turned the pirates back.
Dan(Miller)
43 - roger nowosielski
I agree with Christopher's #7. It almost defies imagination that we can't restore law and order and lawful government to this little nation. Of course, the occupation of Iraq has been a drain on American military resources for 7 years now and counting. Meanwhile, we seem to be impotent when it comes to putting out these little fires and trouble spots the world over. Even instituting a temporary marshal law in Somalia would be an improvement, and it's rather difficult to argue that it would lie beyond the U.S. capability.
The problem is there is no political will, because there's nothing economically to gain. The same old story of US. intervention only in cases when it's in America's direct interest. And when it's not, humanitarian concerns are of little or no effect.
44 - roger nowosielski
Another Hijacking, as if the recent incident wasn't enough.
It's a disgrace that the international community allows this situation to continue.
45 - Cindy
"Advice to Pirates: Call your ransom demands 'taxes.' Give yourself titles like 'President,' 'Admiral,' &'Congressman.'
(seen on twitter today)
46 - STM
Rog: "I am afraid, Ruvy, that me and Stan have reached the point of no return. Too much bad blood. It's not my desire, but I'm certain that's how he feels"
No Rog, I don't hate you.
I just believe in free speech. That's your right to express a point of view, and mine to oppose it, and vice-versa. Forcefully expressed or not, that's all it is.
Being an anglo (celt), I come from a 200-year-long tradition of this robust exchange of ideas and views without it leading to a) sulking, or b) physical violence.
I don't have any desire to dong you one in the nose.
You are welcome to join the BC anti-piracy task force, but if Clav is going to wear his Aussie hat, I'm wearing one of his his Yank ones.
The poor buggers won't know what's hit 'em.
Pirate: "Two old beared guys in hats of the port bow ... let's surrender now before they unleash the BC gabfest on us. We won't survive the night."
47 - Clavos
...but if Clav is going to wear his Aussie hat, I'm wearing one of his his Yank ones.
The poor buggers won't know what's hit 'em.
Great idea! We'll confuse 'em to death!
48 - STM
Dan: "Dolphins ... This is an obvious solution to the piracy problem which had not previously occurred to me. I wonder how the Chinese navy arranged it."
Lol. Very potent hallucinogens, possibly. If so, does the story give us any idea of where I might get some?
49 - roger nowosielski
Well, I'm glad to hear that, STM. I'm also not good at holding grudges. You probably know that we, Poles, also come from a long tradition of heated debates and open-ended exchanges. One reason, BTW, for Poland's political misfortunes. They had a practice in the Polish Sejm (the Parliament) whereby a single vote against any proposed legislative issue would prevent the passage: the Liberum veto. Needless to say, the conditions of perfect unanimity were almost never reached, with disastrous political results, I might add.
50 - Cindy
Dan S.(Miller),
Some news I thought you might like to know about.
"A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it."
51 - Dan(Miller)
Re Comment #42,
Dan(Miller)This just in from the Intergalactic News, published in conjunction with the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
52 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
A Pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel in his pants. Finds his way to a stool,slowly sits down & the bartender asks,"Hey,matey,ya know you have a steering wheel in your pants?".
The Pirate replies" "Arrgghh, I know, it's drivin' me nuts!"
53 - STM
Pirate walks into a bar and orders a beer.
Barman asks: "Where's yer buccaneers?"
Pirate replies: " Where d'yer buckin' think they are? ... underneath me buckin' 'at!"
54 - Dr Dreadful
More crime news:
Thieves broke into the 23rd precinct station house in Manhattan last night and stole all the toilets from both the men's and women's restrooms. Police say they have nothing to go on.
55 - roger nowosielski
You must be kidding. What would they want with the toilets?
56 - Clavos
If so, does the story give us any idea of where I might get some?
Try the nearest whorehouse.
Oh wait! Not THAT "some."
Sea World has lots of dolphin.
Still wrong? OK, I give up -- "Some" what??
57 - Clavos
Couple arrives curbside at Kennedy airport, Skycap walks up to the man and asks, "Carry your bag mister?"
"Nah, let 'er walk."
Ta-dum
58 - Dr Dreadful
A US high school teacher asked her class to write down the meaning of the following phrase:
Sic transit gloria mundi
Only one kid was able to answer. He wrote:
My sister Gloria threw up on the bus on her way to work after the weekend.
59 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Come on now... It's supposed to be pirate jokes only. I mean there's been some good ones here but try to stay with the subject.
60 - Dr Dreadful
Sorry, Guppy. After Cindy's #50 I thought we'd just degenerated into a general free-for-all of terrible jokes.
61 - Clavos
I, too, saw it as obvious that the only genre requirement was "terrible."
But, OK:
A pirate walks into a bar wearing a paper towel on his head. He sits down at the bar and orders some dirty rum.
The bartender asks, "Why are you wearing a paper towel?"
"Arrr..." says the pirate. "I've got a bounty on me head!"
62 - Cindy
How much does it cost for a pirate to pierce his ears?
A buck an ear! Aaaarrrgh!
63 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I just figured if we were gonna hijack this thread at least it could be,somewhat,on the same topic as the article. Really, though, I wasn't getting offended. I like all jokes(even the terrible ones)
64 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
*Oops* "Hijack".... no pun intended.
65 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
If there are three flies in a kitchen, Which one is the Cowboy?
The one sittin' on the range....
*Har-De-Har-Har*
66 - STM
"I've got a bounty on me head!"
Lol The chocolate kind, and if so, melted I presume?
Just not sure if we're on English cross-lingo wavelengths here.
Kangaroo walks into a bar and orders a beer.
The barman asks: "Hey, mate ... something wrong? Why the long face?"
67 - Clavos
Ta-dum.
Hate to do this (explain a joke), but since you may not have 'em in Oz, it seems necessary, mate.
One of the biggest-selling brands of paper towels here is Bounty.
Sigh...
68 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"You must be kidding. What would they want with the toilets?"
LOL...Roger, you're kidding right??
The Police have nothing to go on...
69 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
There was an elderly man who wanted to make his younger wife pregnant.
So, he went to the doctor to have a sperm count done. The doctor told him to take a specimen cup home, fill it, and bring it back the next day. The elderly man came back the next day and the specimen cup was empty and the lid was on it.
Doctor: What was the problem?
Elderly man: Well, you I tried with my right hand...nothing. So, I tried with my left hand...nothing. My wife tried with her right hand...nothing. Her left hand...nothing. Her mouth...nothing. Then my wife's friend tried. Right hand, left hand, mouth....still nothing.
Doctor: Wait a minute. You mean your wife's friend too?!
Elderly man: Yeah, and we still couldn't get the lid off of the specimen cup.
70 - roger nowosielski
Yes. But you've got to say it with the straight face to get the full effect.
71 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
*Aw-Shit*...Straight face?!
You Bastard
72 - Clavos
Nice recovery!
73 - Dr Dreadful
Man on a business trip walks into the penthouse bar at his hotel. He's not really sure what he wants so he goes up to the guy sitting at the bar and asks him what he's drinking.
'Magic beer,' the guy says.
'Magic beer? What's magic about it?'
'This,' the guy says. He takes a chug of his drink, puts down the glass, gets up, walks over to the window, opens it, flies three times around the building, comes back inside, sits back down at the bar and carries on drinking.
'Wow, that's great!' the businessman says. 'I'll have what he's having.'
So he buys his drink, takes a chug, gets up, walks over to the window, opens it, jumps out and plummets 50 stories to his death.
The bartender turns to the guy at the bar and says, 'You know, Superman, you can be a real bastard when you're drunk.'
74 - roger nowosielski
Actually, Brian, Clav, I lied. But I sure caught it the second time.
75 - roger nowosielski
What's less funny, GeorgeReeves was purported to jump to his death, drunk or sober.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still a mystery,