Pirates and Maersk Alabama

[Carl]

I am wondering what all of you think of the current situation off the coast of Somalia with a US citizen being held by pirates and the fact that a US flag ship was attached? Is it another test of our president or just a coincidence?

[RWilson2526]

I think coincidence....that would mean that pirates had opportunity in the past to hit american ships but didnt because they were afraid GW would take no quarter? I havent done the research yet to prove it but my guess would be there are alot more foreign vessels sailing the coast of Africa than american ships.... a numbers game I think.

[tsubaki]

We have historically demonstrated we don't care what happens on that continent since we kicked Rommel's butt.
I have no other way to describe it.
They could gut Hillary with a weeks notice on world wide satellite (well bad example but) and we wouldn't respond.

OUTSTANDING NEWS!!
I couldn't be more pleased to be so wrong!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/12/somalia.pirates/index.html

[Mac_Attack]

US warships are moving in. no American citizen has lost his life yet! And notice I did say yet. Billy Mac

[reelapeelin]

Hope they got video of their pumpkin heads exploding on impact...send the video ashore and let all the would be pirates see what happens when you take an American flagged ship :bat:

Just glad the capt got out safe...and ALIVE!!...

I'd like to see 'em station a carrier in the area and have fighter jets in the air 24/7 for a while...if an American ship is approached, it wouldn't take long to have a jet swoop outta the sky and deal w/these @$$holes in a way they understand...that actually happened to a friend of mine who was a long-line capt off Cuba...they were approached by a Cuban gun-boat outside terratorial waters...down comes an F14 Tomcat, draws a wave over their bow...AWAY goes the Cuban gun-boat...now they understand...

[Mac_Attack]

US sharpshooters and OUR PRESIDENT passed this test. Reel good idea about the carrier! Billy
Mac

[Carl]

I am very glad the Capt got out alive - Snipers should have done this days ago.

[cterrebonne]

this was very impressive that they used common sense and took the pirates down.

[Stillrunning]

Hope they got video of their pumpkin heads exploding on impact...send the video ashore and let all the would be pirates see what happens when you take an American flagged ship :bat:

Just glad the capt got out safe...and ALIVE!!...

I'd like to see 'em station a carrier in the area and have fighter jets in the air 24/7 for a while...if an American ship is approached, it wouldn't take long to have a jet swoop outta the sky and deal w/these @$$holes in a way they understand...that actually happened to a friend of mine who was a long-line capt off Cuba...they were approached by a Cuban gun-boat outside terratorial waters...down comes an F14 Tomcat, draws a wave over their bow...AWAY goes the Cuban gun-boat...now they understand...

The Us has ships in the area but it alot of water to cover. By the time we are alerted to the danger the pirates have already made their move. These ships need to arm themself and take these guys out. If I'm correct Blackwater is now contracting with ships to provide them protection but I'm not sure if they have done this yet or its something they are working on doing.

[cterrebonne]

The Us has ships in the area but it alot of water to cover. By the time we are alerted to the danger the pirates have already made their move. These ships need to arm themself and take these guys out. If I'm correct Blackwater is now contracting with ships to provide them protection but I'm not sure if they have done this yet or its something they are working on doing.


they should hire BW and arm them with some FGM-148's and some 50 cals. with the right radar set up the boat should be able to pick up some pirates on a life raft if they wanted to surprise at night.