Somalian Pirates

[rov1200]

The US have managed to release the Captain captured hostage by the Somalian pirates. To date nearly every Somalian hijack has resulted in huge sums being paid out for their release. (with the exception of the French). Therefore knowing they could get away with it the pirates became more brazen and took more risks which escalated the problem.

Do you think the US method was correct as innocent civilians could be killed or should these pirates become so powerful with bought weaponry and create greater demands?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/799608 7.stm

[Joy11]

These people have no regard for human life at all rov, I think the US were right to go in and get the ships Captain, bullying in any form is gross and this was a form of it, standing up to these vile bandits might make the next lot who are out to make a fast buck....think! although I doubt it.
This guy had been held on a life raft in the middle of the ocean for days, thankfully it did go the right way and the Captain is safe

[anotheoldgit]

I have recently posted two questions on this subject the first received no replies.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question73 6946.html

In both I asked how these hijacks are possible taking into account the difference in size between the attacked ship and the attacking vessel, and why do they not arm the tankers.

If this measure had been implemented I doubt if this present action would have been necessary.

[eltelioni]

I am confused.

Why did the pirates abandon the hijack? The crew were hidden in a cabin and the captain surrendered to them.

Also, the snipers shot the 3 pirates on the lifeboat because they were holding a gun to the captain's head. The captain was found tied up inside the lifeboat, so presumably that's where the pirates were. So how did the snipers manage to hit them?

Perhaps we are not being told everything. But the outcome is good. Pity about the pirate who survived. He may reveal what the ship's crew did to deter the hijack.

[keyplus90]

Etelioni - Your analysis do make sense. To understand the whole scenario all you have to do is watch any American movie and you would understand that Americans can save the world from any disaster in this Universe, you name it.

Later on, you find out most of the times that the villain was created by the Hero himself because you can not be a hero if there is no villain. Or there is no goodie if there is no badie as my son would say it. So to be a goodie you might as well create a badie.

[Theland1]

We need a John Wayne figure, or a Stephen Segal to ride gunshot on the ships.

[rov1200]

I think the Americans were right to go in. Pirating from Somalia has grown to such a huge industry it needs to be stopped in its tracks. Each multi-million payment only goes to provide even more sophisticated weaponry. I believe there is a Mr Big controlling many of the operations and are not spontaneous as they might seem. They say you should never give in to blackmail but that is exactly what the owners of the hijacked ships are doing.

[rov1200]

Eltenioli I think the job of these special service snipers are to take no prisoners. Just like the Iranian siege in London all of the terrorists were shot before asking them to surrender. Its part of their training.

[eltelioni]

rov - I wasn't questioning their ethics. It was appropriate to shoot to kill. I just wondered how they managed to do it when the pirates were inside a totally enclosed lifeboat.

[chas2008]

ive spent ages convincing my grandson there are no such thing as real pirates !! hes watched to many jonny depp films..
then theres this plastered all ove the news, takes some explaining to a 5 year old...

[Booldawg]

I think the rise in pirate activity off the east coast of Africa will prove an invaluable source of 'real life' training scenarios. This allows special marine services such as Delta Force or the SBS the chance to develop and hone their skills whilst 'offing' a few baddies in the process.

[rov1200]

I agree but so far we have just been armchair participants.

[Gormless]

I can't see the problem. There can't be that many ships steaming off the coast of Somalia surely? So the US stations a destroyer or two there to protect them, and if there are any threats, they blow them out of the water. What is the difficulty with this?