Somali pirate UK hostages freed

[sara3]

well I never saw this coming! http://uk.news.yahoo....i-pirates-6323e80.htm

I have mixed feelings on ransoms being paid, but am delighted for them and their family.

[Gromit]

...will the lining the pockets of evil muslim scumbag pirates.

[boxtops]

The link I posted suggests Somali govt and "private investors" (could be the press?)

Gromit - evil pirates can be of any religion, the fact that Somalis are in general Muslims is not really relevant to this (also also means that the Muslim Somali govt may have footed the ransom). They might be anything or nothing, piracy is not exclusive to any faith. We digress.

[zzxxee]

glad they are free, did not realise the navy had offered them a night escourt service
so my sympathy has declined somewhat for them !!!!

[marval]

I am sorry that a ransom was paid, but I am pleased that they are free.

[jno]

boxtops, Gromit's reference to evil Muslim scumbags may possibly be a quote from other ABers, though I could not say who.

Why is everyone so concerned with money here? Who paid the ransom?? Will they get rich??

Why is this the first thing people latch onto?

[ummmm]

According to the BBC our government didn't pay a penny.

(although that story could have changed as the BBC were trying to respect the family's wishes by not reporting on the case)

If people really listened to the news and not the headlines they might have a clearer opinion of the case.

Sickening...

[anotheoldgit]

boxtops

/// evil pirates can be of any religion, the fact that Somalis are in general Muslims is not really relevant to this (also also means that the Muslim Somali govt may have footed the ransom ///

On one hand you wish to hide the fact that this evil act was carried out once again by the believers of Islam, and yet you don't mind stating the fact that the 'Muslim' Samali Goverment may have footed the ransom.

The media should not make heroes out of this couple, and any interview that they conduct, the question of refunding the ransom money to whoever paid it, should be put to them so that the nation can be informed.

Regarding this piracy, it seems so easy for the pirates, they can take over huge container ships with little more than rowing boats.

Could not a decoy vessel be kitted out with trained troops and weapons, and regularly patrol these waters, waiting for the pirates to attack, and then blow them out of the water?

They would soon get the message.

[jno]

aog, the RN had a ship there and actually watched as the Chandlers were taken from their yacht aboard another hijacked ship and taken to shore.

[Zeuhl]

<<Could not a decoy vessel be kitted out with trained troops and weapons, and regularly patrol these waters, waiting for the pirates to attack, and then blow them out of the water?>>

LOL

Straight out of The Victor Book for Boys!
.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Straight out of The Victor Book for Boys! ///

Not out of the Victor Book for Boys, as you state, but they really existed.

These vessels were called Q boats and used extensively during both WW1 and WW2.

http://tinyurl.com/yqvrh2

[Bbbananas]

I am glad they've been freed, but they have to take some of the responsibility - they were extremely foolish breaking away from the yacht flotilla/convoy whatever, to go off on their own - in waters well known to be frequented by pirates. They were naive, at the very least. All yachties are aware of what can happen in this particular area - that is why a lot of us sail in groups and don't go off on our ownsome....

They didn't deserve their captivity, but I do hope they learnt from their foolishness. A hard price to pay and hindsight is a wonderful thing, but they have come in for some criticism from fellow sailors for doing what they did.