Somali piracy thread

[Dreadnought]

Well now, that would come under the definition of murder, now wouldnt it?

It would only constitute murder in two ways:

1) They were shot while swimming.
2) If anybody gave a rats azz about them

LOL High Seas justice at work for you tax dollars. Ill go with Alito's call on the matter.

[Julie]

The Churchill is part of a multinational task force patrolling the western Indian Ocean and Horn of Africa region to thwart terrorist activity and other lawlessness during the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

The Navy said it captured the dhow in response to a report from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on Friday that said pirates had fired on the MV Delta Ranger, a Bahamian-flagged bulk carrier that was passing some 320 kilometers (200 miles) off the central eastern coast of Somalia.

Well now, that would come under the definition of murder, now wouldnt it?

No, because the Churchill is rightly there under International Law, and they were in pursuit as in response to a valid request, and the pursued vessel was fleeing. Of course it would be investigated, the the homicides would have been justified.

[sparten]

When I lived in Karachi a few years ago I was a member of the Navy Club (I knew the manager, it was civilian staffed) so I gotta meet quite many Naval officers. One day there is news of a collison between a Frigate and a Dhow off Oman. Several Days later the skipper of the Figs comes in for a drink while we are there. Turns out that the floating bath tub managed to break the ships rudder. After that orders were, shoot the bastards, (or at least thats what the gentlemen told me )

[Dreadnought]

Lay on the Klaxon just for a few moments to scare the hell out of em while you run them down and then commence opening fire and then blow the bow right off at the waterline "I SAID STOP"

[Dreadnought]

How ironic a USN vessel with that name patrolling "convoy" duty again in dangerous waters

[Dreadnought]

And yet they are so stupid as to come back for more

NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) -- Somali gunmen hijacked an Indian-owned dhow off Somalia's coast with 25 crew members aboard, a maritime official said on Monday.

The dhow was attacked by two small boats while on route from the southern port of Kismayo to El-Maan, 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the lawless capital Mogadishu on Sunday, Andrew Mwangura, program coordinator for the Seafarers' Assistance Program, said.

"Normally when they take captives, they want to get in contact with the chief owner," Mwangura told Reuters, adding he did not know whether the hijackers had contacted the owners.

He said the dhow was called the Bhakti Sagar, but did not name the owners.

El-Maan used to be the most peaceful port, he said. "Those ships who are still in Mombasa are afraid to go to El-Maan now."

Somalia's waters have become among the most dangerous in the world since warlords ousted military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Many militias controlled by powerful warlords smuggle drugs, weapons and people by road, sea and air around the region. Piracy is a lucrative and increasingly popular offshoot of this illicit trade.

Hmmm TH still thinking i went a bit overboard? Sounds more like 5" practice will become the rule of the day from here on out with still no lifeguards on duty.

[Jay]

Somali pirates beat Indian crew of ship: captain

By Celestine Achieng
Reuters
Tuesday, February 14, 2006; 2:04 PM

MOMBASA (Reuters) - The captain of an Indian vessel said on Tuesday his crew was beaten and starved during a six-day hostage ordeal, in the first testimony from a prosecution witness in the trial of 10 suspected Somali pirates.

Acting on a report of an attempted attack, U.S. Navy sailors seized a ship last month near Mogadishu which had 10 suspected Somali pirates and 16 Indian crew members on board.


The suspects were handed over to Kenyan authorities late in January and charged in Kenya with hijacking the ship, threatening the lives of crew members and demanding a $450,000 ransom.

As the prosecution opened its case, Captain Akbar Ali Suleiman told a Mombasa court his crew were mistreated and threatened while being held between January 16-21.

"We went without food for four days, they beat us up every time we tried to free ourselves and save our lives," Suleiman said during cross-examination. "They were asking for $450,000 and satellite phones which we did not have."

After identifying the 10 suspects as the same gunmen who held him and the ship hostage, he said the pirates tried in vain to hijack three more ships using his vessel during that period.

Prosecutors presented an assortment of weapons that included three AK-47s, two anti-aircraft missiles and a revolver as evidence against the 10 men.

Elsewhere, in the southern port of Kismayo, nearly 400 km (250 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, four people were killed and seven wounded when militia loyal to the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) faction that controls the port town clashed with a splinter group. Civilians were among the dead.

"Four people died this morning and seven were wounded," JVA spokesman Bile Abdulle said. "I believe the fighting between the two militias was caused by revenge."

Somalia's waters have become among the most dangerous in the world since warlords ousted military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Typically, armed pirates use speedboats to attack and board ships, including oil tankers.

The dozens of hijackings and attempted seizures in the waters off Somalia have shaken merchant shipping, which relies heavily on international trade routes that snake down Somalia's coastline, the longest in any African country.

The court ruled a week ago that it could hear the case, following an injunction by the defense which questioned its jurisdiction over the matter, arguing that the suspects were seized in international waters.

The suspects face a possible life sentence if convicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021401058.html

[Dreadnought]

Hmmmm maybe we should station a shark of the silent service in the pool for a bit and bring this to a permanent close.

[gunnut]

I think a few trained crew members with a couple of 50s should do the trick.

[Wraith601]

The USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) fired several warning shots across the bow of a pirate captured Dutch merchie off the Somalian coast today. Apparently no further action was taken until the Dutch government could be consulted.

Link

Any thoughts on how to deal with the piracy problem off Somalia since not even a multinational naval presence has done much to deter them?

[dalem]

The USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) fired several warning shots across the bow of a pirate captured Dutch merchie off the Somalian coast today. Apparently no further action was taken until the Dutch government could be consulted.

Link

Any thoughts on how to deal with the piracy problem off Somalia since not even a multinational naval presence has done much to deter them?

Kill 'em all.

-dale

[gunnut]

Yaaarrrrr...make them walk the planks...maties...

[Dreadnought]

Share patrol of the waters between the Allied forces.
Get the captured crew off first and foremost.
As far as what to do with the pirates vessels.... Give em two 5"/64's in the stern and let the ****ers swim home.

[Bob Jones]

Blow em outta the water, and let the sharks ave em

[Grim]

1. Give 50 cal.s and RPGs to the Merchant Marines and let them earn their name again.
2.Stop carrying payroll in the ships safe.
A lot of vessels carry the crews payroll in the Captains safe, that is the main target of the pirates.
Kidnapping and ransom are not as common as a quick salt water mugging.