Maybe some US involvement now

[angus63]

US Cruise ship fired upon by pirates on the east coast of Africa

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woship1203,0,7710516.story

Are we waiting for a US ship to be hijacked or Americans to die before taking action? Hope not.....

 

[oops!]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

wow......20 mil ransom on a 100 mil stash of oil not to mention the cost of the ship and crew..


not a bad return on investment for a 14 foot john boat and a 35 hp rude. freekin pirates........send in a seal team!

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

It's hard to believe that this is still goin on in 2008 and these guys are successful in overtaking these huge ships.

In the end, the consumer will pay for it. I hope they get this under control soon.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

I don't understand why the ship owners don't just contract someone like Blackwater to defend the ship from onboard. Put about ten of them on the ship, arm them with 50 cal machine guns, 50 cal sniper rifles, M16s, shoulder fired missles, etc. My guess is that the pirates of Somalia would be out of business in short order.

PS: The more I think about it, the more I like the 50 cal sniper rifle idea. All the ship crews would have to do is to put a couple of rounds in the outboards that the pirates use, and the party would be over before it began. Even if they couldn't get a clear shot at the motor, they probably wouldn't even have to kill anyone - a few rounds in the hull anywhere might be pretty convincing.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

Its interesting that as long as we call them pirates and not what they really are.... why then, we can discuss it on this family forum. God bless America. opps! I said GBA!

 

[mthieme]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

We do have ships patrolling the Aden as does the UN.

I like the rent-a-sop idea...but with rocket launchers so there's no mess to clean up. Then we can refer to them as "chum".

 

[aspeck]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

Hey Jay ... Don't forget the AA-12's with the warhead shells!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

I don't understand why the ship owners don't just contract someone like Blackwater to defend the ship from onboard. Put about ten of them on the ship, arm them with 50 cal machine guns, 50 cal sniper rifles, M16s, shoulder fired missles, etc. My guess is that the pirates of Somalia would be out of business in short order.

PS: The more I think about it, the more I like the 50 cal sniper rifle idea. All the ship crews would have to do is to put a couple of rounds in the outboards that the pirates use, and the party would be over before it began. Even if they couldn't get a clear shot at the motor, they probably wouldn't even have to kill anyone - a few rounds in the hull anywhere might be pretty convincing.

I am a big advocate of weapons too except...... whatever we bring today they will bring two of tomorrow. We put a few rounds across the bow and they get mad and destroy or try to the ship they were chasing.

This is a no win thing. It is tough enough for the crew to be at risk but to have the "pirates" anticipate firepower would be ugly.

This is going to require escort boats and keep the blackwater types off of the cargo ships. Let the bad guys engage only those who are prepared.

 

[angus63]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

I don't understand why the ship owners don't just contract someone like Blackwater to defend the ship from onboard. Put about ten of them on the ship, arm them with 50 cal machine guns, 50 cal sniper rifles, M16s, shoulder fired missles, etc. My guess is that the pirates of Somalia would be out of business in short order.

PS: The more I think about it, the more I like the 50 cal sniper rifle idea. All the ship crews would have to do is to put a couple of rounds in the outboards that the pirates use, and the party would be over before it began. Even if they couldn't get a clear shot at the motor, they probably wouldn't even have to kill anyone - a few rounds in the hull anywhere might be pretty convincing.

Jay Check this thread
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=284859

Felons used to use "Saturday night special pea shooters" to commit crimes not long ago when Police Officers used .38's. Now thugs use automatic 9mm weapons and police use handguns. How long before the pirates are better equipped to get their booty? A little proactive intradiction sends the right message IMO.​

 

[angus63]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

In the early 80's I was in the Merchant Marine in the Med (based in Alexandria, Egypt) during the Kadafi Crisis. We conducted "Repel all Borders" drills with M-1 and 50 cal rail mounted weapons and maintained a watch 24/7. I think it's time to re-arm Merchant Mariners and repel all potential borders.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

Its interesting that as long as we call them pirates and not what they really are.... why then, we can discuss it on this family forum. God bless America. opps! I said GBA!

We call them what the media calls them OJ. And, don't you remember Pirate day and the pirate thread? LOL Why wouldn't it be okay to talk about pirates on a boating board? Sheesh.

Not to worry, the mod squad won't let this thread or its contributors get out of hand. Wouldn't want to disappoint you.

Right now the thread is civil and respectful, and so far not political. When it becomes something else, it's gone. Just like all the others.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

It was just announced on our local news that Blackwater has been contacted by 17 different companies for security in that region.They accepted the offers and the North Carolina based Blackwater will be taking the job.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

These pirates have been around for ages picking on yachts for whatever booty they could get. Now they got greedy (like most businesses) and are picking on the big guys for big bucks. The big guys will get governments involved and after the pirates get there butt kicked, will go back to the defenceless little guys. I can only hope that the governments do a good job so that there aren't too many rements about. If it ain't profetable, I don't think too many will take the place of these hoodlems. It isn't like fighting a financed army. At least I hope not.

 

[angus63]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

Unfortunately Nick, these pirates have the financial backing and support of rebel gov'ts in a virtually lawless region without a recognized authority in decades. Money + Power + Pirates= trouble until someone stops it cold.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

Its interesting that as long as we call them pirates and not what they really are.... why then, we can discuss it on this family forum. God bless America. opps! I said GBA!

What else would you call them?? They aren't stealing ships to terrorize anyone... they're doing it for the money... and thus far they have been letting the crew go... that's textbook piracy. Why would you call it anything other than what it is?

 

[JB]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

Just keep in mind, guys, that any US involvement is likely to be black. . .and effective.

There will be no news releases, sound bites or video clips. That is what "covert" means.

 

[QC]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

I hope we/they "covert" their arses to kingdom come . . . When bad guys are allowed to win, we all lose.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

The news said 250 crew members of the other ships they hijacked are held hostage..
i could not imagine how they are being treated,,if still alive.
Its really sad when you think about it.

I am glad Blackwater is getting involved.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

What else would you call them?? They aren't stealing ships to terrorize anyone... they're doing it for the money... and thus far they have been letting the crew go... that's textbook piracy. Why would you call it anything other than what it is?

Well, this thread might booted if I told ya what their really called Sarg. But I will say:

Textbook piracy?....He,He, well excusuuuuuse me!..lmao! I suppose cause you got a textbook then your an expert....lmao!

So they let the crew go do they?....why, I wonder why they dont just kill the crew in the first place?....I mean if they need help running the boat until they get their ransom they could just log on here at Iboats and you could help them get underway.....small world.
....yeah they mean no harm....silly "non-terrorizing" pirates.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Maybe some US involvement now

The news said 250 crew members of the other ships they hijacked are held hostage..
i could not imagine how they are being treated,,if still alive.
Its really sad when you think about it.

I am glad Blackwater is getting involved.

I read yesterday on yaHOO that the crew has been treated well.....lets just hope the pirates never find out about Iboats or the crew will be toast for sure....