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Breaking: Captain Phillips Freed
2009-04-12

American sea Captain Richard Phillips was rescued from four Somali pirates Sunday, a U.S. intelligence official said.


Three pirates were killed and one was in custody after what appeared to be a swift firefight off the Somali coast, the official said.

Phillips, who was not hurt, was safely transported to a Navy warship nearby.

The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Talks began Thursday with the captain of the USS Bainbridge talking to the pirates under instruction from FBI hostage negotiators on board the U.S. destroyer.

U.S. warships and helicopters stalked the lifeboat holding Phillips and his four Somali captors Sunday, while his crew briefed FBI agents about how they fought off the pirates who boarded their ship, the Maersk Alabama.
Posted by:Sherry

#77  mnyt comes to us via a server in Los Angeles. FWIW

Thank you, lotp. One likes to know where they cluster. No wonder the poor thing was practically inarticulate.
Posted by: trailing wife in Buffalo   2009-04-12 23:29  

#76  Actually I heard something to the effect (radio? I forget where) that the captured pirate has been captured for a long while, and possibly of his own accord.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2009-04-12 23:29  

#75  saw that, CF. Geraldo's spin: "He'll never know the pleasure of getting his driver's license because he's illegal and driving to the malt shop with Betty Lou Al-Habib to have a malt and burger and IED"

It's a friggin joke Geraldo (Illegal alien apologist) is on Fox
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 23:06  

#74  Somehow I can't see Obama having the political will to order this done. Most likely the Captain triggered this and the crew took advantage of the opportunity. they probably had standing orders that 'if an opportunity presents itself...'.

Anyone catch how Geraldo was all trying to get sympathetic for the 'poor 16 year old boy' who was the pirate survivor? And how he would be tried in 'Lower Manhatten NYC...'. I just caught a few mins of it before I turned the channel in disgust.

Oh and congrats to the Captain (who has balls) and the Seals who saved him.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2009-04-12 22:45  

#73  America... FUCK YEAH.
Posted by: bgrebel   2009-04-12 21:56  

#72  quit, not quite. Apparently I bought an extra vowel
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 21:33  

#71  Geraldo has Dr. Bob "MSNBC" Arnot and Wesley "The Unblinking Dembot" on to explain it to us on Foxnews. Can we push thi sshit over the side, puhleeeeze? If Fox is to be pilloried as Rightwing media, make it so, and quite welcoming douchebag illegal-sucking syncophants like Geraldo on. Funny they should ask Wesley about a successful Mil Ops, eh?
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 21:32  

#70  Last time I checked the Pirates-Yankee game it was 1-0 Yankees, 3 outs, 1 save, and 1 no decision. Of course it's mostly away games for the yankees because we like it that way.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2009-04-12 21:28  

#69  Go NAVY! Beat PIRATES!
Posted by: SteveS   2009-04-12 21:21  

#68  no doubt, wi-fi from the LAX cabstand. Nothing to worry about....
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 20:53  

#67  Time for some privateers or mercenaries to raise a bit of anonymous mayhem in Eyl and Hobyo.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2009-04-12 20:49  

#66  mnyt comes to us via a server in Los Angeles. FWIW
Posted by: lotp   2009-04-12 20:45  

#65  Obama may still drive this country into financial ruin, but I thank him for authorizing the Navy to use force to resolve this matter--not once, but twice, according to reports. Even if this rescue was more spontaneous than planned, the hostage is safe, three pieces of s**t are dead, and the remaining little bastard is in custody.

Welcome back, Capt. Phillips! Excellent job, Navy!
Posted by: Dar   2009-04-12 20:40  

#64  Crazy is as crazy does! Pirates want to act crazy, well the USN can, too. If any of these lily-livered fleabags want to reprimand the snipers for "escalating violence" bring it. The world needed to see that the United States doesn't bend over for pirates irregardless.
Posted by: GirlThursday   2009-04-12 20:31  

#63  "Abdullahi Lami, one of the pirates holding the Greek ship anchored in the Somali town of Gaan said: "Every country will be treated the way it treats us. In the future, America will be the one mourning and crying," he told The Associated Press. "We will retaliate (for) the killings of our men."



Posted by: crazyhorse   2009-04-12 20:26  

#62  As I learn more about the circumstances I am more convinced that there will be pressure brought to discipline the Bainbridge officers and the men who fired the shots. It will be played as cold-blooded murder (and probably was, not that there's anything wrong with that.) JoeM has it pegged. And Deacon's quote of Adm. Gortney confirms it.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-04-12 20:25  

#61  pizza and beer for all in the team room.

Perhaps President "Present!"™ could have his Pizza Chef fly on to deliver pan-baked heaven to the actual heroes? Thought not..
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 20:24  

#60  "This could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it."

perhaps a deserved time has come. Somalian immigration should be put on permanent hold (as should Pakistani) while we do a reality check on who we're admitting (and let travel for training). I'd offer an Arclight or Q-ship option, but Dave D's such a hardass on credit and I don't wanna drive to the ATM to pay for the drinks in the O-Club
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 20:21  

#59  The politico's are too cowardly to do anything but give the USN captain and the SEAL team awards. As much as they would love to make an example of them, they would have to explain the protocol to the press or the bloggers will. Then they will realize our prez authorized it. Good job to the team, pizza and beer for all in the team room.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2009-04-12 20:21  

#58  WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is warning that the successful rescue of an American captain held by Somali pirates could escalate violence in that part of the world.
In rescuing the captain of the American ship Maersk Alabama, Navy SEALs killed three of the four pirates who had been holding Capt. Richard Phillips in a lifeboat. All were shot by snipers aboard the USS Bainbridge.
Navy Vice Admiral Bill Gortney said at a news conference Sunday that the rescue ending in the pirates' deaths will likely have a ripple effect.
While piracy is common off the coast of Somalia, crews have seldom been harmed.
In Gortney's words, "This could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it."

Posted by: Deacon Blues   2009-04-12 20:16  

#57  Can't believe snipers getting it done at sea. Holy f@xk!!!!

It appears that every failed state in the modern world is an attractant for Islamic militants. Look at Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, & Pakistan. It's because they adhere to the original teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).

His idea of religion was always a plan of war. The Somali pirates are just being good faithful Muslims.
Posted by: jpal   2009-04-12 20:16  

#56  
If the good USN Captain is subjected to disciplinary proceedings, issued a letter of reprimand, or otherwise burned, heaven knows, the rallying cries around him for clemency will be deafening. A smart public official might not want to risk going down with that unpopular boat just to burn a hero.
Posted by: GirlThursday   2009-04-12 20:05  

#55  Maybe its just me, but after listening to CNN News this AM, I got the covert impression the Anchor = CNN wasn't exactly happy at the Captain's rescue by the SEALS as seemingly anti-USN/Rescue derisory comments were [politely correctly] mixed in or disguised among the overt laurels.

* IOW CNN AM > HOORAY FOR CAPTAIN PHILIPPS AND THE SEALS, ERGO SOMEONE IN AMERIKA HAS TO BE PUNISHED FOR KILLING THREE INNOCENT POVERTY-STRICKEN SOMALI PIRATES/KIDNAPPERS???

I dunno - AM I RIGHT, OR WRONG?
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-04-12 20:04  

#54  I refuse to believe that #47 isn't one of us regulars trying to rile us up a bit. OTOH, I tend to be naive in these matters.
Posted by: Free Radical at secret hideout   2009-04-12 20:03  

#53  Oh my, Besoeker -- I most certainly did not expect that!
Posted by: trailing wife in Buffalo   2009-04-12 19:48  

#52  kind enough to satisfy my curiosity about mnyt's whereabouts?

Not entirely certain where his entire body is TW, but his bloody head is squarely up his arss.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-04-12 19:37  

#51  Fred, we deserve better trolls. Is this all they have anymore?
Posted by: OldSpook   2009-04-12 19:35  

#50  mnyt, please work hard at your spelling and grammar lessons. I promise it gets easier after fourth grade. As for the ass-kicking, there is a practically infinite difference between threats made from the apparent safety of a computer keyboard and facing real, live people indisposed to tolerate your childishness. You'll find infinite in the dictionary next to your teacher's desk. Ask her to help you look it up.

If one of the mods or clever computer Rantburgers would be kind enough to satisfy my curiosity about mnyt's whereabouts? Or perhaps I am asking a question answerable but not to be answered just now...

Posted by: trailing wife in Buffalo   2009-04-12 19:32  

#49  I will give odds that eventually this USN Captain will be dismissed for this, because the Washington wonks will whine, "He didn't have to kill them! He should have *arrested* them! (snivel!)"

Remember, this is their mind set. That is why they no longer call the War on Terror a war, because they see everything in terms of not just policing, but doing so under American law.

It is incredibly stupid.

Were the USN to capture them, the Washington wonks who demand that they "read them their rights" while arresting them. And that they immediately have to have lawyers, and be tried in US courts.

The truly bizarre thing is that the Washington wonks have *always* had this mindset about pirates. Even in the 19th Century, they demanded they be returned to the US to face trial, unlike the British Navy, that was permitted to hang pirates at sea.

Back then, this meant that the USN often discovered that it was in British waters, so had to turn pirates over to the Brits instead of taking them back to the US.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2009-04-12 19:32  

#48  you misspelled KISS, 'tard.

LOL Leave this one up for fun, please. He sounds playable
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 19:18  

#47  to all poster of this shitty blog get the hell off of America you are a bastard antiamerican
your ideals and philosophy is against all of this contry stand for if find any one of you on the street I kick your ass bastards scum
Posted by: mnyt   2009-04-12 19:16  

#46  "Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over Sunday's shooting, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday."

Well, as long as it's not dire revenge....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-04-12 19:02  

#45  SEAL teams, in the last 36 hours, with boats and stuff, parachuted from a C-130 in the night, quietly headed to the Bainbridge! So they weren't there the first time the good Cap't hit the water. Answers that question.

This gets better and better! Three head shot kills.
Posted by: Sherry   2009-04-12 18:35  

#44  I'm tempted to go to the donk sites and begin harping about how many pirates BAtty has made with his decision to this.
Posted by: Mike N.   2009-04-12 18:22  

#43  mhw, I believe that all of the other hostages are nationals of other nations. Their governments are (or should be) responsible for rescuing them. The US is not the world's policemen.
As for the Somali pirate's threat, in the immortal words of Dirty Harry, "Do you feel lucky, punk?". Remember that so far, the score is America 3, (plus 2 captured), Pirates 0.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2009-04-12 18:20  

#42  Oh noes!! From Reuters:
Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over Sunday's shooting, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday.

"The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now," Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.
Posted by: Free Radical   2009-04-12 18:07  

#41  I don't care how the world spins it. Let them know the pirates are dead. We (our military) killed em. And about f*cking time. Well done, both Captains and skilled crew!

Now, we need to re-establish that Olde Tyme Law of The Sea. Kill em dead, burn their bases to the ground.

Oh, and Happy Easter!
Posted by: Frank G   2009-04-12 18:01  

#40  So it looks like negotiations were well under way for a peaceful end to the situation when Captain Phillips jumped for the second time and forced a violent conclusion. How will it be spun in world media - US abused good-faith negotiations to slaughter the Somalians?
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-04-12 17:49  

#39  The CINC will always call and get permission to enguage any target except to an immediate threat. He is then authorized to defend. The president will hold or give the authority for the CINC or combatant commander to make the call. This is our chain of command and as much as I cant stand our new prez, I am certain our DOD went by protocal. I am thankfull this one went well and now O will lean toward yes in the future.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2009-04-12 17:48  

#38  this rescue was nice

but there are a hundred or more additional hostages of various Somali dirtbags/pirates

whats the plan for them

Posted by: mhw   2009-04-12 17:46  

#37  I hope "Uncle Jimbo" is correct, but forgive me if I remain a bit skeptical.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-04-12 17:24  

#36  Uncle Jimbo puts it more in miliatry terms: This was not a rescue attempt ordered by National Command Authority i.e. the President. It was a reaction by the on scene commander under standard authority to safeguard the life of a hostage.
Posted by: Sherry   2009-04-12 17:21  

#35  From the press conference, if sounds like Obama on Friday and on Saturday, just simply said, "OK do what you have to do." I didn't get the impression from the Vice Admiral that The One was very involved.

He stated the Commander on the Bainbridge, made a quick decision that the Captain was in harms way. The shooters were on the stern of the ship, the ship was towing the lifeboat! They were 25-30 meters away. They had been supplying the lifeboat with food, water, even clean clothes for the Captain.

Seas were worsening, the Commander had the authority to make the call, and he made it when he saw an AK-47 pointed at the Captain. He was tied up. All pirates were covered and the fire command came, and each pirate went down.

Seems the credit we can give to The One, is he said OK and then, stayed out the way.
Posted by: Sherry   2009-04-12 17:11  

#34  Praises to the Navy, SEALS, and Captain Phillips. This truly is an Easter Blessings. Allelujah (sp?) FBI, we're paying attention, what you do next is crucial.
Posted by: GirlThursday   2009-04-12 16:58  

#33  Happy Easter Capt'n! Remember Jesus and the Navy!
Posted by: Galactic Coordinator Omavising9607   2009-04-12 16:49  

#32  One pirate captured alive, time for an "encounter" and crossfire at 3AM.
Posted by: Don Vito Anginegum8261   2009-04-12 16:47  

#31  I'm having a hard time believing Bammo would authorize this. What has he got against pirates except the bad publicity for his Most Glorious Reign?

If this was planned, how is it that Phillips knew when to jump ... the second time.

And why were we negotiating with one of them at the time? That looks really bad actually. Did we bring a pirate aboard one of our ships under a flag of truce, then attack?

Could be wrong here, but it kind of looks more like Bammo was finalizing the details of where to deposit the ransom money, there was no plan for a rescue, Phillips jumped and the Seals used it as an intervening circumstance sufficient to justify deviating from their standing orders. Good for them!

Right now Bammo is probably trying to figure out who the next of kin are so he can send them the ransom as reparations.
Posted by: Iblis   2009-04-12 16:23  

#30  Interesting comments. But I'm fine with the world thinking Obama gave the green light, regardless of what really happened.

It is a wonderful Easter-like story. The captain willing offered up his own life as a ransom to save others in his charge. How wonderful that he was freed on Easter day.
Posted by: Gluting Fillmore6653   2009-04-12 16:17  

#29  Not to rain on the parade of a successful POW snatch, yes POW, it should NOT take presidential involvement or directive to resolve situations such as this. The regional unified combatant commanders (the CINCS) should have the authority to exercise the protection and defense of Americans on the high seas.

In any other Administration, yes, but. The rest of the world is now on notice that POTUS approved this specifically. I'm fine with that.

In other POTUS news, he ended weeks of church-shopping to go to Easter services at...the same church every POTUS has gone to, St. John's Episcopal right across the way.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 16:05  

#28  
How many of the pirates were innocent civilians?

All of them, silly. They just wanted the captain to officiate at the wedding. Also I heard some cute baby rats got wet and caught a chill as a result of this operation.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 16:00  

#27  Not to rain on the parade of a successful POW snatch, yes POW, it should NOT take presidential involvement or directive to resolve situations such as this. The regional unified combatant commanders (the CINCS) should have the authority to exercise the protection and defense of Americans on the high seas.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-04-12 16:00  

#26  Kind of ironic that all the stereotypical mealy-mouthed/weasely/world courty babble out of the WH was the perfect set-up for the action taken. If BO plays it right no one will ever know if he was part of the problem or a 'mis-underestimated' part of the solution.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-04-12 16:00  

#25  How many of the pirates were innocent civilians?
Posted by: JDB   2009-04-12 15:52  

#24  WASHINGTON (AP) - Administration officials say President Barack Obama approved the military operation that rescued a U.S. captain held hostage by Somali pirates.
The officials say Obama ordered the Defense Department to use military resources to rescue Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast.

The officials discussed this information on the condition of anonymity because they were not yet authorized to disclose the president's decision-making process.
Posted by: crazyhorse   2009-04-12 15:52  

#23  It may not be popular to say it, but I'll bet Bambi was aware of every move. If he hadn't wanted this it wouldn't have happened. I hope he's got enough rush left to order the pirate to be executed and the villages destroyed.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2009-04-12 15:42  

#22  Well done. Patience. Preparation. Then fast, overwhelming attack when the time was right. Pirates had to be getting fatigued and prone to losing alertness and making mistakes. And maybe they ran out of qat. Navy had plenty of relief. As long as they were kept at sea, time was our ally.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-04-12 15:40  

#21  Fox crawl just screened they also have the Somalia negotiator in custody. Some planning went into this.
Posted by: Sherry   2009-04-12 15:39  

#20  Did the SEALs read the survivor his Miranda rights?
/snark

Good job, Captain P. and SEALs!
Posted by: Parabellum   2009-04-12 15:35  

#19  Both Easter and Thanksgiving all in one day. Prys Die Here!
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-04-12 15:30  

#18  My guess is that the Obamanation has things military set up the way they like them:

You defend, we take credit. Don't waste time asking for permission from the Prez coz he's busy

If you screw up, we defend, you get the blame.

Just a guess...
Posted by: badanov   2009-04-12 15:26  

#17  Even the NYT wouldn't dare. I've been slumming over at DU today, end even their commentariat has found reason for cheer and congrats to the (gasp!) military.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 15:14  

#16  Excellent work.

Let them continue the job and deal with all the pirate boats en route
Posted by: john frum   2009-04-12 15:14  

#15  "Bambi slaughters three innocent Somalis". Not to be tomorrows NYT headline
Posted by: Steven   2009-04-12 15:11  

#14  So we've got one to interrogate. Let's find out where they all came from, destroy the villages, hang him from the Bainbridge's yardarm and go on a tour to all the Somalian ports of call with him dangling.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2009-04-12 14:26  

#13  Well done.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2009-04-12 14:21  

#12  My guess is nobody in the administration greenlighted an attack. They Seals reacted to the second jump into the water by the Captain. Obama will try and take credit for acting, but I think in time we will discover they were not willing to initiate the action, only allow the SEALS to react. No offense to the Navy, but I think their hands were tied.
Now watch O act like he was in chanrge of this.....
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2009-04-12 14:13  

#11  Thank god he is free. Feed the pirate to the fish.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2009-04-12 14:09  

#10  I'm with Sherry. Based on the limited info we have so far it sounded like the good captain escaped and the Seals took advantage of the situation.
Posted by: Scott R   2009-04-12 14:01  

#9  I'm very thankful this went batter than the recent French rescue.
Posted by: Mike N.   2009-04-12 14:00  

#8  Sounds like the good Cap't went over again, and this time, the Navy (SEALS) were ready.
Posted by: Sherry   2009-04-12 13:57  

#7  Link bad,

Here's one to the Fox News story.

(I won't link to CNN or MSNBC...)
Posted by: CrazyFool   2009-04-12 13:57  

#6  MSNBC has better reporting about the actual rescue. CNN is all Hallmark cards, with treacly yellow ribbons and neighbor interviews.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 13:55  

#5  Lawyers, yes. Administration, doubtful. Somebody had to greenlight this operation.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 13:52  

#4  No doubt the lawyers and the Bambi administration are pissed off about this development....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-04-12 13:50  

#3  Careful Sea, with a policy like that, we won't be able to use the term 'terrorist' anymore. We'll be searching for terms that don't violate the Rantburg TOS.
Posted by: Free Radical   2009-04-12 13:50  

#2  Slight retraction: 3 dirtbags dead, 1 dirtbag in custody. I won't dignify them with the title of "pirate".
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 13:47  

#1  TV reports: Navy SEAL team did the deed, three pirates dead, 1 in custody. Reports are murky that Capt. Phillips is safe but possibly injured.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-04-12 13:46  

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