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2009-04-12 Africa Horn

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Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-04-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 The U.S. Navy -- which is in charge of the situation -- requested help from the FBI to resolve the standoff. The FBI is launching a criminal investigation into the hijacking and hostage-taking

Mr Kafka, Mr Franz Kafka, please approach the information booth.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-04-12 06:35|| 2009-04-12 06:35|| Front Page Top

#2 In a word....disgusting.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-04-12 06:46|| 2009-04-12 06:46|| Front Page Top

#3
Any Navy ~~Drinkers~~ Divers with some explosives there? Any SEALS?

Posted by GirlThursday 2009-04-12 07:07|| 2009-04-12 07:07|| Front Page Top

#4 My guess is that the sailors on the ship are just as frustrated as everyone else with how those 'higher up' (and by that I mean the lawyer and politicians) are handling this.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-04-12 08:12|| 2009-04-12 08:12|| Front Page Top

#5 To answer the question, yes there are troops there but there no cajones in DC.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2009-04-12 08:19|| 2009-04-12 08:19|| Front Page Top

#6 For right now the priority is the safety of the captain. We don't want a result like the French had, where one of the captives was killed - perhaps by friendly fire - in an attack. It is too bad we were not ready and willing to take advantage of the opportunity when the captain jumped overboard - such a chance is not likely to come again.
What will we do if other pirates bring fuel, shielded by other hostages, so the lifeboat can head for shore? I don't think we want that, but we have shown we are not willing to act to stop it (yet). My recommendation is we quietly attach a cable to the bottom of the boat and gently direct it to drift where WE want it (with perhaps a nice microphone feed too.) But I guess that would be hijacking, which would make us as bad as them (sarc).

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2009-04-12 08:38|| 2009-04-12 08:38|| Front Page Top

#7 We should be attaching a line to the rudder and towing the scow to Diego Garcia.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-04-12 09:07|| 2009-04-12 09:07|| Front Page Top

#8 Forgive me, but I'll say it once again. This issue of the handling of this matter is much, much larger than the brave skipper of the Maersk Alabama.

Remember if you will the statement by Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." The administration is exploiting this situation to make an international statement regarding sovereignty and law. None of what has played out thusfar bodes well for America.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-04-12 09:40|| 2009-04-12 09:40|| Front Page Top

#9 We all want Captain Phillips released alive and unharmed if it can be done. If he can get overboard again we should be ready. If we can talk with the pirates and have them release him, fine.

However.

I am not willing to see us pay a ransom for his release. I am not willing to see us coddle pirates so that they'll do this to us again.

I understand that I sound uncaring and bloodthirsty since it sounds as if I would 'sacrifice' Mr. Phillips. I would sacrifice no one but stopping piracy is of higher importance. I recognize that it could be me or a family member on that lifeboat right now. And I appreciate that for our Navy and for the politicians far away in Washington, this is not an easy call.

Stop the pirates. If words will do it then use words. If words fail then use force. Save Mr. Phillips if you can but don't dishonor the country in doing so.

Stop the pirates.

Posted by Steve White 2009-04-12 10:44|| 2009-04-12 10:44|| Front Page Top

#10 The U.S. Navy -- which is in charge of the situation -- requested help from the FBI to resolve the standoff.
Not true, our very own Sec State declaired it a criminal event requiring it to be an FBI event. All captured US civs fall under FBI jurisdiction unless stated otherwise.

Posted by 49 Pan 2009-04-12 11:43|| 2009-04-12 11:43|| Front Page Top

#11 Its night time. SEALS go over the side on the Destroyer. Blow a charge in the underhull of the Pirates boat. Is the Captain of the MAERSK tied up so he cant swim? Assign someone to tag him in the water.

The Pirates are sitting out there in the dark and there is a massive hole they cant plug in the hull. Nobody to shoot at. Quiet and dark...very dark. Water coming in fast.

Abdrool is thinking he should Shoot the captain? Boat going down, water coming in... definitely about one minute before everybody is swimming.

If they do shoot the captain then we blame his death on them. Once they are in the water though...you deal with each one individually, just like a shark would. Pull him under and make sure he never comes up. Assign someone to get the captain on a Lung and move away.

Dont tell me we dont have assets for this. Washington is minus the cojones is all. Obama is like Carter, no real leader in a tight place.

LATER Start planning hitting the shore bases of the pirates. Something brutal and educational. No need for witnesses or survivors. Who did it? Who knows. Do it again.

You can "contract" many of the anti-piracy ops. Pay people to bring in SPECIFIC dead individuals with bounties on them. Get the pirates to hunt their associates. Offer good money for specific individuals. Pay good money for good work. I mean, do we have an Intell community who do more than cut th grass at Langley or dont we? Or is every asset the United States has living in Suburban Maryland with a pet?

How does the money for ransoms move..make some final accidents happen. Just leave the mess so its obvious and then....who did it? Who knows.

You want to play? All it takes is using the personnel we have who are good and actually liiike this sort of work. Scare the hell out of the right people and let the dog eat it.

Obama is a prance. Am I being unkind?.

Posted by Angleton9 2009-04-12 12:17|| 2009-04-12 12:17|| Front Page Top

#12 I mean, do we have an Intell community who do more than cut th grass at Langley or dont we? Or is every asset the United States has living in Suburban Maryland with a pet?

or neutered?

Posted by lotp 2009-04-12 12:26|| 2009-04-12 12:26|| Front Page Top

#13 I agree that this crisis is being used by the admin. The problem is that we are not controlling the battlespace. So the pirates have the upper hand.

The Israelis of yore did not negotiate with terrorists, and if they did talk, like they did with Idi Ammin, they set up their adversaries for complacency for a covert op.

Look what the Israelis have achieved now with their negotiation. How far the Israelis and the US have fallen.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2009-04-12 12:37|| 2009-04-12 12:37|| Front Page Top

#14 I hate to say it, but the Navy knows that it, like the rest of the Pentagon, it has been hung out to dry by this administration.

It will give them intolerable rules. It will take credit for any successes, and it will blame them for any failures. And even if it is a success, the Navy will be blamed for not doing it the *way* their overlords wanted it to be done.

Given those options, the only thing the Navy can do to minimize its losses, is to FAIL. And continue to FAIL with every stupid, petty directive or mission that the administration throws at them.

Though it is hard on morale, the ways to do this are clear. Since Washington wants to micro-manage, let them. Ask their approval before doing anything, and over and over again. Demand signed or recorded authorizations from individuals, not agencies or offices.

Create endless delays while the situation degenerates. Be prepared to abort any mission and depart the AO swiftly. Strictly prohibit initiative and demand that everything be done "by the book".

Insist on legal opinions from multiple sources. Use these opinions as obstacles to the Washington directives. As needed, experience equipment failure and semi-essential supply contamination that requires withdrawl and resupply.

As disgusting as this sounds, it is when military bureaucrats shine. They do this to protect the lives of personnel, to protect units and ships, and to protect the branch of service and the entire Pentagon, from unethical and indifferent politicians and policy wonks.

In doing so, military bureaucrats will fight the rear area fifth column to their last breath. Yes, they are REMFs, but they watch your back with the tenacity of a loyal pit bull.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-04-12 13:21|| 2009-04-12 13:21|| Front Page Top

#15 Sorry, moose. The Navy is run by wussie Admirals. They are way too much into soft power and not enough into where do we get more yardarms.

"The job of the Navy is not to fight."

VADM Bird.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-04-12 13:33|| 2009-04-12 13:33|| Front Page Top

#16 I am not willing to see us pay a ransom for his release.

Steve White, I agree completely with your sentiment. However, unless you and I are part owners of the company that sails the Maersk Alabama, were really not part of the us. Neither is the US government. And for those who are responsible to make the decision to pay ransom its not only a moral consideration but a business decision as well. I will say thisnow that theyve engaged the US Navy it is no longer a simple law enforcement issue.
Yarrrye Skinnies best be keepn yer powder dry.

Posted by DepotGuy 2009-04-12 13:46|| 2009-04-12 13:46|| Front Page Top

#17 If it was me in charge the headline would be
"In the country formerly know as Somalia, all boats were found sunk. Most weapons dumps also mysteriously exploded. Bright Pebbles has sent his condolences and offered to help."

Posted by Bright Pebbles the flatulent 2009-04-12 19:39|| 2009-04-12 19:39|| Front Page Top

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