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Africa Horn
Saudi Arabia to Join NATO Naval Mission; Pirates Boost Defenses
2008-11-22
Saudi Arabia said it will join a fleet of NATO warships on an anti-piracy mission, as hijackers bolstered defenses around an oil-laden Saudi tanker captured off the East African coast.
"Mahmoud! The Soddies are coming! Send money, guns and preachers!"
The kingdom will contribute ``naval assets to help in pursuing piracy in the region, and this is the only way this can be dealt with,'' Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters in Oslo today after meeting with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Stoere. ``Negotiations and ransoms only encourage piracy and are not a solution.''
Cheez, the Foreign Minister must really be angry, he told the truth ...
Al-Faisal didn't provide details of the Saudi contribution to the forces in the Gulf of Aden, flanked by Somalia and Yemen and leading to the Suez Canal, where at least 91 merchant vessels have been attacked since January. The Saudi ship is being held for a ransom of $25 million.

In Harardhare, a town in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region close to where the ship is anchored, pirates are bringing in extra fighters to strengthen security, Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade, senior adviser to Puntland President Adde Muse, said in an interview yesterday.

The Sirius Star, which belongs to Saudi Arabia's state-owned shipping line, Vela International Marine Ltd., along with its crew of 25 was seized on Nov. 15 about 420 nautical miles (833 kilometers) off Somalia. It is carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude valued at about $110 million. The ship itself is worth about $148 million new.

The Saudi foreign minister confirmed two days ago that Vela was in talks with the pirates; Vela has declined to comment. A man who identified himself as Abdi Salan, a member of the hijacking gang, said in a telephone interview yesterday that the ship's owners must pay up ``soon.'' He didn't say what would happen if they didn't.
Posted by:Fred

#12  In like Flynn!
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-11-22 20:59  

#11  Haven't seen Errol Flynn in years.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-11-22 17:42  

#10  Drinks!
Posted by: Mike N.   2008-11-22 17:20  

#9  Get all the pirates in one place and ARCLIGHT the HE$$ out of it. Let the Saudis spring for the gas, and NATO the cost of the munitions. The US contribution will be the 12 B-52s used in the strike. The pirate contribution? Tons and tons of tiny body parts that won't need a grave.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2008-11-22 17:00  

#8  The spice must flow!
Posted by: SteveS   2008-11-22 14:59  

#7  And don't forget the simitars! And the sharpening stones, too. And yer toothbrush. We don't want you looking like that creep al Sadar on TV.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-11-22 14:29  

#6  Send money, guns and preachers!

Okay, deh, tip jar. I'll hit it.
Posted by: .5MT   2008-11-22 14:18  

#5  I'm waiting fot the Saudis to spread a little of their style of justice around in Somalia. Yes, that would be nice.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon   2008-11-22 11:38  

#4  Saudi Arabia said it will join a fleet of NATO warships on an anti-piracy mission

Provided they don't run their corvettes aground - again.
Posted by: Milton Fandango   2008-11-22 11:26  

#3  In Harardhare, a town in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region close to where the ship is anchored, pirates are bringing in extra fighters to strengthen security

I don't think they realize what naval bombardment means.

Not that anyone has the guts to actually do anything.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-11-22 06:18  

#2  Actually, they will probably kill the crew and sink the ship

The crew being Pakistanis?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-11-22 05:29  

#1  I'm sure that when the Saudis refuse to pay a ransom, the pirates will apologize for the misunderstanding and hand the ship back.
/endsarcasm

Actually, they will probably kill the crew and sink the ship.

We'll see what happens after that.
Posted by: phil_b   2008-11-22 01:38  

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