#1
Yesterday at around 13.30 CET the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp has rescued the crew of a German freighter from a pirate attack. At 9.45 CET the Tromp received a distress call from MV Taipan. The onboard Lynx was sent to asses the situation and saw the freighter dragging along two of the pirates skiffs. Meanwhile the crew of the frighter had retreated into a safe room on the ship, after disabling the propulsion of the ship -in line with the MSCHOA 'best practises'.
After consultation with the Dutch authorities in the Hague -effectively bypassing EU command- it was decided to free the freighter. While approaching, the frigate's crew detected a mothership on its way to the MV Taipan. When communication with this ship led to no result, the Tromp fired warning shots with its 127mm canon, sending the mothership running.
After the Tromp failed to establish communication with the pirates onboard the MV Taipan the CO of the Tromp, Captain Lodder, gave the order to retake the ship.
At first the pirates fired on the approaching Lynx, but that fire stopped when both the Lynx and the Tromp started firing into the bridge of the Taipan -no equipment has been damaged, so the Taipan can still sail on its own. During this suppression fire, which was aimed at the windows to stop the pirates from seeing what went on, a team of the Unit Interventie Mariniers (Dutch Maritime Special Operations Forces) fast roped onto the ship.
Once onboard they took the pirates without any resistance and all 15 crew members from the Taipan were found unharmed and have given their statements.
Posted by: No I am the other Beldar ||
04/30/2010 14:59 Comments ||
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#2
-effectively bypassing EU command- CO of the Tromp, Captain Lodder, gave the order to retake the ship.
Professionals at work. Bravo to the Dutch for the action and also for the political brass ones to bypass the Euro bureaucrats and act.
Posted by: No I am the other Beldar ||
04/30/2010 15:01 Comments ||
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#7
Professionals at work. Bravo to the Dutch for the action and also for the political brass ones to bypass the Euro bureaucrats and act
In other news:
The Commander of the USS Eisenhower (CVN69) apparently watched an Iranian Navy F27 maritime surveillance jet with 'guarded apprehension' last week after threatened leaks forced the US Navy to admit that the aircraft approached within 1000 yards of the carrier.
Confirming the April 21 incident, said Adm. Gary Roughead, the top Navy officer, "The Iranians were not provocative or threatening. As long as they are professional and not threatening or reckless, it's international space,".
However, reports are that persons in 'military circles' amazed at the passivity of American military forces threatened to leak the story, reported that the Iranian craft was as close as 250 meters and 900 meters altitude.
Additionally, speculation persists that "This striking restraint indicates that the US Gulf and Arabian fleets are under orders to take no action - certainly not to open fire - against Iranian naval or air units, with first obtaining permission directly from Washington.".
Said Adm. Roughead in a Feb. 2008 'media roundtable' interview, when quesitoned about a carrier's 'airspace':
"ADM. ROUGHEAD: We do not specify any ranges around the ships, nor would we want to have specified ranges around the ships as we interact with them. That said, we train our commanding officers and our sailors to be able to take in all aspects of what's going on and then make decisions from that. It's very easy to say, you know, give me a black and white space or a clear line. When we're operating in three-dimensional space, whether it's in the air or below the water or on the water, there are many factors that come into play and take everything --
Q Sir, just a -- excuse me. Given what you know -- you mentioned that you visited Kuwait and Iraq, the Central Command area. Given what you know about Iran activities, how -- what can you tell us about your maritime security operations in the Gulf?
ADM. ROUGHEAD: What I can say about our maritime security operation in the Gulf is that the presence of our forces and coalition forces in the Gulf are enabling and allowing the flow of that very important commerce that takes place -- the energy resources coming out, the goods that are going in. And it's that naval force, the coalition naval force that's there that is guaranteeing that free flow and the safety and security of those very precious commodities. That's what navies do. And the fact that we're operating in concert with our friends in the region and other nations who contribute to that coalition speaks to the essence of our maritime strategy, which is one of cooperation and collaboration."
Methinks we'll see some losses under the so-called leadership of Adm. Roughead...as noted, BRAVO DUTCH!
Mogadishu's Madina hospital is being swamped by wounded civilians, five of whom have died in hospital, after fighting broke out between Islamist insurgents and Somali government troops on Tuesday.
How can fighting break out when they're fighting all up and down the countryside?
Residents say at least 11 people died when mortar shells hit a house in the south of the city. Two rebels and a government soldier were killed in fighting near Bakara Market. Two Australian Army soldiers were also wounded when they stopped a suicide bomber from ramming a truck laden with explosives into their base.
Let us wish they heal well and speedily.
Rebels from the al Shabaab group exchanged gun fire and artillery shelling with government troops and peacekeeping troops in a wave of fighting that has rocked the East African nation.
Scores were wounded in the latest clashes according to the deputy head of Madina hospital.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/30/2010 00:00 ||
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ANSBACH, Germany -- The rescue was harrowing, but his son was calm in recounting it, Jack McDonough recalled Thursday.
Capt. Robert McDonough, a pilot, called him in the States from northern Afghanistan. His son described how he had to maneuver his helicopter, which was evacuating wounded German soldiers, to avoid heavy fire from insurgents who had pinned down a German platoon.
The bullets were so close, he could hear the rounds pinging off the Black Hawk's rotors, his son said.
He wanted to let his father know he was OK before he saw the incident on the news.
"A German doctor told him that if they hadn't gotten three of the other [German] soldiers back so quickly, they would have died," said Jack McDonough, of Williamsport, Pa.
Jack McDonough was in Ansbach Thursday to take part in a ceremony to honor his son and 13 other members of 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade for their heroism in rescuing wounded German troops on April 2. Three of the 11 Germans who were rescued that day later died.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal received Gold Cross medals on behalf of the soldiers last week. This is the first time foreign troops have received the medal, which is Germany's highest award for valor. McChrystal was to present the awards to the soldiers downrange.
On Thursday, Christian Schmidt, Germany's assistant secretary of defense, thanked the soldiers and gave the families wine, flowers and ceramic bowls made by a Berlin manufacturer.
"We are proud that we have you," he told the group while gritting his teeth
adding that the gifts are meant to show the disgust appreciation of the German people.
Germans are very punctilious about such things. Having decided that gratitude is appropriate, they do it right.
German soldiers with Parachute Battalion 373, based in the city of Seedorf in Lower Saxony, were ambushed by the Taliban while on a routine mission to deal with a roadside bomb in the Chahar Darah district southwest of Kunduz.
Up to 40 Taliban members opened fire with heavy arms, and the German soldiers called a provincial reconstruction team in Kunduz for back up, according to German officials.
During the fight, three wounded Germans were evacuated by the Americans amid firing by the Taliban.
About two hours after the fighting started, the Germans were able to break away from the Taliban but a German armored car, a Dingo, hit a roadside bomb and four soldiers were wounded. The U.S. helicopter unit evacuated these troops and four others involved in fighting later on.
After the fighting died down, another German company that took over for the first set of troops fired on two approaching cars, killing six Afghan soldiers.
German Gen. Frank Leidenberger, commander of Regional Command-North, said it can be hard to tell friend from foe in adverse conditions. "We will do our best to support the relatives of our Afghan partners who were killed" in the incident, he said in a news release.
#1
I wonder how many Germans have been awarded the " German Gold Cross Medal " for activities out in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Dave UK ||
04/30/2010 9:47 Comments ||
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#2
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
- Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3; W.Shakespeare
#3
One may not like the Germans but they do still recognize bravery and are willing to reward it. I'll raise my glass to them and the soldiers over this.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/30/2010 12:07 Comments ||
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#5
Perhaps my comment came across as being too harsh. I am certain that the German soldiers want to mix it with the Taliban more than they do, but are held back by cringing politicians at home.
Posted by: Dave UK ||
04/30/2010 12:59 Comments ||
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#6
Dave in the UK.... A big thanks for your rankers, paras, 22nd, mobilized Territorials, and folks at RAF Molesworth others helping us out. GSTQ!
#7
Perhaps my comment came across as being too harsh.
I read it that you wondered whether German troops were being allowed opportunities to do the kind of things that earn Gold Crosses, Dave UK. Everything I've read leads me to the conclusion that they aren't. Which as you say, must be very frustrating for them.
#10
I recall a post here from early in the Iraq war. The first KIA's were being transported by a convoy in Germany and, all along the route, German Military and police stood at attention and saluted. Screw politicians everywhere, but those soldiers and cops were righteous.
A 17-year-old Mexican youth has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was shot repeatedly east of San Diego last year.
Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez sat silently with his head down throughout Thursday's sentencing in San Diego federal court.
The courtroom was packed with uniformed Border Patrol agents as the judge read a letter written by the defendant apologizing to the family of slain agent Robert Rosas.
Prosecutors recommended that U.S. District Judge M. James Lorenz commit Castro to 40 years in prison on Thursday, while a probation officer urged a life sentence. Federal guidelines call for a minimum sentence of 30 years.
Rosas, 30, was the first Border Patrol agent to be killed by gunfire since 1998, according to The Officer Down Memorial Page, a website that tracks death of law enforcement officers. Rosas was shot repeatedly from behind and then while he was lying on the ground, according to prosecutors.
U.S. authorities say Castro acted with others but have not said how many or announced arrests. The suspects are believed to have fled back to Mexico through a small crevice under a border fence made of corrugated metal, sparking a massive search on both sides of the border. Castro has told authorities the killing happened during an attempted robbery he was forced to commit under threat of death.
Castro surrendered to authorities at a San Diego border crossing in August, less than a month after Rosas died on the night of July 23, but his capture was not announced until he pleaded guilty three months later. He was charged as an adult.
Castro confessed that he and others lured Rosas out of his Border Patrol vehicle by leaving footprints on a dirt road, shaking bushes and making noises, according to prosecutors. Rosas, who was patrolling alone, was ambushed and stripped of his gun about 100 yards from the border.
Castro, who was 16 at the time, told authorities he was holding Rosas at gunpoint when the agent reached for Castro's firearm. Castro shot once and shouted for help to his collaborators, who were walking toward Rosas' vehicle. They opened fire. Castro said one of his collaborators shot him in the hand, leaving a trail of blood back to Mexico. Castro's DNA matched the blood.
Like many people raised in California's Imperial Valley, Rosas found a career in law enforcement. He was a state prison guard for six years before joining the Border Patrol in 2006. He was survived by his wife, Rosalie, and two young children. Prosecutors wrote the judge last week that the children run to the front door calling "Papa" when a car pulls up to the house.
#2
The slaying of ANY United States law enforcement officer should result in the DEATH PENALTY by hanging or firing squad for the convicted. No exceptions, no pardons!
#3
his surrender was a curious thing. I think the word went out that the BP wanted him. NOW. Or there would be a lot of RAB-like encounters and fewer captures. Just MHO
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/30/2010 8:58 Comments ||
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#4
his surrender was a curious thing. I think the word went out that the BP wanted him.
Or his hand was infected and turning green-black.
Posted by: ed ||
04/30/2010 9:01 Comments ||
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#5
The slaying of ANY United States law enforcement officer should result in the DEATH PENALTY by hanging or firing squad for the convicted. No exceptions, no pardons!
Agreed, but the mumia worshippers would cry...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/30/2010 19:26 Comments ||
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#6
If a killer smuggler is snuffed in the desert, will a Mumia supporter hear it?
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/30/2010 19:29 Comments ||
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Assistant police sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale was hailed as a hero for holding death in tight embrace during the Mumbai terror attacks, but the honour bestowed on him is little solace to his family members who wants his killer Ajmal Kasab hanged. Ombale, who was courage personified as he grappled unarmed with the AK-47-wielding Kasab at Girgaum Chowpatty, made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty but not before he had ensured the capture of at least one of the ten Pakistani terrorists who were on their diabolic mission.
Three days before the anti-terror court pronounces its verdict, 23-year-old Vaishali Ombale, daughter of the slain policeman, told PTI that her family will never forgive Kasab, who altered their lives forever. "These honours do not delight us. I, my family and people of India want Kasab hanged. This is what matters to us," she said looking at the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award given posthumously to her father for his exemplary valour.
Vaishali, presently pursuing Masters of Education, said unlike Afzal Guru's case, she hoped the government would not delay Kasab's execution of punishment if he is held guilty. "I am still to come to terms with the fact that my father is no more. He may not be with us but we feel his presence all the time. On that fateful night when I phoned him, he said he was fine and asked me not to worry," she said.
Around 12.45 am on the intervening night of November 26-27, Omable got an alert on his walkie-talkie that two terrorists had hijacked a Skoda car and were heading for Girgaum Chowpatty. As the vehicle rammed into a road divider at Chowpatty, Ombale dashed towards Kasab after he got down from the car and gripped the barrel of his assault rifle with both hands. With his weapon pointed at Ombale, Kasab pulled the trigger pumping bullets into his stomach, but the brave officer held on to the gun till his death. 50-year-old Ombale took several bullets in the process but it enabled his colleagues to pounce on the terrorist and capture him alive to stand trial.
"The government has extended all possible help to the families of slain policemen but at the same time it should also ensure that the men in uniform are provided with hi-end equipment to deal with such terror scenarios in future," said Vaishali. "I feel if my father had a modern weapon to fight against Kasab, he would have been alive now. I don't want other policemen to meet a similar fate," she added.
#1
I hope that the policeman`s daughter gets her wish and a hanging judge has been appointed.
Posted by: Dave UK ||
04/30/2010 9:41 Comments ||
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#2
IMHO after watching the videos, I think the police should be ashamed. Initially they ran, hid, or simply ignored the terrorists. There were FEW gunman and if the police and/or security personnel had acted it would have taken a WEEK to secure a hotel.
ISLAMABAD: Former ISI official Khalid Khwaja's body was found on the Miramshah-Mirali road in the North Waziristan tribal district on Friday, DawnNews reported.
A group calling itself Asian Tigers claimed responsibility for the killing in a letter attached to the body.
Khwaja was travelling from Peshawar to Waziristan when he was kidnapped in Kohat a month ago.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/30/2010 09:11 ||
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#1
Khwaja was an ISI islamist and bin Laden contact. The taliban claimed to have kidnapped him for a prisoner exchange, so what's with the false beard "Asian Tigers"?
The Taliban threatened in their email to kill Imam and Khawaja if Islamabad did not release two top Afghan Taliban leaders, Mullah Abdul Kabir and Mullah Mansur Dadullah Akhund, believed to have been in government's custody.
Top Taliban leader among six set free by Pakistan According to the Taliban sources, those who have been freed besides Zakir include Maulvi Abdul Kabir -- who heads the insurgency in eastern Afghanistan from his perch near Peshawar -- three of Kabir's top deputies, and Latif Mansoor -- a senior commander in three eastern Afghanistan provinces.
Color me shocked! You fucked up! You trusted the taliban.
Posted by: ed ||
04/30/2010 9:46 Comments ||
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#2
I am hoping the Asian tigers are a CIA group killing off taliban sympathisers!
HANGU: At least 15 terrorists were killed and several others injured in clashes with security forces in Orakzai Agency, sources said on Thursday. Sources said the clashes took place in Sheikhan and Shati Maila areas of Lower Orakzai. A security official was also injured in the clash, they added.
The terrorists are offering stiff resistance to the security forces, but the forces have killed around 450 in clashes over the past month. Seperately, the Lower Orakzai political agent announced that the displaced would begin returning to their homes by Friday.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/30/2010 00:00 ||
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QUETTA: Unidentified assailants targeted the provincial capital with several rockets on Thursday, injuring four people. Four rockets fired from an unidentified location landed in various areas of the provincial capital, police said.
The first rocket partially damaged a house on Manu Jan Road, injuring two men who were identified as Anwar Rind and Muhammad Zubair. The second rocket damaged a house in Hazara Town, injuring a girl, identified as Zargoona and another female in the house.
The third one hit a tree in premises of Sandman Hospital, while the fourth landed near Shaheed Benazir flyover.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/30/2010 00:00 ||
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BASRA / Aswat al-Iraq: Police forces on Thursday arrested 15 wanted men in separate areas of Basra, a police source said.
"Policemen on Thursday (April 21) raided separate areas of Basra, where they arrested 15 wanted persons, who perpetrated different crimes," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
They've been going gangbusters in Iraq, lately. Lots of captured/killed bad guys. Congratulations to all involved (except the bad guys, of course)!
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/30/2010 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Interior Ministry's forces arrested an al-Qaeda leader in central Baghdad on Thursday, according to a source from the ministry.
Quick Response Brigade on Thursday arrested an al-Qaeda leader in Zayouna region in central Baghdad,' al-Iraqiya satellite television said in a breaking news quoting commander of the brigade.
The forces arrested him carrying a number of bombs an hand grenades in his possession,' he added, noting that he was planning to use them against Friday prayer-goers in Baghdad's al-Jadida region.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/30/2010 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Eight civilians were killed and 20 others wounded in a car bomb attack that targeted a liquor store in southwestern Baghdad on Thursday, a security source said. They boomed a liquor store? Bastids!
An explosive vehicle went off near a store selling liquor in al-Shurta 4 area, killing eight civilians and wounding 20 others,' the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
The blast also left severe damage to the nearby stores,' the source added, not giving further details.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/30/2010 00:00 ||
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A woman and two women were injured when terrorists insurgents detonated a homemade bomb hidden inside an ice cooler left on a roadside tea vending stall in this southern border province Friday morning.
The house owner woke up in the morning to find the cooler left on the stall in front of the house. The owner alerted police while police were trying to cordon off the area to check the cooler, the bomb exploded, injuring the three passers-by.
#4
SLAURA BUSH: GEORGE AND I WERE POISONED AT THE G8 SUMMIT [2007].
maybe laura was sucking george the moron cock,
and the moron in chief was eating laura's fetid cunt
Posted by: *** you rantburg *** without readers ||
04/30/2010 2:32 Comments ||
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#5
who was that troll? Barney Frank?
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/30/2010 9:02 Comments ||
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#6
Some rich kid whos mom and pap live in Bel Air Frank
Hey kid , thank yer mam and pap for the comfortable basement you are trolling out of . If they had your brains they'd be pickin cans off the floor and sellin em for 1 cent .
Posted by: Oscar ||
04/30/2010 10:17 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Assistant police sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale was hailed as a hero for holding death in tight embrace during the Mumbai terror attacks, but the honour bestowed on him is little solace to his family members who wants his killer Ajmal Kasab hanged. Ombale, who was courage personified as he grappled unarmed with the AK-47-wielding Kasab at Girgaum Chowpatty, made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty but not before he had ensured the capture of at least one of the ten Pakistani terrorists who were on their diabolic mission. 
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Interior Ministry's forces arrested an al-Qaeda leader in central Baghdad on Thursday, according to a source from the ministry.
