More Pirate News

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Pirates seize U.S.-owned, Italy-flagged tugboat

By Duncan Miriri

NAIROBI, April 11 (Reuters) - Pirates seized a U.S.-owned and Italian-flagged tugboat with 16 crew on Saturday in the latest hijacking in the busy Gulf of Aden waterway, a regional maritime group said.

Andrew Mwangura, of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said the crew were believed to be unharmed on the tugboat, which he added was operated from the United Arab Emirates.

He said the tugboat was towing two barges at the time of capture but there were no details on their cargo.

"This incident shows the pirates are becoming more daring and violent," Mwangura told Reuters by phone.

NATO alliance officials on board the Portuguese warship NRB Corte-Real, which is patrolling the Gulf of Aden, said a distress call came from the MV Buccaneer tugboat but communications were lost six minutes later.

They said 10 of the tugboat's crew were Italian citizens.

Somali pirates have stepped up attacks in March after a lull at the start of 2009.

International interest has focused this week on the plight of an American hostage, Richard Phillips, held by four pirates on a lifeboat flanked by U.S. naval warships in a high seas standoff since Wednesday. (Additional reporting by Andrew Cawthorne in Nairobi and Alison Bevege on the NRB Corte-Real)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LB80287.htm

[dalegg 143]

What's the name of that bomb on the ships that can erase a village? Tomahawk?

[S and S 12]

I say we all meet in front of the Somali embassy in D.C. and do some useless violent protesting in front of it like other countries do to the US embassy.

[DEDixon 39]

ONE ARTICLES SAYS:

"Once again, it has taken American involvement to get world powers really interested," said a diplomat who tracks Somalia from Nairobi. "I hope they don't forget the Filipinos and all the others once this guy is released."

The standoff has forced Obama to focus on a place most Americans would rather forget. Perched on the Horn of Africa, Somalia has suffered 18 years of conflict since warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Well, I hope we do leave after the American's ordeal is over. It isn't our responsibility and I think the media wants to make this a big issue for Obama when it really isn't, especially after the American's ordeal is completely.

Most, if not all, of the ships held are foreign owned and don't flag an American flag so after the American is gone, this is truly none of our business.

[SuperDuper! 230]

What's the name of that bomb on the ships that can erase a village? Tomahawk?

Unfortunately there are a lot of political dilemas involved in this situation. Not the least of which is that Obama has to show the world that he is different from Bush, and not trigger happy. Also, by attacking the pirates on the sea and shore, what hornetz nest will that set off. Once again, the mighty US and all itz fire power is ham strung and made ineffective. Diplomacy is the rule of the day right now. Even with these scurvy dog pirates! Cheers.

[dalegg 143]

What's the name of that bomb on the ships that can erase a village? Tomahawk?

Unfortunately there are a lot of political dilemas involved in this situation. Not the least of which is that Obama has to show the world that he is different from Bush, and not trigger happy. Also, by attacking the pirates on the sea and shore, what hornetz nest will that set off. Once again, the mighty US and all itz fire power is ham strung and made ineffective. Diplomacy is the rule of the day right now. Even with these scurvy dog pirates! Cheers.

I cant believe Obama wants his Presidency to be exactly like Carter's. He is going to have to take a firm hand.

[S and S 12]

What's the name of that bomb on the ships that can erase a village? Tomahawk?

Unfortunately there are a lot of political dilemas involved in this situation. Not the least of which is that Obama has to show the world that he is different from Bush, and not trigger happy. Also, by attacking the pirates on the sea and shore, what hornetz nest will that set off. Once again, the mighty US and all itz fire power is ham strung and made ineffective. Diplomacy is the rule of the day right now. Even with these scurvy dog pirates! Cheers.

I cant believe Obama wants his Presidency to be exactly like Carter's. He is going to have to take a firm hand.

I was thinking that too.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

We invaded Iraq because a taxi driver said they had weapons of mass destruction but we don't want to upset anyone by blasting the pirates out of the water. Makes sense to me.

[SuperDuper! 230]

We invaded Iraq because a taxi driver said they had weapons of mass destruction but we don't want to upset anyone by blasting the pirates out of the water. Makes sense to me.

It is a politically sensitive situation. We have a new president in the US now. And he has to show that he is not so trigger happy like old guy named Bush. THose little pirates do not deserve a serious reaction from US. We could send in the local police from LA to take care of those grungy pirates.

[Scott & Lai 12]

We invaded Iraq because a taxi driver said they had weapons of mass destruction but we don't want to upset anyone by blasting the pirates out of the water. Makes sense to me.

It is a politically sensitive situation. We have a new president in the US now. And he has to show that he is not so trigger happy like old guy named Bush. THose little pirates do not deserve a serious reaction from US. We could send in the local police from LA to take care of those grungy pirates.

He also can't show that he is ineffectual and unwilling or unable to respond to attacks.

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

It seems like every week now there is something in the news about pirates. rrrrrrr. I don't understand why different countries keep paying their ransom demands. That just encourages them to keep it up. And with the amount of ransom they keep demanding it seems like it would be cheaper to just find another trade route.

[dalegg 143]

It seems like every week now there is something in the news about pirates. rrrrrrr. I don't understand why different countries keep paying their ransom demands. That just encourages them to keep it up. And with the amount of ransom they keep demanding it seems like it would be cheaper to just find another trade route.

I'm not even sure what any ships are doing on that side of Africa anyway. Seems like any ships trying to get from the U.S or Europe to any middle East countries with money would go through the mediteranean. Unless this is for humanitarian aid or something. But what do I know. Has to be some reason.