4 American hostages killed by pirates off Somalia

[^_^ 5,021]

... terrorism is pushed toward Muslims and pronounced "Islamic" as though they have the power to make it an edict of our faith ...

I've expressed this sentiment before, but I'll say it again anyway. I don't think most non-Muslims particularly care what is or isn't an edict of your faith. Catholics like to schtup little boys, Hindus worship cows, Jews are cheap and Muslims like to blow things up. These aren't statements people make based on careful reading of the relevant religious texts but rather observational based on what they see/hear. Of course, it is also true that for the most part the sources they see/hear from are biased and have an interest in manufacturing these stereotypes. You can point out what's in the text all you want, it makes little difference to most who don't care what's in the text. What you gotta do is change what they hear and see about Muslims, if you can.

[B_J 2,752]

What you gotta do is change what they hear and see about Muslims, if you can.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I've expressed this sentiment before, but I'll say it again anyway. I don't think most non-Muslims particularly care what is or isn't an edict of your faith. Catholics like to schtup little boys, Hindus worship cows, Jews are cheap and Muslims like to blow things up. These aren't statements people make based on careful reading of the relevant religious texts but rather observational based on what they see/hear. Of course, it is also true that for the most part the sources they see/hear from are biased and have an interest in manufacturing these stereotypes. You can point out what's in the text all you want, it makes little difference to most who don't care what's in the text. What you gotta do is change what they hear and see about Muslims, if you can.

Following that logic, it's the job of non-Muslims to change what they read and think about them that makes terrorists want to kill you. They're also not great intellects.

I've expressed this sentiment before, but I'll say it again anyway. I don't think most non-Muslims particularly care what is or isn't an edict of your faith. Catholics like to schtup little boys, Hindus worship cows, Jews are cheap and Muslims like to blow things up. These aren't statements people make based on careful reading of the relevant religious texts but rather observational based on what they see/hear. Of course, it is also true that for the most part the sources they see/hear from are biased and have an interest in manufacturing these stereotypes. You can point out what's in the text all you want, it makes little difference to most who don't care what's in the text. What you gotta do is change what they hear and see about Muslims, if you can.

Following that logic, it's the job of non-Muslims to change what they read and think about them that makes terrorists want to kill you. They're also not great intellects.

[^_^ 5,021]

Following that logic, it's the job of non-Muslims to change what they read and think about them that makes terrorists want to kill you. They're also not great intellects.

Yes, it cuts both ways. The stereotype of the American aggressor out to take over the world and kill all Muslims... is also not true and is a very good cause for furthering American outreach in the Muslim world (can I call it the Muslim world? Or do you prefer the part of the world predominantly inhabited by people who self-identify as Muslims?)

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Where is the Christian world?

[^_^ 5,021]

Where is the Christian world?

Texas.

[Zero Sum 305]

I think they were taken hostage pretty far out of Somali waters. All private vessels should NOT hit open waters in that region without adequate security measures, including traveling in flotillas, registering their navigation routes with home country coast guard/naval services, contracting protection from private security firms to accompany them along their journey. There really should be little excuse for wealthy individuals to take risks if they can pay for security.

That said, many pirates are doing what they do for the obvious financial windfall they perceive to exist. Some also promised retaliation for the pirate that was sentenced last week in the Maersk incident, and it looks like they did what they said they were going to do. Navies patrolling those waters should do piracy boardings and scuttle/confiscate any vessel found to have weapons that are clearly used in piracy.

Armed aggression must be met with deadly force.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think they were taken hostage pretty far out of Somali waters. All private vessels should NOT hit open waters in that region without adequate security measures, including traveling in flotillas, registering their navigation routes with home country coast guard/naval services, contracting protection from private security firms to accompany them along their journey. There really should be little excuse for wealthy individuals to take risks if they can pay for security.

That said, many pirates are doing what they do for the obvious financial windfall they perceive to exist. Some also promised retaliation for the pirate that was sentenced last week in the Maersk incident, and it looks like they did what they said they were going to do. Navies patrolling those waters should do piracy boardings and scuttle/confiscate any vessel found to have weapons that are clearly used in piracy.

Armed aggression must be met with deadly force.

Do they fly the jolly roger? I'm not sure how one can identify a given vessel as definitely piratical unless they are actively engaged in piracy. I don't think it's going to go down too well if the navy start to sink vessels based on hearsay or suspicion.

[Zero Sum 305]

Do they fly the jolly roger? I'm not sure how one can identify a given vessel as definitely piratical unless they are actively engaged in piracy. I don't think it's going to go down too well if the navy start to sink vessels based on hearsay or suspicion.

I'd say its a little more a practice in the obvious. If a Navy vessel requests boarding, and the intended target turns to flee, or doesn't provide proof of commercial/tourist activities that don't include piracy, then Admiralty law would likely give them the right to pursue and insist boarding by firing across their bow. If they insist on continuing, or engage, they may be sunk.

Luckily, modern technology allows reasonable scans of target vessels. Pirate motherships tend to have internal compartments for smaller vessels, and this is a hallmark signature of this pirate industry- giving them longer range to seek out unfortunate victims.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

She's not losing it. The American press prefers tragic stories about Americans in the same way they love to showcase missing blond, blue-eyed young White women. Or, haven't you noticed?

Blonde, blue eyed, young, white women have value. They are also several clicks more intelligent than people cruising their yacht in pirate filled areas. Darwin theory.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Do they fly the jolly roger? I'm not sure how one can identify a given vessel as definitely piratical unless they are actively engaged in piracy. I don't think it's going to go down too well if the navy start to sink vessels based on hearsay or suspicion.

We have UAVs Madame Cleo. They can read their "pirate cards" from 30,000 feet. It would really be no trouble at all to spot them, push a button in Missouri and create a smoldering hole in the water where they had been. We should kill a few dozen every day until they disappear. When it is clear the ONLY thing they get for piracy is immediately dead, they will go back to Somalia and starve slowly.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

We have UAVs Madame Cleo. They can read their "pirate cards" from 30,000 feet. It would really be no trouble at all to spot them, push a button in Missouri and create a smoldering hole in the water where they had been. We should kill a few dozen every day until they disappear. When it is clear the ONLY thing they get for piracy is immediately dead, they will go back to Somalia and starve slowly.

I hope you don't know that the pirates have a stash of hostages from all over the world on shore that they can drag on board to be blown to bits along with them. If you want an international incident, thats the way to go.

[james&olya 1,121]

Following that logic, it's the job of non-Muslims to change what they read and think about them that makes terrorists want to kill you. They're also not great intellects.

Following that logic, it's the job of non-Muslims to change what they read and think about them that makes terrorists want to kill you. They're also not great intellects.

Probably not a bad idea. In a perfect world you would not need to ever do this. But just like the driver seeing an oncoming car in his lane is foolish to hold his ground based on his 'right' to it, it behooves anyone to do their best to help potential adversaries not be motivated by mistaken impressions of you to want to attack you!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

In all serious this may be a niche market right? Like I go buy a vessel and a crew and just escort ships in Somalia shipping lanes using Russian surplus weapons? Old school Merc/Privateer.

[Zero Sum 305]

In all serious this may be a niche market right? Like I go buy a vessel and a crew and just escort ships in Somalia shipping lanes using Russian surplus weapons? Old school Merc/Privateer.

Sounds like grounds for a video game.

But maybe getting together some investors... there would have to be interested customers, willing to play.