They did it again -- Somali pirates grab 2 boats

[VulcanRider]

Pirates off the coast of Somalia seized two freighters Tuesday, proving they remain a force to contend with just days after the U.S. Navy dramatically rescued an American captain held by other pirates. First, pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday hijacked the MV Irene EM, a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier, according to a NATO spokesman and the European Union's Maritime Security Center. The crew of the Greek carrier was thought to be unhurt and ships have been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attack, the Security Center said. Later Tuesday, pirates on four skiffs seized the 5,000-ton MV Sea Horse, a Lebanese-owned and Togo-flagged vessel, said Cmdr. Chris Davies of NATO's Maritime Component Command Headquarters in Northwood, England. Details about the ship and its crew weren't immediately available.

More at the link...

Maybe if somebody offered a bounty on the pirates, they'd turn on each other. 'Course, I still like the gunship-camoflaged-as-a-luxury-yacht idea...

[machinehead]

Originally Posted by VulcanRider Maybe if somebody offered a bounty on the pirates, they'd turn on each other. 'Course, I still like the gunship-camoflaged-as-a-luxury-yacht idea...

Q-ship for short.

[Chewbacca]

F'ING SCUM KEEPS SHOOTING UP FOOD AID SENT FOR THEIR OWN AFRICAN PEOPLE. STOOOOOOOOOOOOPID!!!!!!

It's like stealing from the food mission or taking nutriention out of the hands one of those sick looking kids on the TV commericial. How can they ever expect sympathy? Heatshot is swift merciful justice imo.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

I believe this last attempt was foiled; was it not?

[Bungleau]

One was... two others succeeded.

[Firestormalpha]

They claimed in a recent article to be protecting their waters from illegal dumping and fishing operations. But that begs the question, why are they attacking cargo vessels carrying aid supplies? I'm thinking they're just trying to make themselves look less horrible.

As far as their fallen, if you go into piracy, you go into it knowing you may not come home. It's like the military, or law enforcement, only your on the wrong side of everyone's laws.

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by Firestormalpha They claimed in a recent article to be protecting their waters from illegal dumping and fishing operations. But that begs the question, why are they attacking cargo vessels carrying aid supplies? I'm thinking they're just trying to make themselves look less horrible.

Well, it might have started out that way, but now it's just a lucrative business endevour.

As far as their fallen, if you go into piracy, you go into it knowing you may not come home. It's like the military, or law enforcement, only your on the wrong side of everyone's laws.

Yup, if you arm yourself like that, seize merchant vessels and keep the crew hostage you'll have to be prepared for an escalation of violence.

[Olorin]

Originally Posted by VulcanRider Maybe if somebody offered a bounty on the pirates, they'd turn on each other. 'Course, I still like the gunship-camoflaged-as-a-luxury-yacht idea...

I'm afraid once a gunship like this successfully killed a few pirate boarding parties, the pirates would start carrying some of their hostages along on future raids to act as human shields.

The press and much of the public doesn't seem to know where to place the proper blame when hostages end up being killed. They like to blame the authorities who are trying to stop the kidnappers for using force rather than laying the blame with the hostage-takers who intentionally put the hostages in harm's way to try to deter anyone from trying to stop them from committing further acts of piracy and kidnapping.

[Felix The Assassin]

But not this time:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090419/...alia_piracy_19

[VulcanRider]

Shame they let 'em go. Should've used the pirates' own RPG to punch a hole in the pirates' boat. That'd keep 'em busy while they limp back to shore...