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2008-10-01 Africa Horn

US official: 3 pirates may be dead in shootout

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Posted by Fred 2008-10-01 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 How long can we keep a guided missile destroyer and our other Navy ships tied up on these skidmarks? Why don't we just take the damned ship and send it on its way?

Posted by Gloque the Wicked1044 2008-10-01 06:52|| 2008-10-01 06:52|| Front Page Top

#2 pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told The Associated Press by satellite telephone Tuesday

and the Islamic pirates just happen to have an AP reporter on speed dial?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-10-01 08:23|| 2008-10-01 08:23|| Front Page Top

#3 "Keelhauling or walking" the plank for both the pirates and the reporter on speed dial.

Posted by JohnQC 2008-10-01 08:36|| 2008-10-01 08:36|| Front Page Top

#4 Gloque, the U.S. Navy can be very patient when it suits them ...

Posted by Steve White 2008-10-01 09:20|| 2008-10-01 09:20|| Front Page Top

#5 We might have other reasons to want to linger in the area, too.

Posted by lotp 2008-10-01 11:24|| 2008-10-01 11:24|| Front Page Top

#6 Why don't we just take the damned ship and send it on its way?

1. Ukranian crew as hostages.

2. Reports of 50 or so pirates on board.

3. As a result, a direct boarding (even a helo approach) won't work. It'd have to be a SEAL assault. And that's based on the probability of success.

4. If it's feasible, a SEAL assault means getting plans of the ship, rehearsing the assault, getting permission from the Ukranian government (it's technically Ukranian territory), getting approval from National Command Authority. Since the Somalis have given the Russians permission, the Russians could include other forces in any action.

4. Of course they could just sink the ship, but the paperwork is a drag.

Posted by Pappy 2008-10-01 12:32|| 2008-10-01 12:32|| Front Page Top

#7 I'm guessing the pirates will all run away when a Russian Warship steams into the harbor. They probably won't want any of that.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-10-01 16:03|| 2008-10-01 16:03|| Front Page Top

#8 "did I say $20 Million? I meant $10 Million. Or $5 Million. Please don't kill me!"

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-10-01 18:29|| 2008-10-01 18:29|| Front Page Top

#9 And... the Russians could very well put the ship on the bottom.

Posted by Pappy 2008-10-01 21:14|| 2008-10-01 21:14|| Front Page Top

#10 it's technically Ukrainian territory

Technically, it's pirate territory. Possession is 9/10ths of the law [by AK47].

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-10-01 22:04|| 2008-10-01 22:04|| Front Page Top

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