Americans Aboard Yacht Captured by Pirates Reportedly Killed

[C-MAC]

DEVELOPING STORY: Four Americans aboard a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates have been killed, Fox News has confirmed.

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[Baseplate]

I am pretty sure that if i were going to be yachting across the globe I would stay away from Somalia

[Headoutdaplane]

I read somewhere that one of the pirates was knifed to death by a US Service member.

[colt1rgr]

I feel bad for the families ... naturally. But seriously, how do you feel sorry for these people? Of all the garden spots of the world and they are gonna go sailing HERE? WTF? :?

[CharlieRanger1FFV]

2x, Colt . . .I have to agree, not a good place for a boat ride.


RLTW!!!!

[C-MAC]

I wonder what the full story is here? Two dead skinnies on the boat when we boarded (in addition to the two we killed with return fire when boarding). Bad guys said we shot them, so they shot the hostages? Sounds like complete BS by the pirates and they were arguing amongst themselves. Dirtbags.

[KW Driver]

as O'Kelly said elsewhere, if you plan to transit the Suez Canal, you're within range of these guys. it's either that or go south round the Cape of Good Hope, against the currents.

I read a story of a couple circumnavigating. they were at least 400 miles off Somalia, saw a mothership and smaller boats at sunset. they spent the night playing cat and mouse with the boats for two days. the only reason they avoided the suspected bad guys, is they had radar and the others didn't.

and a sailboat ain't got much of a chance against the bad guys. they might get 8 knots with good wind and engine maxed out.

[mortar_guy78]

Somalia

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/Somalia/

[C-MAC]

So, a question...

- What are the laws regarding arming yourself on the high seas? I suppose the port you leave and come has much to do with it. But what's to prevent me from having a Ma Deuce or Javelin onboard? Any weapon with better range than an RPG or AK has to provide a tactical advantage.

Given these folks were in the Middle East, there are a few ports where one could dock and buy just about any weapon known to mankind...

Provided you are trained on the weapons and use of lethal force, I am missing the downside.

[colt1rgr]

So, a question...

- What are the laws regarding arming yourself on the high seas? I suppose the port you leave and come has much to do with it. But what's to prevent me from having a Ma Deuce or Javelin onboard? Any weapon with better range than an RPG or AK has to provide a tactical advantage.

Given these folks were in the Middle East, there are a few ports where one could dock and buy just about any weapon known to mankind...

Provided you are trained on the weapons and use of lethal force, I am missing the downside.

Believe it or not this is the reason the companies who own the oil tankers don't train and arm the crews, because once they land in port or within territorial waters they are subject to the various laws of that particular land which are not friendly AT ALL to weapons. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Several new security enterprises have risen up due to this pirate threat and what they are finding is that you must grease many skids to make it work.

[Chiron]

The pirates operate up to 1250 miles off the coast. So if you need a Suez transit you’re going to have to have to pass the pirate area.

I have worked in shipping companies for the last 20 years and most ships have some weapons but very light. They are locked in the ship’s safe along with alcohol and cigarettes which are tax free on freighters and tankers when they enter port. It’s that the pirates have heavy MG’s and RPG’s and the like…

[Chiron]

My understanding is that American war ships approached the sail boat and two Somali pirates went on board one to negotiate. There where two others in the sail boat holding the four Americans. Navy seals where on stand by when gun fire erupted on the sail boat. They rushed in and shot one pirate and knifed the other. Unfortunately they found all four Americans dead.

That’s the story the news told.

[goon175]

"Knifed the other"

Said SEAL must have had a malfunction in his rifle and sidearm, so had to resort to fixed blade...

Not that I feal bad for the pirate or anything :)

[K.Ingraham]

Some folks should just stay in bed. The image of that skinnie launching that RPG at a modern USN destroyer (damn things the size of WW2 cruisers) had to create a moment of disbelief on the bridge of the targeted ship "Did that skinnie SOB really do what I think he just did??!!"

We need to apply the already extant and ancient international maritime law and stop treating piracy in international waters as if it were pickpocketing in a city. It's very legal and proer to pre-empt. SSVB suspect vessels and if anything suspicious is found - leaving the naval OIC on the scene to make that call and support him afterward - sink the vessel and occupants.
Of course, as long as we're patrolling that area in concert with the Eurotrash, this'll never happen. Yet another reason to ally ourselves with Russia. It makes a lot more sense ifor the 21st century.