Somali Pirates Attack Another US Ship

[Nikos]

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-15-voa1.cfm

By VOA News
15 April 2009

Somali pirates have attacked another U.S. ship off the coast of Africa, but they were not successful in taking the vessel.
The ship, called Liberty Son, is now under military escort following the attempted hijacking. It is reported on its way to Mombasa, Kenya.
This latest attack comes just three days after the dramatic rescue of an American cargo ship captain held captive by Somali pirates. Three of his captors were killed in that rescue operation, while a fourth was captured.
Some pirates have vowed to retaliate.

Not good, but at least the ship fought the pirates off. I just wish the Navy blew the scum out of the water. So far the Somalis have failed in their "retaliation"

[Kamos]

I'm curious to know how this crew fended off the pirates.

[Yorkshireman]

I'm curious to know how this crew fended off the pirates.

The ship took 'evasive manouevre action'. I presume they managed to get up enough head of steam that would'nt allow the attackers the opportunity to get alongside properly.

"We are under attack by pirates, we are being hit by rockets, also bullets," Thomas Urbik, 26, told his mother, Katy.

"We are barricaded in the engine room and so far no-one is hurt. (A) rocket penetrated the bulkhead but the hole is small. Small fire, too, but put out."

Lt Nathan Christensen, of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, told the BBC that the ship had taken "evasive manoeuvre action" which had prevented the pirates from boarding.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7999350.stm

[CtrlAltDe1337]

Probably water hoses when the pirates are climbing up.

[TotalPeaceCenter]

Probably water hoses when the pirates are climbing up.

No way, CtrlAltDe1337. Not when the pirates' party is thinking of guns!

Omar Dahir Idle, a pirate speaking to The Associated Press over telephone rang out loud and clear when he said, "Our guns do not fire water. I am sure we will avenge."

[Arkhan]

Water hoses.. or better yet water cannons like on fire boats would be a good defense against these guys. Some of those skiffs they use are so damn flimsy a few blast from a high pressure cannon would most likely swamp them.

[Koil]

It's a bad situation, but to just blame the pirates for this isn't the best way about it. Don't get me wrong Piracy should not be tolerated by these Vessels - but looking at the larger picture, Somalia is in a terrible state at the moment. It may even be the most lawless countries on Earth at the moment.
The situation in the country should be stabilized and the piracy will severely be reduced.

[Adhamh Ashashi]

Okay okay, the US can invade countries but can't stop a couple of bushmen with some guns. It's all BS to me.

[Last Roman]

Okay okay, the US can invade countries but can't stop a couple of bushmen with some guns. It's all BS to me.

the US isn't exactly using full force here.

[Acco]

What the UN needs to do is grow some balls, and send in people with guns to kill of every last one of these warlords

I'd disagree, and not only because I see U.N. action as an oxymoron (zing!). But anyway, I have always endorsed the saying that the best way to deal with quick sand is to not put your feet in it in the first place. There really isn't much reason to get involved in a melee, just simply allow restricted crew armament so that the crew can handle the pirates themselves, using the navy is far too expensive, and quite frankly, these pirates aren't world-class superbly-trained soldiers, some are even fought off with water cannons. Just let crews carry some protection, M14s for example. Getting involved on land isn't perfect either, because the local populace will most likely view the provisional government as a puppet government, and before you know it people protest, zealous insurgents enter the scene, which requires a sufficiently-armed response on our part, and ultimately plunging us into yet another war.

[Ran]

These pirates are more sophisticated than you think.

[Adhamh Ashashi]

These pirates are more sophisticated than you think.

They ask if they may steal the ship then?

My God, just don't let these pirates near your boat, stop going in this area, BRING A GOD DAMN GUN. I mean America is bloddy trigger happy yet these morans on a boat don't bring guns while travelling on the seas.

As you can see, I really do care for this situation.

[Barry Goldwater]

Okay okay, the US can invade countries but can't stop a couple of bushmen with some guns. It's all BS to me.

They're attacking unarmed merchant ships, not USN warships

Does anyone stop to consider that piracy my be the only way these guys have to feed their families?

Doesn't matter to me, pirates are criminals and ought to be treated as criminals.

[Pious Agnost]

They ask if they may steal the ship then?

My God, just don't let these pirates near your boat, stop going in this area, BRING A GOD DAMN GUN. I mean America is bloddy trigger happy yet these morans on a boat don't bring guns while travelling on the seas.

As you can see, I really do care for this situation.

That makes it a Military ship.

Which can't dock in most places...

[Adhamh Ashashi]

That makes it a Military ship.

Which can't dock in most places...

So you are not allowed bring any weapons for defense when carrying goods? At least bring a large stick. That would at least fend them off for a while.

[The Devil's Sergeant]

Does anyone stop to consider that piracy my be the only way these guys have to feed their families?

[Holger Danske]

Does anyone stop to consider that piracy my be the only way these guys have to feed their families?

Once you hold other people hostage by gunpoint you have lost all your innocence, no matter your motives.

[skag]

Does anyone stop to consider that piracy my be the only way these guys have to feed their families?

So freakin true !!

@Holger Danske

Once you hold other people hostage by gunpoint you have lost all your innocence, no matter your motives.

Hey man, imagine you live ... I don't know, let's say India, and you are untouchable (so you are very poor, and it's qlmost impossible to make some money) . Your wife is very sick and suffering from diabete, you absolutely need insuline, but you have not .... WTF will you do ? Take a gun, go to a drug dealer, steal some insuline !!!!

That's the same here. Maybe you don't know somalia is very VERY poor. You have childrens and wife to feed, what do you wanna do ? wait the sky to rain some money ??

You don't loose your innocence in such cases, and no "no matter your motives".

Your words are the perfect words of a "rich" little guy who knows a ing nothing, sitting in his confortable little chair, and think that everywhere in the world it's like in DK.

Yes there are motives, and i would do the same !

[Ran]

They ask if they may steal the ship then?

I meant their weapons. They probably use the piracy as a source of money to buy some weapons, take a look at the amount of ships they have raided and took down, even at night.

[Adhamh Ashashi]

I meant their weapons. They probably use the piracy as a source of money to buy some weapons, take a look at the amount of ships they have raided and took down, even at night.

I still think weapons should be brought on board of ships that are travelling in dangerous waters. I still wonder how these Somalians can go Jack Sparrow on these Americans....