The news ain’t saying it, but why did it take so long?! Sure, they wanted to save the Captain, but really, why did it take 100 hours to negotiate with tribal thugs? and why is America so scared of Somalia?
This is silly on so many levels.
Stop paying the ransoms, and stop playing the games. these guy’s are second rate hoods.
It would have sent a tougher message if the U.S. would have smeared them all into a chum line earlier on, captain and all.
That wasn’t my point. I find it ironic that the world’s largest Navy that American taxpayers pay billions each year to fund have to fart around for 5 days to take care of 4 losers in a lifeboat. The other irony is that the pirates wanted a $2 million dollar ransom that the shipping company was willing to pay. I wonder how much this ‘operation’ costed US taxpayers? I wonder if the shipping company will be paying us back? I do agree the only way these pinheads will quit attacking ships is if the shipping companies stop paying the ransoms. As economist Krugman said on Sunday, it would be fiscally irresponsible for American taxpayers to fund protection of these ships. I think the solution (since the shipping companies obviously have the money to throw around) is for them to hire anti-pirate mercenaries to protect them. Fight fire with fire, I say.
Maybe Blackwater should look into Maritime Security.
Well….there is the the risk of the captives to consider. I’ve always felt this pirate thing with captives and all, has been a no brainer decision from the beginning. As it stood, a hand full of third world pirates were holding off the worlds most powerful military machine. The pirates wanted $2 million in ransom. PEANUTS. For several years now we as a nation have dumped 2 million every 7 seconds down a black hole known as Iraq. Just pay the ransom, get the captives to safety, turn the operation over to the Navy SEALS, and within hours, prolly minutes, the problem is solved. And if the SEALS can’t do it, then turn the whole thing over to NUMA, and Dirk Pitt.
Or Popeye the Sailor man.