PIRATES! AAARGH!

I guess I don't understand why so many people are quick to say that these people were arrogant, or careless, or stupid, or whatever. Not just here on this forum but I've heard it from many sources. Arrogant because they wanted to spread their faith to those willing to listen? No. Careless or stupid for leaving the protection of a larger group or straying so close to pirate boundaries? Maybe...but since nobody really knows the whole story it probably is too soon to say. As for this incident showing that we are losing our global influence (not the exact wording but you get the drift) I say, really? If that had been a couple of any nationality the situation would have been the same. These pirates are out for money...that's it. They aren't doing it for a political statement, a religious zeal, or any other reason. They hail from one of the poorest nations on the planet, they want money...most of them work for a boss who strings them out on drugs and leaves them to their fates....they act so fearless because it is a very small international naval force posted to patrol a huge area. The fact that the Navy was close enough to respond at all was quite lucky. Wrong place at the wrong time? Maybe...but a tragedy none the less.

 

Idont know luke and probably off topic..but id call anyone knocking on my door and it happens regularly here and ignoring my two no hawkers or cold callers both somewhat arrogant and ignorant to think just because they want to spread their religious beliefs that I should stand there and listen while they ignore my legal requests to not approach..my deal with god is my deal..and private ..how dare anyone think they are above that be it somalia or an english village.

 

I too get a lot of door religious traffic even though it's posted not to. It's funny how those people think they know what God is/wants us to do ( Jerry Falwell etc ). Like, who on earth knows what God wants? Which God?...They used to argue about how many angels could stand on the head of a pin ( like that's sooo important )! That question has been answered by man ( think they decided it was "12 angels" ) and now we can move on to homosexual marriage, dinosaurs, demons, pirates.

 

If Jerry Falwell comes to your door call Ghost Hunters!

 

I think Poppy was referring to Falwell-types, the evangelical bible thumper "God told me" style. Not the man himself.

 

Ha! ...Would like to golf with Bella. It would be a laugh a minute....Ummm, Ghost Busters Bella. Ghost hunters couldn't help a hot demon out of a wet paper bag. Or aim a plasma rifle for that matter...jeeze.

 

Remember we are supposed to bad-mouthing pirates here, not people who are following their faith's doctrines whatever it may be or assigning fault. Missionary types of all religions know the risks they run, but that's their calling and they roll the holy dice when they head out. I wouldn't do it, but if that's what makes them happy and earns them some extra credit at the same time for the hereafter, then more power to them. Everybody has a job to do. You don't have to like it, but at least you should respect it. They died for their beliefs, so I think that I'll give them credit for that. Me, I'd rather be killing pirates.

 

As long as neither missionarys or pirates bother me thats fine . neither are wellcome and respect is earned mate. doesnt come with the lifestyle or vocation

 

As the latest reported victims are a Danish family on a cruise I supose the religous debate can be set to the side. Still at some point common sense must rule, We might be able to escort major shipping thru the region but hardly every 30 foot yacht on a pleasure cruise. If you cannot protect yourself, don't go!

 

I think I just saw on the tube that this family was rescued by a private security group. Didn't catch all the details since I was reading some other news online and the TV was going in the background.

My mistake, it was a Dutch family not the Danish one.


NAIROBI, Kenya — The head of a private security company says his guards retook a yacht from Somali pirates after the Dutch couple on board locked themselves in a safe room.

Thomas Jakobsson of Naval Guards said Thursday that six of his guards were accompanying the Capricorn yacht on a separate motorboat. Six armed pirates were able to get aboard the Capricorn but the Dutch couple barricaded themselves in the boat.

Jakobsson says his men had a brief exchange of fire with the pirates before retaking the Capricorn with no casualties on either side.

Goto:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/03/somali-pirates-dutch-couple_n_830728.html

My bad. Sorry 'bout that.

 

so Clint were the Somali's captured or did they with luck on their side retreat off onto their little dinghies and paddle away if the article furthers itself. . . ?

think a little self protection would be advised these clowns are taking all sorts of chances even at their own expense

 

I am glad the couple are now safe. Who knew, Anti Pirate ships, a growth industry!

 

Everyone has their point of view, and I can respect that urqh. I respect anyone who does their job and their duty, and even more so for those who die for their beliefs. It's just that the thread seemed as if was drifting towards a missionary bashing viewpoint, and I felt that there was no need for that here. Another thread maybe, but not here in the "aaargh scurvy dog pirate" thread. Personally, I have no problem with the missionary(s) position. Badaboom-ding....

 

I can't verify this at the moment (it might be hogwash) but a friend of mine told me of an interesting article or advertizement he saw on line.

Apparently, if one can fork over the bucks, one can have a chance to ambush and kill these pirates.

From what he told me, commandos or such take people out in pleasure craft that look like an easy target for pirates.

Then, when the pirates get near the craft, the customers get to open fire with a variety of automatic weapons and obliterate them.

To me this does not sound legal, and if it's actually true, it might be underground.

Anyway, has anyone else heard of something like this?

 

Ex brit forces were armed and on board ships off aden or yemen as it were and aomalia in eightees ..see queen and country spud murphy..anti piracy and the pirates are nothing new..bigger business in the region now but nothing new..Last count abbout 360 crew being held ffor ransom..theyll be freed when companies or govts quolietly pay em off as usual..Ionly state this to counter the militant jhiad spouting..many are westerners..if ali q are behind these guys..the pirates are not selling them on to them..work it out .

 

Time to clean them out like we did the Barbary Pirates back in 18-oh-something-or-other.

 

If Teddy Roosevelt were President, he'd go to the United Nations, demand that the piracy be dealt with. Then, hopefully with or if necessary without U.N. approval he'd send in the MEU and wipe them from the face of the earth. No prisoners!

 

The problem with "shoot them all and let God sort them out" is simply poor to bad application of force. Some of these men are fishermen 95% of the time, just being fishermen, catching fish and trying to make a living. If they are tempted with some concept/idea/opportunity of making some money, they turn "pirate" and have a place to run to which has no real government.

It isn't like the Barbary pirates of the late 18th early 19th Century, where the pirates were state supported, and it isn't like the privateers of old who turned pirate when the government removed their license to privateer. They also don't fly under any flag, false or real, they are just fishermen in little boats, they don't "hoist the Jolly Roger" or anything.

For all of TR's puff and bluster, he used it against existing governments and/or nations. Not groups like these, which are neither terrorists, nor organized groups protected or encouraged by a government. This is fighting smoke. There may be a way to make it less "profitable", or so expensive that the lure disappears, but shooting them up without proof only creates more trouble. As we have sadly learned in the case of Islamic extremists. For every one we kill, we create ten. Not a good cost/benefit approach.

Completely different set of circumstances. TR would probably be flumoxed as well these days, and he lost most of his own bluster when one of his sons was killed in WW1. War wasn't quite as "noble and glorious" after that.

 

Well then we could use the "Q-ship" approach like in both the world wars. Disguise small superbly armed warships as merchant ships, yachts, sail boats, etc and when the poor ole fishermen/pirates of fortune attempt to board, tend to them properly, and with extreme prejudice. If any of the fishermen/pirates of fortune do survive the onslaught, they should be immediately executed and fed to the sharks. Sooner or later they will tire of this piracy business and go back to fishing. Piracy on the high seas should not be tolerated at all.

 

I think that is probably the only idea that will have a chance of success. Make the attempt too costly for the reward. Now another idea I had was keeping a "paid force" of men dedicated to protecting the larger merchantmen aboard, with the "license to kill" in the protection of the individual ship. Paid for by the owners of the ship, and/or subsidized by the insurance industry, if they get their cargo through, that is all the better, if they repulse and deter more attacks against other shipping, their insurance rates should decrease for shipping in the area.

Just a thought.