The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Hazcat on October 07, 2009, 02:40:21 PM
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A group of Somali pirates has been captured after attacking a French navy ship by mistake, apparently thinking it was a harmless cargo vessel.
French military spokesman Admiral Christophe Prazuck said the pirates attacked in skiffs late at night some 500km (310 miles) off the Somali coast.
But the command and supply ship, the Somme, repelled the attack and chased the pirates, capturing five of them.
Dozens of international warships fight piracy in Somalia's lawless waters.
Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee
Admiral Christophe Prazuck
Postcard from a pirate capital
The country has had no effective central government since 1991, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order, and pirates operate off the coast almost with impunity.
Admiral Prazuck told French TV station La Chaine Info the pirates seemed to be surprised that the navy ship fought back.
"Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee," he said.
"The Somme gave chase and intercepted one of the pirates' boats. All the weapons had apparently been tossed into the sea and the suspected pirates are now being held on board the Somme."
About two dozen ships from European Union nations, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy, patrol the waters off Somalia - an area of about two million square miles.
Although the international naval forces have stepped up patrols in the Gulf of Aden this year, relatively few of the pirates detained have faced trial because of the legal complexities involved.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8294858.stm
Picture of Navy ship at link
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The french??? I can't believe they did anything. There must be more to the story. Make the pirates walk the plank.
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Oh, now, this is just too funny. Surrendering to the French.
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I saw the title of this thread and thought, "Oh crap, the pirates now have a destroyer! the French must have surrendered". Oh well, who knew, they will shoot back.
FQ13
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You've all got the wrong idea about the French. Look at Indochina and Algeria, the TROOPS fight like caged animals They are just cursed with Officers and politicians who put them in impossible situations and then depend on "Elan" and "Esprit" to make up for half assed planning.
It doesn't hurt that the best unit in the French Army is forbidden by law from containing Frenchmen. ;D
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Somali Pirates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWdgiFzpolA
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opps.
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Everyone....including the Somali pirates....underestimate the French....and end up paying for it later....
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Everyone....including the Somali pirates....underestimate the French....and end up paying for it later....
I'd bet most of the somali pirates have no idea whos flag is whos.
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Must say I am surprised the French Navy made a stand. Apparently there are a few Frenchmen who have the balls to stand against tyrrany. Going to have to call "Ripley's, Believe it or Not" on this one.
I think pirates should be hung like cattle rustlers. Put them out of our misery. Unfortunately, Somalia can only make money off these types of atrocities. Would be nice if some country would open up a case of whoop ass on them and annihilate a large number of those bastards. ;D
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Everyone....including the Somali pirates....underestimate the French....and end up paying for it later....
"underestimate the french"?!? True, they are even more worthless than most think.
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Do you know why Paris has tree-lined streets?
So invading armies can march in the shade.
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Remember, guys, if it weren't for Lafayette , Rochambeau and de Grasse we might be singing God Save the Queen instead of The Star Spangled Banner.
I'll admit that my first reaction was similar to FightingQuaker's.
TomBogan's right - it's their damned politicians and political officers who wear the brown pants.
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The French chasing and
killing, oooppps capturing pirates? Well, that's good enough for me, where's the air support finding the "mother ships"? 300+ miles out in a little skiff? Thinking some torpedo's for the mother ships....
Oh, wait,... this is the French.... ::).
Frankly, I like Sarkozy, more than BHO.
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The French chasing and killing, oooppps capturing pirates? Well, that's good enough for me, where's the air support finding the "mother ships"? 300+ miles out in a little skiff? Thinking some torpedo's for the mother ships....
Oh, wait,... this is the French.... ::).
Frankly, I like Sarkozy, more than BHO.
Sad isn't it.
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And speaking of Somalia, I never realized how much their flag resembles the 'Bonnie Blue'....... :o :o :o