Author Topic: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard  (Read 19360 times)

PegLeg45

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #70 on: April 12, 2009, 04:26:16 PM »
US sea capt. freed from pirates in swift firefight

  By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY and LARA JAKES, Associated Press Writers Elizabeth A. Kennedy And Lara Jakes, Associated Press Writers   – 10 mins ago

MOMBASA, Kenya – U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.

Capt. Richard Phillips was in "imminent danger" of being killed before snipers shot the pirates in an operation authorized by President Barack Obama, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said.

He said the pirates were armed with AK-47s and small-caliber pistols and were pointing the rifles at the captain when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge gave the order to open fire.

Gortney, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said the White House had given "very clear guidance and authority" to take action if Phillips' life was in danger.

Phillips' crew, who said they had escaped after he offered himself as a hostage, erupted in cheers aboard their ship docked in Mombasa, Kenya. Some waved an American flag and fired flares in celebration.

Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vermont, was not hurt in several minutes of gunfire and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet said he was resting comfortably on a U.S. warship after receiving a medical exam.

"I'm just the byline. The real heroes are the Navy, the Seals, those who have brought me home," Phillips said by phone to Maersk Line Limited President and CEO John Reinhart, the company head told reporters. A photo released by the Navy showed Phillips unharmed and shaking hands with the commanding officer of the Bainbridge

Obama said Phillips had courage that was "a model for all Americans" and he was pleased about the rescue, adding that the United States needs help from other countries to deal with the threat of piracy and to hold pirates accountable.

The Defense Department twice asked Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Phillips, most recently late Friday evening, U.S. officials said. On Saturday morning, Obama signed off on the Pentagon's request, as he had a day earlier, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The Navy said Phillips was freed at 7:19 p.m. local time. He was taken aboard the Norfolk, Virginia-based Bainbridge and then flown to the San Diego-based USS Boxer for the medical exam, 5th Fleet spokesman Lt. Nathan Christensen said.

Gortney said Richard Phillips was found to be in good health and suffered no apparent injuries despite being "tied up inside the lifeboat" over much of the ordeal. The USS Boxer was in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia, Christensen said.

U.S. officials said a fourth pirate had surrendered and was in military custody. FBI spokesman John Miller said that would change as the situation became "more of a criminal issue than a military issue."

A spokeswoman for the Phillips family, Alison McColl, said Phillips and his wife, Andrea, spoke by phone shortly after he was freed.

"I think you can all imagine their joy and what a happy moment that was for them," McColl said outside of the Phillips home in Underhill. "They're all just so happy and relieved. Andrea wanted me to tell the nation that all of your prayers and good wishes have paid off because Capt. Phillips is safe."

When Phillips' crew heard the news aboard their ship in the port of Mombasa, they placed an American flag over the rail of the top of the Maersk Alabama and whistled and pumped their fists in the air. Crew fired two bright red flares into the sky from the ship.

"We made it!" said crewman ATM Reza, pumping his fist in the air.

"He managed to be in a 120-degree oven for days, it's amazing," said another of about a dozen crew members who came out to talk to reporters. He said the crew found out the captain was released because one of the sailors had been talking to his wife on the phone.

Crew members said their ordeal had begun Wednesday with the Somali pirates hauling themselves up from a small boat bobbing on the surface of the Indian Ocean far below.

As the pirates shot in the air, Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men, crew members said.

Phillips was then held hostage in an enclosed lifeboat that was closely watched by U.S. warships and a helicopter in an increasingly tense standoff. The pirates were believed armed with pistols and AK-47 assault rifles. On Friday, the French navy freed a sailboat seized off Somalia last week by other pirates, but one of the five hostages was killed.

Capt. Joseph Murphy, the father of second-in-command Shane Murphy, thanked Phillips for his bravery.

"Our prayers have been answered on this Easter Sunday," Murphy said. "If not for his incredible personal sacrifice, this kidnapping and act of terror could have turned out much worse."

Murphy said both his family and Phillips' "can now celebrate a joyous Easter together."

"This was an incredible team effort, and I am extremely proud of the tireless efforts of all the men and women who made this rescue possible" Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said in a statement.

He called Phillips and his crew "heroic."

Talks to free Phillips began Thursday with the captain of the USS Bainbridge talking to the pirates under instruction from FBI hostage negotiators on board the U.S. destroyer. The pirates had threatened to kill Phillips if attacked.

A government official and others in Somalia with knowledge of the situation had reported hours earlier that negotiations for Phillips' release had broken down.

Three U.S. warships were within easy reach of the lifeboat on Saturday. The U.S. Navy had assumed the pirates would try to get their hostage to shore, where they could have hidden him on Somalia's lawless soil and been in a stronger position to negotiate a ransom.

"The Somali government wanted the drama to end in a peaceful way, but any one who is involved in this latest case had the choice to use violence or other means," Abdulkhadir Walayo, the prime minister's spokesman, told The Associated Press. "Any way, we see it will be a good lesson for the pirates or any one else involved in this dirty business."

Jamac Habeb, a 30-year-old pirate, said that the killing of the three pirates was "a painful experience."

"This is unfortunate action and our friends should have done more to kill the captain before they were killed. This will be a good lesson for us," Habeb told the AP from one of Somalia's piracy hubs, Eyl.

Residents of Harardhere, another port and pirate stronghold, were gathering in the streets after news of the captain's release, saying they fear pirates may now retaliate against some of the 200 hostages they still hold.

"We fear more that any revenge taken by the pirates against foreign nationals could bring more attacks from the foreign navies, perhaps on our villages," Abdullahi Haji Jama, who owns a clothes store in Harardhere, told the AP by telephone.

Phillips jumped out of the lifeboat Friday and tried to swim for his freedom but was recaptured when a pirate fired an automatic weapon at or near him, according to U.S. Defense Department officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk about the unfolding operations.

Early Saturday, the pirates holding Phillips in the lifeboat fired a few shots at a small U.S. Navy vessel that had approached, a U.S. military official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The official said the U.S. sailors did not return fire, the Navy vessel turned away and no one was hurt. He said the vessel had not been attempting a rescue.

The district commissioner of the central Mudug region said talks on freeing Phillips had gone on all day Saturday, with clan elders from his area talking by satellite telephone and through a translator with Americans, but collapsed late Saturday night.

Phillips' crew of 19 American sailors reached safe harbor in Kenya's northeast port of Mombasa about the same time under guard of U.S. Navy Seals, exhilarated by their freedom but mourning the absence of Phillips.

Pirates are holding about a dozen ships with more than 200 crew members, according to the Malaysia-based piracy watchdog International Maritime Bureau. Hostages are from Bulgaria, China, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, the Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Tuvalu and Ukraine, among other countries.

A spokesman for the German anti-piracy operation told the AP that the U.S. did not give any clue as to its plans in regard to the ship captain.

He had no details on the fate of the German freighter Hansa Stavanger, which was captured earlier this month or on the fate of its 24 crew of five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians, two Filipinos and 12 Tuvalu residents.

___

Jakes reported from Washington. Associated Press writers who contributed to this report include Mohamed Olad Hassan and Mohamed Sheikh Nor in Mogadishu, Somalia; Michelle Faul and Tom Maliti in Nairobi, Kenya; Matt Apuzzo in Washington, John Curran in Underhill, Vermont, Matt Moore in Berlin and Dena Potter in Norfolk, Virginia.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy;_ylt=AprmOzXu24KDCaREAufVtDCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTI3bTN2ZjA0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNDEyL3BpcmFjeQRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzMEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDZnVsbG5ic3BzdG9y
"I expect perdition, I always have. I keep this building at my back, and several guns handy, in case perdition arrives in a form that's susceptible to bullets. I expect it will come in the disease form, though. I'm susceptible to diseases, and you can't shoot a damned disease." ~ Judge Roy Bean, Streets of Laredo

For the Patriots of this country, the Constitution is second only to the Bible for most. For those who love this country, but do not share my personal beliefs, it is their Bible. To them nothing comes before the Constitution of these United States of America. For this we are all labeled potential terrorists. ~ Dean Garrison

"When it comes to the enemy, just because they ain't pullin' a trigger, doesn't mean they ain't totin' ammo for those that are."~PegLeg

Rob Pincus

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #71 on: April 12, 2009, 04:58:42 PM »
Outstanding.  8)

I'm anxious to get hear the real AAR on this.... precision marksmanship from an unstable platform is tough.... from one and onto another is seriously difficult... synchronizing 3 shooters under those conditions onto real people would be an Easter Miracle.

-RJP

twyacht

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #72 on: April 12, 2009, 05:28:25 PM »
Don't change your avatar PegLeg. These punk pirates didn't even have wenches.



Remember, unless you have a wench or two, your just a punkass wannabe.

Keep your avatar. Captain Morgan would be proud.
Thomas Jefferson: The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny of government. That is why our masters in Washington are so anxious to disarm us. They are not afraid of criminals. They are afraid of a populace which cannot be subdued by tyrants."
Col. Jeff Cooper.

PegLeg45

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #73 on: April 12, 2009, 05:49:27 PM »
I guess I might as well keep it a while longer....besides, how many pirates have you seen holding matched 1911's?


 8)
"I expect perdition, I always have. I keep this building at my back, and several guns handy, in case perdition arrives in a form that's susceptible to bullets. I expect it will come in the disease form, though. I'm susceptible to diseases, and you can't shoot a damned disease." ~ Judge Roy Bean, Streets of Laredo

For the Patriots of this country, the Constitution is second only to the Bible for most. For those who love this country, but do not share my personal beliefs, it is their Bible. To them nothing comes before the Constitution of these United States of America. For this we are all labeled potential terrorists. ~ Dean Garrison

"When it comes to the enemy, just because they ain't pullin' a trigger, doesn't mean they ain't totin' ammo for those that are."~PegLeg

Hazcat

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #74 on: April 12, 2009, 06:32:47 PM »
Its not about justice. This guy is a foot soldier. He lives, he dies, it doesn't change a thing. What will bring about a change is the UN declaring these guys international criminals. That greenlights them and gives us the diplomatic cover we need to do something that will be very messy. We want the blood on as many hands as possible so folks can't blame US alone. As far as Boris Yeltsin, I think you mean Slobadan Milosevic (I'm not going to even pretend to know how to spell that).
FQ13


Just.  Plain.  Wrong.

You don't seem to get it.  We DON"T GIVE A DAMN what the hague or international courts think!  Good guys KILL bad guys.  REAL NASTY if we need to leave a message.  It is the ONLY thing these muslim barbarians understand.  Strength, power, and THE WILL TO USE IT!

Wrap yer head around that.
All tipoes and misspelings are copi-righted.  Pleeze do not reuse without ritten persimmons  :D

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #75 on: Today at 06:27:02 AM »

MikeBjerum

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #75 on: April 12, 2009, 07:32:08 PM »
As thankful as I am that this is resolved and came with a positive ending, the media is getting to me.

First reports in our area papers were "President Obama personally ordered rescue," followed by "President Obama personally approved action."  If you read the report it says snipers were in place on the fantail (I'm sure standard procedure for the situation), one pirate was in talks with U.S. military, the other three were holding the Captain in the boat with am AK 47 at the back of his head, the Naval Commander feared for the Captains safety and ordered the snipers to take them.

Apparently this makes our new President a military genius and a force to be feared by our enemies.  Is this the same buy that wants to cut our military and disarm both our military and citizens?
If I appear taller than other men it is because I am standing on the shoulders of others.

twyacht

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #76 on: April 12, 2009, 07:34:07 PM »
Sorry, I had the wrong eastern bloc tyrant..... It was Slobo Milosavich.

My mistake, I apologize.

The point of having the UN give a PASS to do what should be done anyway? These are International Commerce TERRORISTS.

He lives, he dies and as many more as we can take out with flagrant devastating overwhelming force! THAT is what these people understand in Somalia, NOT the Hague, or the UN.

In the past they were regarded as such and dealt with.


I guess I might as well keep it a while longer....besides, how many pirates have you seen holding matched 1911's?


 8)

Probably easier to carry than the flintlocks of old,.... ::)

Thomas Jefferson: The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny of government. That is why our masters in Washington are so anxious to disarm us. They are not afraid of criminals. They are afraid of a populace which cannot be subdued by tyrants."
Col. Jeff Cooper.

fightingquaker13

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #77 on: April 12, 2009, 07:51:05 PM »

Just.  Plain.  Wrong.

You don't seem to get it.  We DON"T GIVE A DAMN what the hague or international courts think!  Good guys KILL bad guys.  REAL NASTY if we need to leave a message.  It is the ONLY thing these muslim barbarians understand.  Strength, power, and THE WILL TO USE IT!

Wrap yer head around that.
Haz
We are in complete agreement here ON EVERY SINGLE POINT. The point isn't whether, its HOW. You apparently prefer kicking in the door, saying "Lucy I'm home" and then drawing your .45. Me, I prefer 600 yds away with a .300 win mag. Quite frankly "not giving a damn" about what the world thinks isn't patriotic, its just plain dumb. We live in the world that exists, not the one we want to see. What exactly is wrong with using diplomacy to our benefit?
FQ13 who is confused about why trying to round up a posse before going after the bad guys makes the sheriff anything but smart

Hazcat

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #78 on: April 12, 2009, 08:02:21 PM »
Because diplomacy is weakness to the muslims.  The UN is a JOKE and there is NO way you can say other wise.  Name ONE thing the UN has ever done right. 

International courts and opinion are mostly what thug nations think.  UN Health and human rights council for one BIG example.

We STOP playing their game.  STOP funding the UN, STOP funding nations that are our enemies. 

Diplomacy hasn't worked yet and that ain't gonna change.
All tipoes and misspelings are copi-righted.  Pleeze do not reuse without ritten persimmons  :D

twyacht

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Re: Pirates hijack ship with 20 Americans onboard
« Reply #79 on: April 12, 2009, 08:09:05 PM »
Vice-Admiral on telephone interview with Fox news, USS Bainbridge closed within 25 to 30 meters with situations deteriorating.

Snipers took them out, as they pointed their guns at Capt. Phillips head.

25 to 30 meters? Head shots were easy for them...

Thomas Jefferson: The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny of government. That is why our masters in Washington are so anxious to disarm us. They are not afraid of criminals. They are afraid of a populace which cannot be subdued by tyrants."
Col. Jeff Cooper.

 

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