Somali pirates ask $7 million to free UK couple-report

danarhea said:

I think the UK needs to call the US and borrow some Navy Seals to take these punks out. :mrgreen:

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nah, the just need to get me out of retirement, clic on pic

danarhea said:

They are if the Somali government supports the terrorists by acts of omission. It becomes an act of war.

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Which somali government are we talking about here?

Agnapostate said:

I can't run with those jingoist vibes. I can't claim that everyone's equal by a long shot, but there's no evidence that I'm aware of that U.S. citizens are more valuable than Somalis. :shrug:

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Really? Is this Philosophy 101? Because last I checked U.S. citizens have contributed to the world's progress for hundreds of years. When's the last time a Somali went to the moon or invented a cure for anything? Which Somali car do you prefer? Maybe even a well built toaster?

Now, I don't believe one human being has worth over another. But the political correct answer to life's unfortunate realities serves nothing other than a personal satisfaction that you are better than others. In the end...you are like everybody else and would gladly accept the slaughter of others for your safety.

This is a mission for America. We owe the British our complete support because they have earned our friendship. The Pirates (who have a chain of command) should be given a certain amount of time before we begin devistating their bases (and we do know where enough of them are). The only reason they keep taking people ransom is because no one has made them pay for it yet.

We do have a history of dealing with piracy. The Barbary Pirates wars in the Mediterranean is a glorious period for U.S. Marines and Sailors. We have nearly eradicated all piracy in U.S. waters and in the Caribbean Sea. Piracy in the Vietnam region was dealt with severly by local governments because America forced the issue. Since the end of the Cold War, local navies have declined in operation and piracy has produced position.

People have this idea that piracy is something that really can't be dealt with - like everything else in the world, anything we do is doomed to fail. Well, people are stupid. The sooner we start obliterating our enemies (and piracy is a war-like act in historical terms) the sooner we can start not having to deal with what our band-aids keep creating.

It's amazing how we can destroy a Nazi scourge, endure a nuclear Cold War against another Super Power, control the seas, and host the greatest technological advancement and advantage against our enemies the world has ever known.....but when it comes to an insurgent or a pirate, people seek to boast that we are inches from dropping to our knees.

danarhea said:

I think the UK needs to call the US and borrow some Navy Seals to take these punks out. :mrgreen:

But, seriously, we know where they live. In Somalia. Each time Somali pirates take hostages, the UK, US, or whichever nation the hostages belong to should do the same. For each citizen they kill of ours, we should kill about 5,000 of theirs. I bet that would put the pirates out of business in short order, because whatever passes for the Somali government would then take us seriously, and decide to control their pirates.

/rant

Article is here.

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What Somali government? :shock:

GySgt said:

Really? Is this Philosophy 101? Because last I checked U.S. citizens have contributed to the world's progress for hundreds of years. When's the last time a Somali went to the moon or invented a cure for anything? Which Somali car do you prefer? Maybe even a well built toaster?

Now, I don't believe one human being has worth over another. But the political correct answer to life's unfortunate realities serves nothing other than a personal satisfaction that you are better than others. In the end...you are like everybody else and would gladly accept the slaughter of others for your safety.

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Nah, they can't even build a crappy one of those. If you want a crappy toaster, get one of those Chinese made ones over at Wal-Mart. :mrgreen:

Hatuey said:

What Somali government? :shock:

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It is a coalition of tribes that agree that Somalia should have a future with the advancing world. Our attitude that Somalia has "no government" invalidates what the Chadanese and the Ethiopians (our allies) have been trying to do through the AU.

danarhea said:

Nah, they can't even build a crappy one of those. If you want a crappy toaster, get one of those Chinese made ones over at Wal-Mart. :mrgreen:

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I can't stand the politically correct. There's one life boat heading out to space because the world is going to explode. There is room for 100 people. Are we really looking for Somalis to continue the human race? I can see it now. "You are a medical engineer on the cusp of your profession but that guy is a Somali and he is just as important so get out of line."

The British should refuse to negotiate and issue an ultimatum; if the couple isn't safely returned within X hours we will begin decimating your villages.

danarhea said:

I think the UK needs to call the US and borrow some Navy Seals to take these punks out. :mrgreen:

But, seriously, we know where they live. In Somalia. Each time Somali pirates take hostages, the UK, US, or whichever nation the hostages belong to should do the same. For each citizen they kill of ours, we should kill about 5,000 of theirs. I bet that would put the pirates out of business in short order, because whatever passes for the Somali government would then take us seriously, and decide to control their pirates.

/rant

Article is here.

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This sounds like an approach that TD would promote.

GySgt said:

It is a coalition of tribes that agree that Somalia should have a future with the advancing world. Our attitude that Somalia has "no government" invalidates what the Chadanese and the Ethiopians (our allies) have been trying to do through the AU.

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Yeah I'm sorry if I define a government as having actual control over their country. In some form. With a standing army, air force & navy unless there is no need for a navy. One that isn't powerless beyond the boundaries of a few strongholds.

There is no such thing as a 'Somali government'. That's what I saying. There is a couple of tribes who have a piece of land. That is it. Which is why we have pirates running the coasts of Somalia.

As far as the Ethiopians go, last I heard they support the Islamic Courts and their international support for the 'Government' of Somalia is to save face.

American said:

This sounds like an approach that TD would promote.

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Nah. If the Somali pirates had an "R" after their names, TD would vote for them for president. :mrgreen:

danarhea said:

Nah. If the Somali pirates had an "R" after their names, TD would vote for them for president. :mrgreen:

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Uh, no I have to disagree with that.

Hatuey said:

Yeah I'm sorry if I define a government as having actual control over their country. In some form. With a standing army, air force & navy unless there is no need for a navy. One that isn't powerless beyond the boundaries of a few strongholds.

There is no such thing as a 'Somali government'. That's what I saying. There is a couple of tribes who have a piece of land. That is it. Which is why we have pirates running the coasts of Somalia.

As far as the Ethiopians go, last I heard they support the Islamic Courts and their international support for the 'Government' of Somalia is to save face.

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I know what you are saying. But they have more of a sense of government now than in 1993. Today, the African Union is working with them, but they can only do so much. After all, it is Africa and nobody cares about Africa.

Most of our allies do things to save face. Do you really think continental Europeans are in Afghanistan because they care? Why should Ethiopia be any different? Ethiopians support the "established" government because it receives favor from the African Union and from the U.S. It is also in their best interest because the breeding of Islamic fanaticism has threatened to cross into their borders for years. This is also why the Chadanese are involved.

But unless Americans want us back in Somalia (for real this time), this is going to be the half-assed long lasting result.

Hmm ... The Government doesn't even trade or negotiate with terrorists over our own soldiers. No way will they give a toss about a couple.

danarhea said:

I bet that would put the pirates out of business in short order, because whatever passes for the Somali government would then take us seriously, and decide to control their pirates.

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The problem lies in the fact the only people who can control and remove the pirates are Islamists who the pirates hate and vice versa.

Laila said:

Hmm ... The Government doesn't even trade or negotiate with terrorists over our own soldiers. No way will they give a toss about a couple.

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Governments do stupid crap when it comes to civilians. Soldiers are more or less disposable to modern Western nations... civilians are priceless.

Korimyr the Rat said:

Governments do stupid crap when it comes to civilians. Soldiers are more or less disposable to modern Western nations... civilians are priceless.

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Attack after attack upon military personnel since Beirut goes ignored, but 9/11? I'd say you were pretty accurate.

Agnapostate said:

Yeah, again...no jingoist perspective here. The fact that some people engage in piracy because of indigence exacerbated by governance by feuding warlords and people like that isn't justification for deciding to eradicate many more people in the surrounding area, imho.

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Yup, there's never a reason to protect life, liberty and property without due process.