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

danarhea

danarhea

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LONDON (Reuters) - Somali pirates have demanded a $7 million (4.3 million pounds) ransom for a British couple captured on their yacht in the Indian Ocean, according to a phone call from a man purporting to be a member of the gang broadcast by the BBC on Friday.
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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.
 
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:
 
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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They are if the Somali government supports the terrorists by acts of omission. It becomes an act of war.
 
What the hell were the couple doing on a Yacht on the Indian Ocean?

That's like driving a Bentley through Johannesburg's slums and wondering why people have removed you from your vehicle.
 
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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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. ;)
 
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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Well, there's the fact that our citizens ransom for higher sums.
 
arch enemy said:
what the hell were the couple doing on a yacht on the indian ocean?

That's like driving a bentley through johannesburg's slums and wondering why people have removed you from your vehicle.
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edit< edit.......;)
 
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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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editttttttttt.....;)
 
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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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Yeah, those poor pirates are the victims.....;)
Sorry, this one stays.....:)
 
Coon County said:
Ok, I'll edit.....:)
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I appreciate that. You and I are on the same side of many issues, but what I look for is to debate the Liberals, not to start flame wars with them. Debating instead of flaming is one of the qualities that makes Debate Politics head and shoulders above most other forums. I don't care what other forum you come from. If you debate honestly here, you will be OK in my book. And there are plenty of debates to be had here. To win the day means winning the debate, not starting a flame war.

Thanks for editing, and thank you for your graciousness on this. :)
 
danarhea said:
I appreciate that. You and I are on the same side of many issues, but what I look for is to debate the Liberals, not to start flame wars with them. Debating instead of flaming is one of the qualities that makes Debate Politics head and shoulders above most other forums. I don't care what other forum you come from. If you debate honestly here, you will be OK in my book. And there are plenty of debates to be had here. To win the day means winning the debate, not starting a flame war.

Thanks for editing, and thank you for your graciousness on this. :)
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Fair enough, Dan....:)
As a boat owner & a sea lover, I can't excuse piracy on any level in these times......:(
 
Coon County said:
Fair enough, Dan....:)
As a boat owner & a sea lover, I can't excuse piracy on any level in these times......:(
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Neither can I. You already know where I stand on this issue. LOL.
 
Agnapostate said:
Actually, I don't recall mentioning that. Place that comment with the one about me threatening to assassinate the king of Swaziland. :)
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Sugar coat it, but you are apologizing for their 'plight'....
I'd like to see them take up arms against their oppressors with their hard earned cash....
But, it won't happen....
They'll spend it on living large...
Like most common criminals do....;)
 
Coon County said:
Sugar coat it, but you are apologizing for their 'plight'....
I'd like to see them take up arms against their oppressors with their hard earned cash....
But, it won't happen....
They'll spend it on living large...
Like most common criminals do....;)
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I don't even know what you're talking about, and I suspect you don't either. ;)
 
I am not up for mass retribution against the Somalia people. I think the Somalia government my truly be unable/ unequipped to battle these pirates. (not that they would even if they were) Even our government has acknowledged the challenges of battling these guys.
I would however be okay with heavy US Navy patrols in this area for about 6 months with mini gun vs dingy and see how long it takes the pirates to decide it's not worth the risk.:mrgreen:
 
Agnapostate said:
I don't even know what you're talking about, and I suspect you don't either. ;)
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Well, what does the statement below mean then?....
It sure looks like you are trying to justify their actions because they are poor......
What they are doing is armed robbery....
Common criminals.....;)
QUOTE=Agnapostate;1058336994]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. ;)[/QUOTE]
 
Every Western nation has a unit that is made just for those occasions.
Perhaps it's time to use it?
 
I think that the fact that these desperate Somalis don't typically engage in torture and often take adequate care of their hostages and release them unharmed should count in their favor.
I truly don't think they wish to harm anyone; they're starving.
Perhaps we could do something to aid the situation in Somalia, although I don't know what. I'm sure it would have to involve toppling their current government so that any assistance we sent could actually reach the people.
I believe the piracy would stop if the people had enough to live on.
 
1069 said:
I think that the fact that these desperate Somalis don't typically engage in torture and often take adequate care of their hostages and release them unharmed should count in their favor.
I truly don't think they wish to harm anyone; they're starving.
Perhaps we could do something to aid the situation in Somalia, although I don't know what. I'm sure it would have to involve toppling their current government so that any assistance we sent could actually reach the people.
I believe the piracy would stop if the people had enough to live on.
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A .223 is much cheaper, & more effective.....;)
I, for one, am tired of sending foreign aid anywhere while the b******* s*** on us.....
Common criminals commiting felonies can & should be shot in the commission thereof....
There is no way to justify piracy....:naughty
 
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1069 said:
I think that the fact that these desperate Somalis don't typically engage in torture and often take adequate care of their hostages and release them unharmed should count in their favor.
I truly don't think they wish to harm anyone; they're starving.
Perhaps we could do something to aid the situation in Somalia, although I don't know what. I'm sure it would have to involve toppling their current government so that any assistance we sent could actually reach the people.
I believe the piracy would stop if the people had enough to live on.
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I agree with everything that you said, but if they demand ransom for lives that they hold by the gun, they should be neutralized - with force.
 
1069 said:
I think that the fact that these desperate Somalis don't typically engage in torture and often take adequate care of their hostages and release them unharmed should count in their favor.
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They do this because they know that if they didn't, that would be the motivator necessary to get the rest of the world to take action and put an end to these shenanigans.

I truly don't think they wish to harm anyone; they're starving.
Perhaps we could do something to aid the situation in Somalia, although I don't know what. I'm sure it would have to involve toppling their current government so that any assistance we sent could actually reach the people.
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So what would you propose? Somalia makes Afghanistan look like Canada.

I believe the piracy would stop if the people had enough to live on.
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If every person had equal rights, enough to live on, and a responsive and honest government, I bet you'd be right. As it stands, you've identified the main problem - there's absolutely no way to make it so that the people have enough to live on, because it's a failed state.
 
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