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| Africa Horn |
| Somalia: Pirates get another ship |
| 2008-10-15 |
| While the merchant fleets are waiting for EU and NATO escorts, the Somali pirates are staying busy, as set out in Pirates seize ship: A maritime official says armed pirates have hijacked a bulk carrier with 21 crew members in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia. Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau says the ship was sailing from the Middle East to Asia when it was seized Wednesday. The ship flies a Panamanian flag but is operated in the Philippines. This problem could be easily solved by airborne bombing and/or strafing of the local fleet and port facilities near the piracy incidents. No nation building. Just destroy the base. Somalia is a non-country, so who would officially object? However, who should do it? It seems to me that since the Big Bad US is so hated, someone else should step up to the plate. Let us let the others chew on this one for a while. It would be good for them to take responsibility. Piracy affects everyone, including the Egyptians, who will get no Suez Canal revenues if nobody goes there. We could solve the problem in a day or two on station, but it is time for someone else to step up to the plate and act. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #2 Govt allows Indian Navy to patrol Somali waters The Indian government has finally allowed the Indian Navy to patrol Somali waters to ensure that the safety of Indian sailors is not compromised. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the government said, "Neighbouring powers and international agencies are working with India to free the sailors." On Tuesday, Somali pirates set an ultimatum of 48 hours for paying ransom for the release of the 18 Indian sailors onboard the hijacked MT Stolt Valor. The angry families have been demanding proactive action from the government and want the Navy to patrol the Somalian gulf in order to escort the ship back and avoid clashes with the pirates, as it could prove counter productive. Seema Goyal, wife of captain of the ship Prabhat Goyal said she do not know which door to knock and collect the money. "Assurances don't work. This is the time when I want help from any quarter and solve the matter," she added. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-10-15 17:47 |
| #1 I say it again, "Q" ships. |
| Posted by: Total War 2008-10-15 17:35 |