| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Africa Horn | |
| EU helicopters strike Somali pirate base on land | |
| 2012-05-16 | |
| [Al Ahram] The EU Naval Force (EU Navfor) said it had carried out an overnight raid on Somali pirate targets using helicopters and surveillance aircraft. The Somali-based pirates responded by threatening to kill crew being held on more than a dozen hijacked vessels if they were attacked again. It was the first time EU Navfor had taken its fight against the pirates to Somali soil since its mandate was expanded earlier this year to allow strikes on land as well as sea. At risk are more than 300 hostages of various nationalies held by the pirates, who have so far generally refrained from killing crew as they seek multi-million dollar ransoms. A Somali pirate who identified himself as Abdi told Rooters a helizaped the central Somali coastline near Hardhere, a known pirate haven. "An unidentified helicopter destroyed five of our speedboats early in the morning. There were no casualties. We were setting off from the shore when the helizaped us. We bravely ran away without counter-attacking," he said. "If we are attacked while with hostages, we shall take any necessary step to save ourselves, we may also kill the hostages if we miss other options to survive," Abdi told Rooters.
| |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 "We'll kill the hostages!" "Go ahead. They don't mean shit to me. But afterwards... Well, lets just say I'd be very unhappy." "Gulp." |
| Posted by: mojo 2012-05-16 17:13 |
| #4 Read "Jefferson's War," an account of the US govt in the Med vs the Barbary Pirates. It's very similar to what we see today. The only thing different is that tribute is not demanded, only ransom. The problem was finally solved when the US Navy came in and shelled the bases and brought the message home. Most of the European powers paid tribute for a shaky treaty. Even Britain and France. They could have ended the Barbary menace if they quit fighting each other. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2012-05-16 16:28 |
| #3 Thanks TW, will do. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-05-16 15:57 |
| #2 That phrasing was Fred's little joke, Besoeker. Check the link to see what the gentleman in question is actually quoted as saying. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2012-05-16 14:52 |
| #1 We bravely ran away without counter-attacking," he said. Interesting turn of phrase. Hopefully, you learned something from it all. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-05-16 07:44 |