Article

2008-04-17 Africa Horn

France calls for international action vs piracy off Somalia

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2008-04-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 See NOSI.org on the current state of FRENCH NAVAL AVIATION for hints why.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-04-17 03:03|| 2008-04-17 03:03|| Front Page Top

#2 What, without a 3-year debate, endless entreaties, and UN approval?

Posted by no mo uro 2008-04-17 05:40|| 2008-04-17 05:40|| Front Page Top

#3 Freakin' Sarkozy, what a unilateral, war-mongering Cowboy!

*snicker*

Posted by BA 2008-04-17 09:27|| 2008-04-17 09:27|| Front Page Top

#4 Well, first the UN will have to figure out what the definition of piracy is. They'll figure that out in about 25 or 30 years. Maybe.
And then the next step. Conferences at five star South Pacific resorts...

Posted by tu3031 2008-04-17 09:31|| 2008-04-17 09:31|| Front Page Top

#5 Well, leave the British out of it. They can't legally do anything.

However, I think the Navy boys and some SEAL Teams might jump at the chance to off some pirates.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-04-17 09:50|| 2008-04-17 09:50|| Front Page Top

#6 Any volunteers for "Q" ship duty?

Posted by Chief Running Gag">Chief Running Gag 2008-04-17 11:09|| 2008-04-17 11:09|| Front Page Top

#7 Hurrah for France! And good luck.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-04-17 12:06|| 2008-04-17 12:06|| Front Page Top

#8 See NOSI.org on the current state of FRENCH NAVAL AVIATION for hints why.

I looked there, and don't understand what you are hinting at, JosephM. Would you please explain?

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-04-17 12:09|| 2008-04-17 12:09|| Front Page Top

#9 tw, Link is here.

Essentially:

out of a total 235 aircraft, 155 planes and helicopters are operational

Posted by Pappy 2008-04-17 12:37|| 2008-04-17 12:37|| Front Page Top

#10 I think Joe means this, TW.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-04-17 12:44|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-04-17 12:44|| Front Page Top

#11 Thank you, Pappy. Old Patriot, that was the link I went to, but didn't understand the significance of all the numbers. I take it 155/235 is not a good ratio of working to grounded? But if the French are having airplane problems, why would they take on a new fight in which such things are needed? Or do they want the international community (meaning who?) to take up the burden for them?

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-04-17 12:54|| 2008-04-17 12:54|| Front Page Top

#12 Charles De Gaulle, the only French carrier and already somewhat of a naval joke, is in drydock for 18 months.

Posted by ed 2008-04-17 13:16|| 2008-04-17 13:16|| Front Page Top

#13 Highly effective techniques for combating piracy.

1) Sink the pirates vessels with the loss of all hands.
2) Instruct the Senior Chief Petty Officer to issue appropriate oral commendations for marksmanship.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-04-17 14:31|| 2008-04-17 14:31|| Front Page Top

#14 If those numbers are correct that works out to about 65%. it would be interesting to know the state of the US DOD aviation assets relative to this; based on the hand wringing in the press by the USAF and USN brass, they can't put 3 airplanes in the sky at any one time.. probably not that bad, but i would hazard a guess that our available assets are somewhere around 70% ( scheduled depot level rework, laid up due to lack of parts, lack of funding for repairs, etc)

Posted by USN,Ret. 2008-04-17 14:35|| 2008-04-17 14:35|| Front Page Top

#15 Hey, buy me the boat and me and my buds will take care of those pesky pirates.
a 3 million dollar yatch should do nicely.
Oh, and fuel, we'll need maps, charts, and fuel.
(we'll get the chicks en route)

Posted by wxjames 2008-04-17 16:30|| 2008-04-17 16:30|| Front Page Top

#16 Translation: "international action" - the Americans should take care of it, and Europe will tell us how to do it as well as complain about it afterwards.

Posted by DMFD 2008-04-17 20:37|| 2008-04-17 20:37|| Front Page Top

#17 Paging Stephen Decatur, paging Stephen Decatur ...

Posted by DMFD 2008-04-17 20:40|| 2008-04-17 20:40|| Front Page Top

#18 Well France, you could always make a Marine Corps and a Navy. It worked for us.

To the shores of Tripoli....

Posted by newc">newc 2008-04-17 22:23|| 2008-04-17 22:23|| Front Page Top

#19 I take it 155/235 is not a good ratio of working to grounded?

Not really. Also, in addition to small numbers, a significant portion of their helicopter fleet (the only aircraft that's really useful here) is aged.

Posted by Pappy 2008-04-17 23:19|| 2008-04-17 23:19|| Front Page Top

#20 unlike wine, aged is...not good

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-04-17 23:23|| 2008-04-17 23:23|| Front Page Top

23:57 Barbara Skolaut
23:35 JosephMendiola
23:23 Frank G
23:19 Pappy
23:11 JosephMendiola
22:42 JosephMendiola
22:40 Eric Jablow
22:38 Woodrow Slusorong7967
22:36 JosephMendiola
22:33 tu3031
22:32 JosephMendiola
22:26 Anonymoose
22:23 newc
22:21 JosephMendiola
22:14 Frank G
22:07 JDB
22:02 Frank G
21:59 DMFD
21:45 Woodrow Slusorong7967
21:43 Woodrow Slusorong7967
21:43 OldSpook
21:37 Frank G
21:33 Frank G
21:24 Lone Ranger