U.S. weighs response to Somali pirates' hijacking of yacht with 4 Americans

The Adams took a known risk. There are other ways to distribute bibles I'd imagine.

As a general word of advice, it might not be the wisest course of action to sail your yacht around the Somali coast for the time being.

Sigh. Guess it's time to break out the sniper rifles.

It's a case of bad things happening to good people while they're doing stupid things.

They must have many bibles to hand out to their captors. Perhaps in the long months of captivity that lie ahead they could read through some of the more pertinent parables and discuss them with the pirates. I think there may be episodes from the life of Saint Paul and other apostles that will be very appropriate in the circumstances. Who knows, but it could be an illuminating experience for all concerned.

bobobolinski:

" They must have many bibles to hand out to their captors. Perhaps in the long months of captivity that lie ahead they could read through some of the more pertinent parables and discuss them with the pirates. "

LOL, yeah right. Handing out bibles to the Al-Shabat will really go down well. Shall we say, instant beheading?

29 ships and over 600 hostages. Isn't it about time the world stood up and did something. What I find really peculiar is that they have been payed millions yet they don't seem to have anything to show for it. Where's the money going, I'm sure they are not investing it.

DXXJP:

" Where's the money going, I'm sure they are not investing it. "

Most of the money is of course going into getting bigger and better pirate boats and more arms, to carry out more piracy. It`s call re-investment.

And then there is of course a large cut that goes to Al-Shabat to promote the world-wide jihad and more terrorism. And we pay for it. Quite elegant, you´d have to admit.

Start investing in Q Boats. Fire at will.

The pirates earn multimillion dollar ransoms from the hijackings.

Am I missing something here? One of the first rules of dealing with terrorists like these is that you never pay them ransoms. It only encourages more hijackings. Pay ransoms, more hijackings. Don't pay ransoms, no more hijackings. Simple.

Am I missing something here?

Yes, plenty. First, these guys are pirates and not terrorists. Pirates have a profit motive while terrorists have a political motive. Second, at some point the "not paying ransom" approach fails because the price of not paying is too high. For example a loss of a supertanker full of oil or the deaths of human beings, particularly American ones. Third, if no one pays a ransom in this case, the pirates know they're plenty of other ships in the sea. Piracy pays because there is always a pressure point after which someone will pay. Fourth, these guys are pirates because there are no jobs. Fifth, governments cannot be expected to bail out their citizenry through commando rescues every time they do something unadvisable - that would be most likely more expensive and put the lives of well trained soldiers and the hostages at risk. A payout, while odious, may end up being the preferred option.

WilliB: What are you saying? Read the article again...

The pirates from Puntland are not hardline Islamists and the fact the Adams carry Bibles is not likely to be a problem. Pirates in Puntland are known to spend their ransom spoils on alcohol, drugs and prostitutes.

Helter_Skelter: they should walk the plank but soon, you will see some pirates using hostages as human shields.

God has given them an interesting mission.

Damn bible thumpers! America thinking its next steps. Suggestion: step away. Put any ransom money toward the U.S. deficit. Let God will solve this for them.

The Americans are trying to work out the difference between Piracy and Terrorism, and the UN security counsel are scratching their heads, give them some time!!!!!

It seems absurd but the US government will spend millions of dollars on this issue just as it spent millions to send President Clinton to North Korea for a photo op. Americans need to know that the US Constitution does not follow them when they travel. If they choose to go near Iran, North Korea or known international waters that may have pirates, they choose to risk being captured. If the US government spent the same amount on children in school, every child would have a laptop and more. The money can't be put toward the deficit because, "It is such a small amount." said every politician.

This is the best excuse America can have to finally really invade Somalia and clean up that lawless part of the world, Kenya etc...have to suffer from having such crazy, dangerous neighbors, it is a sad, sad, shame.

First, these guys are pirates and not terrorists. Pirates have a profit motive while terrorists have a political motive.

Pirates can be ideological and terrorists can make money, if you threaten a nation's citizens it should treat them no differently.

Second, at some point the "not paying ransom" approach fails because the price of not paying is too high. For example a loss of a supertanker full of oil or the deaths of human beings, particularly American ones.

And if they keep paying, the pirates keep going after ships because the process works. So either way attacked nations lose, the only thing they can control is whether or not the pirates win. Not paying generates a lose-lose situation which still beats a lose-win in favor of the pirates.

Third, if no one pays a ransom in this case, the pirates know they're plenty of other ships in the sea. Piracy pays because there is always a pressure point after which someone will pay.

I'm pretty sure not paying for hostages is about the last pressure point that you can press. Once that one is shown to fail and countries start answering pirate demands with deck guns I'm willing to bet their resolve will fade quickly.

Fourth, these guys are pirates because there are no jobs.

No, their jobs just pay next to nothing. There's a difference. Only the weak and depraved turn to crime when things get difficult, I have no sympathy for criminals.

Fifth, governments cannot be expected to bail out their citizenry through commando rescues every time they do something unadvisable

So we shouldn't use the commando squads and ships that we already pay for because it would be cheaper just to pay the millions in ransom?

would be most likely more expensive and put the lives of well trained soldiers and the hostages at risk.

A soldier is a professional that has been trained for the sole purpose of taking another human being's life when he is called to do so. Why else would a country maintain these well trained soldiers if not to use them to protect their citizens?

A payout, while odious, may end up being the preferred option.

Never. Liberate the prisoners that you can and set the pirates ablaze. Kill them whenever and wherever possible with whatever means necessary. Station soldiers on freighters encourage citizens to carry firearms if they're going to be in risk areas. And this is the perfect place to test new weapon systems.

Most of the money is of course going into getting bigger and better pirate boats and more arms, to carry out more piracy. It`s call re-investment.

Most of the ransom paid, estimated to be around 80% goes into international crime networks. The pirates themselves get only a fraction.

Berber61:

" Damn bible thumpers! "

Well, this is Somalia, where bible thumpers tend to have a very short live. These poor guys have no money, but do have bibles, which is a double offense to the kidnappers.

Unless they are rescued soon, it is reasonable to expect that they´ll be killed and their bibles burned. So you don´t need to get angry about these thumpers any more.

next move, Obama.

He made some pretty impressive threats to Pakistan, still holding a US diplomat in clear violation of int'l law.But that is all they were, empty threats from an empty suit.

I don't think these pirate terrorists are too worried...

These four perhaps have to wait a looong time , until election time, before somebody bother to remember them.

"a couple from California who has ( have ) been sailing around the world since December 2004"

Must've been nice.

All those bibles probably slowed down the ship. Maybe they should have tried throwing the bibles at them. Hopefully they get home safe. I am sure they must be praying with a lot of bibles in hand.

Given what they were doing, bible distribution, they must have god on their side so we can all (including the US government) leave this to their god, he is sure to see that the get home safe.

Well think about it, sending in a team of highly trained American killers to take out the pirates is hardly a christian thing to do is it?

"You can't have your cake and eat it, too." Why should America invade another country? Hello, Europe, Asia and Africa. Are the people roaming the world from these area safe? It doesn't appear so when the number of tankers presently held fly non-American flags. Americans are tired of being the local police.

U.S. weighs response to Somali pirates' hijacking of yacht with 4 Americans

Um, invade and demolish an unconnected 3rd country?

Whatever they do the words 'hammer' and 'nutshell' immediately spring to mind.

noriyosan73

“Why should America invade another country?”

Because it is good for your arms business.

“Americans are tired of being the local police.”

You might find that had “the local (?) police” stayed at home more often the world may no be the way you want it to be but it would be a lot less dangerous for a great many people.

Nobody is asking the wonderful US to invade again, we all remember what a fantastic job you made of it the last time and how when it got a little too hot and unprofitable you just did a runner.

Besides what are your super troopers going to do if the do manage to capture the pirates, build another illegal prison outside US jurisdiction and keep them there for how long? You really do over value your own worth.