US captain 'freed from pirates'

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Abe

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The captain of a US container ship taken hostage by Somali pirates has been released, US media report.

According to initial reports, three pirates were killed in the operation to free Captain Richard Phillips. Another is in custody.

Capt Phillips is said to be unhurt and on the USS Bainbridge, a warship sent to track the pirates holding him.

He was taken hostage last Wednesday after pirates briefly hijacked his ship, the Maersk Alabama.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7996087.stm
 
pity they didn't kill all of them.

It's not like they had much choice... hurt the captain and you die... sail anywhere in the world and we will follow you... but you will probably die of thirst before then.
 
alf101 said:
Great news.
Only thing is that these pirates aren't gonna feel bad about killing hostages now...
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Not so sure, think they are going to think twice about going for French or US ships. From the sounds of it, the captain dived overboard again and the US Navy was ready this time.
 
Well their business is thriving killing hostages it is no longer a business. People do not like doing business with murderers.

Although you would think killing hostages may have to happen at some point as people will not take them seriously.
 
Garyvdh said:
News24 says Navy Snipers took out three of them.
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That's right the U S Navy snipers took out the three on the dingy, and the fourth was on board the navy vessel supposedly to negotiate a ransom and at one point decided to defect - he is in custody now and they are at a loss as to where he should be tried - I'd make him walk the plank and take his chances with the sharks (add a little chum).

Great news that these jihadi pirates met their match.
 
Frankie said:
That's right the U S Navy snipers took out the three on the dingy, and the fourth was on board the navy vessel supposedly to negotiate a ransom and at one point decided to defect - he is in custody now and they are at a loss as to where he should be tried - I'd make him walk the plank and take his chances with the sharks (add a little chum).

Great news that these jihadi pirates met their match.
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Cut his leg a bit before he walks the plank :p, here sharkie.
 
And there they start threatening 'revenge':

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53A1LP20090412?sp=true

Only in Africa could you have pirates with a "sense of entitlement".

"The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now," Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.
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I mean really, you're a pirate, in waters surrounded by hordes of warships. Surely being shot at (and sometimes killed) goes with the territory.
 
The entire Somali coastline needs to be brought under foreign control. Thats the only way to stop the pirates.
 
In my view these pirates got greedy. They've been picking off smaller targets for years and its gone un-noticed.

I'm guessing after they scale down their operations they'll no longer make headlines? :cool:
 
BrandonH said:
The entire Somali coastline needs to be brought under foreign control. Thats the only way to stop the pirates.
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I'm surprised at the level of restraint shown by the international community. It's not even like they're just picking on US targets. They do go after Russian and Chinese exports, so there should be no hold up at the UNSC.

The only thing I can suspect is that no one wants to get involved in another African war, and that's enough to put them off. But who knows, maybe this can be an opportunity for China to get its feet wet in "international peacekeeping".
 
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