Pirates hijack ship with 21 Americans aboard off Somalia

[70Chip]

I'm worried that by killing these three pirates, we have only made it easier for our enemies to recruit new pirates in the future. We've got ot stop pushing our weight around like this and rely more on negotiation and diplomacy. Aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhh Matey!

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I'm worried that by killing these three pirates, we have only made it easier for our enemies to recruit new pirates in the future. We've got ot stop pushing our weight around like this and rely more on negotiation and diplomacy. Aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhh Matey!

Hopefully we send more special ops teams to take out the pirate training camps as well.

Great work by the Seal team on this one. Awesome stuff. They may not be scared of the US military, but they're dead.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I'm worried that by killing these three pirates, we have only made it easier for our enemies to recruit new pirates in the future. We've got ot stop pushing our weight around like this and rely more on negotiation and diplomacy. Aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhh Matey!

Are you kidding? Pushing our weight around. They attacked our US ship and then took the captain hostage. Anything after that was fair game and they lost their life. I'm just impressed with two things. 1. Obama gave them the OK to fire on them if needed. 2. These Seals picked these guys off in heavy seas with 3 shots fired and all 3 hit there mark.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Are you kidding? Pushing our weight around. They attacked our US ship and then took the captain hostage. Anything after that was fair game and they lost their life. I'm just impressed with two things. 1. Obama gave them the OK to fire on them if needed. 2. These Seals picked these guys off in heavy seas with 3 shots fired and all 3 hit there mark.

Sounds like a movie doesn't it? I thought it was so freaking awesome.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Are you kidding? Pushing our weight around. They attacked our US ship and then took the captain hostage. Anything after that was fair game and they lost their life. I'm just impressed with two things. 1. Obama gave them the OK to fire on them if needed. 2. These Seals picked these guys off in heavy seas with 3 shots fired and all 3 hit there mark.

If you read back I gave Obama credit for giving the OK back when it happened.

[firstdown]

So I read that the pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama again and I wonder if it was targeted or just luck they hit this ship again. This time it seems they where armed and faught them off.

The Associated Press: Pirates again attack US-flagged Maersk Alabama

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by firstdown

So I read that the pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama again and I wonder if it was targeted or just luck they hit this ship again. This time it seems they where armed and faught them off.

My question is - Which is more cost effective and ultimately safer: Hiring a highly qualified, well armed detachment for each of your ships sailing in the troubled area or paying ransom, paying for lost time, exposing the company to the loss of valuable personnel & property and putting lives at risk.

It would seem to me the former is ultimately cheaper even just as a deterrence force - I'd rather pay my mercenaries than pirates even if the risk of attack is slim. It always seemed pretty straightforward to me, maybe I am missing something.

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

My question is - Which is more cost effective and ultimately safer: Hiring a highly qualified, well armed detachment for each of your ships sailing in the troubled area or paying ransom, paying for lost time, exposing the company to the loss of valuable personnel & property and putting lives at risk.

It would seem to me the former is ultimately cheaper even just as a deterrence force - I'd rather pay my mercenaries than pirates even if the risk of attack is slim. It always seemed pretty straightforward to me, maybe I am missing something.

Perhaps, but I am the best protector of my own life.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

My question is - Which is more cost effective and ultimately safer: Hiring a highly qualified, well armed detachment for each of your ships sailing in the troubled area or paying ransom, paying for lost time, exposing the company to the loss of valuable personnel & property and putting lives at risk.

It would seem to me the former is ultimately cheaper even just as a deterrence force - I'd rather pay my mercenaries than pirates even if the risk of attack is slim. It always seemed pretty straightforward to me, maybe I am missing something.

i think and heard the decision of whether to arm the crew, hire your own security detail or just pay the ransom is the decision of the insurance companies of the shipping companies. the shipping co saves money on insurance by not arming their own crew b/c, i imagine, a forseeable gunfight between trained militia pirates vs. a non-trained shipping crew could end up with alot of wrongful death suits.

looks like shipping co and their insurance carriers might be deciding that hired security detail is the way to go compared to their thought process a few years ago.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I'm worried that by killing these three pirates, we have only made it easier for our enemies to recruit new pirates in the future. We've got ot stop pushing our weight around like this and rely more on negotiation and diplomacy. Aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhh Matey!

I'm not sure if you're kidding here or not, but if you're not.. really?!

I would think it would be MUCH more difficult to recruit more pirates. These aren't Islamic extremists who don't care whether they live or die, these are assholes who want to take your money and go home and spend it in full health.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I'm worried that by killing these three pirates, we have only made it easier for our enemies to recruit new pirates in the future. We've got ot stop pushing our weight around like this and rely more on negotiation and diplomacy. Aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhh Matey!

Nice ! If own a ship , my crew is armed and have a security team of some sort on board to boot !