US flaged cargo ship siezed by pirates!

[stevensc]

"A spokesman for the pirates, who reportedly use the autonomous region of Puntland as their base, told Al Jazeera some of the ransom money will be used to help clean up waters off the Somali coast ravaged by years of toxic waste dumping."

Honestly I had to laugh when I read this. I spent a good bit of time in Somalia in the 80s and yes the waters and what could have been some pretty nice beaches were a mess with lumps of tarlike crude floating or washed ashore. But the pirates using ransom money to clean it up, not one penny in a million years would be my estimate.
Steve

[andrejsv]

Wasnt one of the first foreign wars of The unites States as a country fighting pirates in the Mediterrenean?

The precedent exists, how come we can't go to the Somalian coast and sink every vessel that has not registered or demonstrated their bonafide with us?

We dont need to invade or attack the country, simply declare a no-sail zone similar to a no-fly zone in Iraq, and sink anyone that violates it..

just my two cents.

[Pblais]

just my two cents.

That and a $1.50 will get you a cup a coffee. Please pay on the way out.

[Chief Engineer]

Where do you get a cuppa for $1.52???????????????????

Unless it is one of those teeny ones at the Qwikkee-Mart

[Chief Engineer]

I fear this thread will be shut down, after all we cannot discuss the political winds that blow across various nations and their leaders.

As the Counselor sez on South Park

"Uh.....Pirates bad...M'kay?"
"Uh...US Navy/Canadian Navy.........good....M'kay"
"Talkin about any thing politcal......bad..........M'Kay?"
"Group hugs and bows .........and Kumbaya........good.........M'Kay?"

This post was dedicated to all the chest thumpers out there

[Columbia22]

Makes a good argument for em to be armed if you ask me But that would be to easy
wouldn't it There only weapons are a few ak47s and a rpg or two One 50 cal mounted on the bow and a few warning shots they would Back down like the Dogs they are.

[KIWI]

I think what most are thinking --We all know that the French and NATO gutless,, Good time for the US to try out some of there new toys because if they don't and the Somalia's are left alone to carry on as business as usual and with the ransoms they are charging I might have to see if I can get a job over there , Must be better than what I'm getting now

[DavidGC]

I'm no fan of most of the NATO countries' contributions to various conflicts, but it is patrols of several of those countries -- especially France -- in the Gulf of Amin that have forced the pirates around the horn or Africa to the southern Somali coast (where these current hijackigs have been occurring).

DGC

[David M]

Originally Posted by David M

Yes, its political...everything relating to different nations is. Lets leave specific politicians out of the discussion. When you start discussing specific politicians or political parties you have crossed that line. Please don't force the Mods to have to close this thread.

Originally Posted by Colorado Dreamer

This is one of the stupidest things I have ever read on this forum.

If you do not like our rules then you are welcome to go to another forum which allows political discussion. There is no freedom of speech here and this is not a political forum...plain and simple.

Here are our our rules. Read them, especially the part about being civil and respectful towards one another. Read the part about it not being a political forum. Also read the part about notifying the moderators by private message if you have a problem with them.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/?page=rules

[enovillo]

My first post on this fantastic cruising forum after lurking for months. It's sad that it's on a political matter, but I just can't help myself.

I just read through the entire thread and found only one, yes, a single one, comment about the real solution to the piracy problem: we must help Somalia get on a path to education, health, and prosperity. Yes, it's a long and difficult path; yes, it will take generations; and yes, we need to take other actions to curtail piracy in the mean while.

Sticking missiles up people's butts, blowing up rats' nests, and killing people like dogs isn't going to solve anything.

And yes, I am a Canadian citizen and a socialist.

[David M]

I see two solutions, both of which need to be applied.

1. Make it impossible for them to be pirates by force.

2. Not just the US, but the entire world needs to donate resources to this country so they can create their own prosperity through education, etc. Its the old fishing pole analogy.

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by enovillo

Sticking missiles up people's butts, blowing up rats' nests, and killing people like dogs isn't going to solve anything.

Enovillo, solutions like these come from people who believe in their hearts that "others" are inherently different or non-human. They simply can/will not put themselves in others shoes. Can you imagine how bad it would have to be to get you to climb into a small boat and attack a possibly well armed giant ship, knowing that the navy is hunting for you, and if caught you will have your hands cut off if lucky, and executed if not? Imagine the level of despair(a rarely used word in America). And just think...they gave up perfectly good jobs to become pirates. NOT!

[Colorado Dreamer]

Originally Posted by David M

If you do not like our rules then you are welcome to go to another forum which allows political discussion. There is no freedom of speech here and this is not a political forum...plain and simple.

Well for one, this thread is posted in Scuttlebutt, which is in the off topic forum, which simply states that things should be "Off Topic content should still remain loosely related to boating." which this thread does. I see no reason why good political debate can not occur between consenting adults, especially in the "off topic" portion of the site. It would be different if it was in the General Sailing Forum.

Originally Posted by David M

Here are our our rules. [B] Read them, especially the part about being civil and respectful towards one another.

Uh, yeah, nice rules. I feel that I am complying completely. Maybe you should re-read them. You are a moderator after all and should probably know them better then me.

Originally Posted by David M

Read the part about it not being a political forum.

You mean this part: "Discussion of politics and religion is permitted only in association with the topic of this forum. " Or is there another part I am missing? Because I kind of thought that all the political discussion in this thread was related and in association with the topic.

Originally Posted by David M

Also read the part about notifying the moderators by private message if you have a problem with them.

I do not have a problem with you. If you did, you would know about it, via private message per your rules.

I simply stated it was the stupidest thing I have ever read on the forum, which I still stand by. We all have our opinions, and I am sorry you do not agree with mine, but hey, that is life.

Political debate is EXACTLY what this country needs right now, and like minded people gathering together and discussing topics of interest should be encouraged, not discouraged.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Colorado Dreamer

... I see no reason why good political debate can not occur between consenting adults ...

Good debate, political or otherwise, is not comprised of insulting ridicule or invective, whether directed at a person (politician/office holder), organization (political party), philosophy, nor country et al.

Trash talk, insults and derogatory observations, don’t foster anything but disharmony and anger; and usually says more about the talker than it does about its target.

[slomotion]

What puzzles me is that all of these boardings and attacks are made from small boats which cannot possibly operate 100s of miles at sea without a mother ship. I guess a ‘mother ship’ could be a large dhow, but surely it is frequently a freighter or other ‘real’ ship. Yet, the Pentagon claims:

"You could have all the navies in the world having all their ships out there, you know, it's not going to ever solve this problem." Pentagon press secretary, Geoff Morrell.

AFAIK, the only navy to ever sink what may have been a Somali pirate mother ship is India. How embarrassing is that?