Tuesday - February 22, 2011

Damnation

Navy responded, captured all the pirates. Found 2 dead pirates on the boat. Shot and killed one in the process and gutted another one with a knife. 15 or more pirates arrested.

I don’t know what Obama is going to do, but I sure can figure out what Ronald Reagen and Teddy Roosevelt would have done.

Four American hostages on board a yacht hijacked by pirates last week were killed by their captors Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

The vessel, named the Quest, was being shadowed by the military [USS Sterret] after being captured by pirates off the coast of Oman on Friday. Officials had said earlier Tuesday it was less than two days from the Somali coast.

Ship owners Jean and Scott Adam and Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle were found shot by U.S. forces who boarded the vessel about 1 a.m. ET, officials said.

The forces responded after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a U.S. Navy ship about 600 yards away—and missed—and the sound of gunfire could be heard on board the Quest, U.S. Navy Adm. Mark Fox told reporters.

“Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds,” U.S. Central Command said.

The incident took place as negotiations involving the FBI were underway for the hostages’ release, Fox said. Two pirates had boarded a U.S. Navy ship on Monday for the negotiations, he said. He told reporters he had no information on details of the negotiations or whether a ransom had been offered.

Two pirates were found dead on board the Quest, he said. In the process of clearing the vessel, U.S. forces killed two others, one with a knife, Fox said. Thirteen others were captured and detained along with the other two already on board the U.S. Navy ship. A total of 19 pirates were involved, he said.

The Americans were sailing the world on a Christian mission to distribute bibles when they were ambushed last week by pirates in dangerous waters nearly 300 miles off the Somali coast. On board the yacht were Jean and Scot Adam from California and Phyllis MacKay and Bob Riggle from Washington state.
...
It was only after the gunfire was detected, according to the military official, that point US special ops forces boarded the Quest and engaged the pirates. Until weapons were fired at the Quest , US forces did not assault the yacht, according to the official.

“As [U.S. Forces] responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors. Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds,” according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

The last time pirates targeted an American vessel - the Maersk Alabama in 2009 - the heist ended with all but one of the pirates killed by US navy sharp-shooters.

“They think they are Americans, they must be rich and able to pay whatever ransom is demanded. However, I think these pirates have made a grave mistake,” said Steve Ganyard, former deputy assistant secretary of state, ABC News consultant [speaking earlier]. “I think in this case they pushed the United States government just too far, and I think there will be a drama that will play out in the days to come.”

Posted by Drew458     on 02/22/2011 at 12:31 PM   
Filed Under: • Pirates, aarrgh! •  
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