SEALS kick pirate.....

[Jim K]

Since the New York Times is in the red (financially, as well as politically), I thought I would volunteer to help them by writing the lead editorial for Monday, April 13.

"Today, three young men lie dead, all their youthful hopes and dreams shattered by bullets from gunmen firing indiscriminately into their pleasure boat. Once again, the United States has shown itself to be the land of the gun, guilty of wanton slaughter and murder of the innocent.

It has been claimed that those innocent victims were "pirates", an absurd charge as none of them had a hook in place of a hand. It has also been alleged that the killers were military personnel, another silly argument since President Obama would never allow members of our armed services to harm anyone, ever.

"No, the killing was undoubtedly carried out by the NRA or some other right wing group of gun lovers. These people must be arrested and imprisoned. That will send a clear message to other rightist gun crazies that attacks on innocent pleasure seekers will not be tolerated in our loving society."

Think they will publish it, or will they write their own editorial saying the same thing? Mine is free.

Jim

[mdoerner]

I think we should act like Roosevelt(Teddy, the good one) and continue to protect AMERICANS when this kind of stuff happens. Rest of the world no longer appreciates the good we do anyway, so let them worry about saving their folks.

I do agree. However, I don't think you're going to see any Bundeswehr dudes hoof it down there to rescue their citizens. USA, the UK, France, and Israel seem to be the only ones that give a $hit about what happens to their citizens globally. Nevertheless, I'd hope the other guys are released ASAP, unharmed.

Mike Doerner

[Ken C.]

Since you mentioned their lack of a hook, but left out the fact that they also had no Parrots or wooden legs, which clearly meant they were NOT Pirates. Once again the evil U.S. has acted unwisely, even against the dictates of its President.

[Troy (WA)]

If I am an American citizen doing business overseas I would prepare myself to possibly be a casualty. If taken hostage, I would take great pleasure in knowing that the military is coming and that if those that dare engage in this type of dubious act, they are coming for you. Until the rest of the world steps up to protect their own people and interests, these pirates will persist. I am very surprised that the current administration gave the go for a rescue op to include deadly force. Don't mess with the US!

[Mike Josephic]

I agree -- the more of these S.O.B.'s that we eliminate the better. That is the only way that the other wannabee's will think twice -- then find another line of work. Let the scum go back to Somalia and tend their goats or whatever they do there.

My hat is off to the Captain. I traveled overseas for many years doing
business in some countries with very unstable governments. You never knew when the next revolution would occur and your passport would be lifted, airports closed, etc. It's not a comfortable feeling. Thank God for the Navy Seals and the fact that our government FINALLY acted.

[VET70]

I wouldn't be too hard on the Germans. They did a great hostage rescue of a hijacked jet back in the 70s. And it was in Mogadishu to boot. I think the outfit was designated BGS 9 (Bundesgrenzenschutz 9), a "border patrol" unit, but a special ops outfit in reality.

[Dollar Bill]

Of course it's going to get dangerous - for the pirates! Paying them off hasn't seemed to deter them. Gee, who'd have guessed that!!!
We had that problem in the Carribean for awhile. The Shooter's Shack (no longer in business) sold marine Mossberg 500s and full-auto M16s for a couple years to folks cruising the area and the problem declined rapidly. We saw the same results when the concealed carry law was enacted. A 36% decrease in homicides over the last 10 years.
There's an old saying "An armed society is a polite society".
I agree with Bill's idea "Shipping companies should have 40mm Bofor's guns on the deck and let those bastards have it at the first sign of a problem."

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

That pirate threatening to shoot the crews at any sign of resistance reminds me of that guy in Tianamen Square standing in front of those tanks. In other words keep that up, and see what happens to you!

[Fredtheobviouspseudonym]

Their article today on the freeing of Captain Phillips stressed the down side.

Apparently this will make Somali pirates unhappy and future attacks nasty.

Now, let's leave aside the whole question of politics and their seeming support for any non-American who wishes to engage in a a little free-lance wealth redistribution. Let's just look at truth and logic.

ANYTHING we do that interferes with their acquisition of wealth by nautical socialism will make them unhappy and nastier in future attacks. (I like the Wall Street journal comment on Reuters' happy report that Somali pirates are really nice people, only beating their captives rather than mutilating or killing them.) Therefore our choices are: 1.) making Somali pirates unhappy; or 2.) permitting their ravages anywhere their little boats (and perhaps later bigger boats) can reach.

I prefer option 1.)

[Troy (WA)]

I prefer the make them dead part but thats just me.........