Whoo-hooo!! We're #1! We kicked some foreign butt. etc, etc.

Now, how are the right wingers going to use this to blame the defense "budget cuts"?

I'm hoping the Somali pirates have a worse season than the Pittsburgh Pirates are predicted to have.

As for the pirates, one is believed to be in custody, while the rest of the gunmen are believed to be "in the water."

Hopefully, each with an anvil tied around their neck. It's time for the traditional pirate punishment: summary hanging from the nearest yardarm. If they start finding that piracy is a one-way trip, they may change their minds.

Perhaps more importantly (and perhaps less expensively), it also wouldn't hurt if the West was to police the fishing grounds off Somalia to get rid of the other pirates - the ones (mostly from western countries) stealing all the fish and leaving the Somalis with few options once their work as fishermen is wrecked.

Steve, the retaking of the ship from the pirates is wonderful and makes me happy; however please note: it only happened because patriotic, God-fearing military men (and probably long-term Republicans) took charge of matters in implicit - albeit not explicit - defiance of "President" Obama's simpering defeatist, appeasement-mongering policies.

It's worth a check to see if this could be one of the ships like that positioned around the world under contract to the Pentagon. I knew a guy in the merchant marine who captained one stationed in the Indian Ocean, and there is one stationed in a port near my home. They carry rapid response military supplies. Losing one of those to pirates would be much more significant than just the hostages and some aid packages.

"Perhaps more importantly (and perhaps less expensively), it also wouldn't hurt if the West was to police the fishing grounds off Somalia to get rid of the other pirates - the ones (mostly from western countries) stealing all the fish and leaving the Somalis with few options once their work as fishermen is wrecked."

TCinLA: i have only been hearing the superficial TV reaction to each act of piracy. Can you provide link to info on the fishing issue?

During WWII, ships formed convoys to cross the Atlantic. Why isn't this done to deal with this situation?
W

Whoo hoo to the Mass Maritime folks. They take sh*% from no one.

Whoo hoo to the Mass Maritime folks. They take sh*% from no one.

Whoo hoo to the Mass Maritime folks. They take sh*% from no one. -- Bethie, @13:24

Sure they do. They let themselves be captured in the first place, no?

There was a local news story about how Mass Maritime Academy has added anti-piracy classes to their curriculum. Damn those Massachusetts liberals for investing in education!

"Now, how are the right wingers going to use this to blame the defense "budget cuts"?"

No, no. The fact that they were hijacked in the first place is the fault of Obama's "Defense budget cuts"; they were able free themselves - despite Obama's fecklessness - by exercising their 2nd Amendment rights (which Obama plans to take away from them, after which they'll be sent to re-education camps.)

Aww jeez! Al beat me to it!

I know this isn't exactly political news

This was a Maersk containership with an 1100 TEU capacity (1100 twenty foot containers or about 500 40 foot trailerloads). That's a lot of freight, whether it was all aid or commercial freight. If one of these was so susceptible to these pirates, it would have been even more susceptible to a Cole style attack. If one of these were sunk, it most certainly would be a big political story. And even though there are no US containerlines anymore (that I know of), there is a lot of US freight on them.

Maersk is a Danish company, which took over or merged with Sealand. Sealand was a US company, explaining the American crew.

Johnny Cannuck,

That would make sense, but I think the convoy system isn't possible.

You have so many ships from all over the world, each with their own destination and schedule.

it only happened because patriotic, God-fearing military men (and probably long-term Republicans) took charge of matters in implicit - albeit not explicit - defiance of "President" Obama's simpering defeatist, appeasement-mongering policies.

Yeah, including Capt. Richard Phillips of Underhill of gay-marrying Vermont. I'd pay cash money to watch these gay sailors stomp a mud-hole in you, troll.

Perhaps most remarkable is that there still is a commercial container ship crewed by Americans.

A military defeat by Mass. Maritime guys? Not guys from the "real" America?

As a native of Boston, may I just say: NEW ENGLAND IN THE HOUUUSE! SUCK ON THIS, DIXIE!

It's the sound of the piracy bubble popping. How long before they ask for (and receive) a bailout?

"I think the convoy system isn't possible. You have so many ships from all over the world, each with their own destination and schedule."
Posted by: 2Manchu

As to schedule, being captured by pirates sure upsets that!

I don't know anything about the logistics, but if the damage caused is enough, I would have thought, escorting ships from the straits past the Somalia coast would make sense. Don't know how many ships leave every day, but you'd only need one destroyer or frigate to keep them company.

[...] if the damage caused is enough, I would have thought, escorting ships from the straits past the Somalia coast would make sense [...] -- Johnny Canuck, @14:26

As a matter of fact... At one point, Blackwater (now Xe, I think) did plan to branch out into that area (convoy protection) of business. Wonder what happened to those plans.

Saw this comment on a conservative blog:

I'd say if it was me, and the situation was under control, I wouldnt throw anybody overboard b/c I'd want to get information out of them.

If it was in the heat of battle and they decided that pitching the people overboard was simpler than trying to tie them up or whatever, then so be it.

From news reports I've read, the ship was hauling food aid for the UN food program to Kenya.

This will be a gross generalization, but I think it will be difficult for any hijackers to overtake any vessel with Americans after 9/11. It just isn't going to happen. I know I've run through scenarios (however remote the possibility) in my mind to the effect "what would I do in a hijacking situation". Invariably, I would fight regardless of how skilled I am in arena.

Hopefully, each with an anvil tied around their neck. It's time for the traditional pirate punishment: summary hanging from the nearest yardarm. If they start finding that piracy is a one-way trip, they may change their minds.

The problem with that is that, like it or not, it gives the pirates an incentive to kill everyone on board. If you know you'll be executed if you're caught, you're going to kill all of the witnesses to reduce the chance of being caught.

So far, the Somali pirates have been reasonably non-violent (in that they haven't been killing hostages outright like the pirates in Asia have). We should probably try to find a way to de-escalate rather than give them a reason to start killing people.

"it gives the pirates an incentive to kill everyone on board."

Does the average Somali pirate know how to pilot a humongous freighter?

Johnny Canuck, I would worry more about our side of the Great Lakes. When the pirates learn about our governments' policies, they're going to go where the pickings are easy. And this time it won't be a Greyhound bus (obscure Canadian joke).

Why are you wasting our time with pirate news?

Bob M., Sorry I'm too obtuse. Smuggling may be an issue on the Great Lakes; piracy, a bit impractical, even though there are many immigrants from Somali in Toronto. The piracy works because there is no effective government on shore in Somalia. If hijacked buses becomes a problem, maybe we can replace them with high speed trains.

Something seems fishy about the whole piracy problem. Pirates so far haven't killed anybody. They have a negotiator in Abu Dhabi. They are getting millions and can't seem to be touched. I think they are getting some government backing from somewhere at least for logistics. How else do they find a freighter 300 miles off-shore? The fact that they were thrown off an American crewed ship makes me think that someone pulled some strings....

captured shadow:"Something seems fishy about the whole piracy problem. Pirates so far haven't killed anybody"

don't think your logic on first point is correct. Pirates successful if can keep low enough profile that there is no military attack against them; So just a little kidnapping, and holding ships for ransom. Doesn't seem to have upset anybody sufficiently to organize conveys, or pay for escorts/guards.

We need to bring back the Q Ships.

Also, emptywheel notes that since this was a U.S.-flagged ship, many of the crew are Seafarers International Union members who received anti-piracy training from their union.

I'm looking at this story again and thinking about the freighter crews not having weapons. Ok, I understand about the lethal weapons, what about NON-LETHAL types weapons?? spray foam, sound cannons, and then I am thinking about the boat disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle and the predominant theory of methane gas being "burped" from the ocean floor and lowering the specific gravity of the water, causing the boat to sink....what if there was a way to release methane in the vicinity of the offenders??? wave bye-bye as they grab for floating thingies....

The cargo of World Food Programme food aid was for 2.4 million people in Somalia alone: http://bit.ly/318ZdW

The people most affected by the piracy are the people who can least afford it!

It's frustrating watching people who have almost nothing, having that little taken away from them!

pirates are to be dealt one way and one way only, and that is to walk the plank. death to the pirates