Obama declines comment on US hostage crisis off Somalia

[dutch508]

Apparently they are in one of those Lifeboat/capsule things and therefore no clear shot. I'm sure they'd be dead by now if that weren't the case, with or without the presidents OK. Strange shit happens at sea when you mess with sailors and their lady.

when you say lady, you mean the new guy who dropped the soap in the shower?

[dutch508]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97FNAS80&show_article=1

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The American captain held hostage by four Somali pirates made a desperate escape attempt Friday but was recaptured after they fired shots, and officials said other pirates sought to reinforce their colleagues by sailing hijacked ships with other captives aboard to the scene of the standoff.

<snip>

Around midnight local time, Phillips jumped off the lifeboat and began swimming, according to Defense Department officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk about the sensitive, unfolding operations.

One of the pirates then fired an automatic weapon, the officials said, although it was not clear if the shots were fired at Phillips or into the air, and he returned to the lifeboat.

The USS Bainbridge, which is several hundred yards away, has rescue helicopters and lifeboats but is keeping its distance, in part to stay out of the pirates' range of fire.

Its sailors were able to see Phillips moving around and talking after his return to the lifeboat, and the Defense Department officials think he is unharmed.

Negotiations are taking place between the pirates and the captain of the Bainbridge, who is getting direction from FBI hostage negotiators, the officials said. The captors are also communicating with other pirate vessels by satellite phone, officials said.

U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus said U.S. warships also are headed to the area, more than 300 miles off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast.

"We want to ensure that we have all the capability that might be needed over the course of the coming days," he said.

President Barack Obama, who is getting regular updates on the standoff, declined to answer questions about it Friday for a second straight day.

<snip>

[Peter3_1]

put a line on the boat, secure it to the destroyer. After dark, have some SEALS put a pair of cargo slings under the lifeboat, then hoist it onto the deck. Then, head for Norfolk.  Eventually, someone would come out.

[JohnMatrix]

Because God knows, they're all sitting on that liferaft watching CNN, just waiting to react to Obama's statement...

Reagan had a line back in 1986 when we went after Ghadaffi where he said, "They counted on us to be passive.  They counted wrong."  Sends a helluva message to the next person who gets the bright idea to go after our ships.

Ghadaffi also didn't have any hostages

[thundley4]

Pirates want $2M for American hostage.

"39 mins ago
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somali pirates holding an American hostage on a drifting lifeboat want $2 million for his release, a fellow pirate onshore said on Friday.
The pirate, speaking to Reuters from Haradheere port, also said other pirates were taking a hijacked German ship, with foreign crew on board, toward the scene in the Indian Ocean where the lifeboat is floating, watched by U.S. warships.
"Knowing that the Americans will not destroy this German ship and its foreign crew, they (the approaching pirates) hope they can meet their friends on the lifeboat," said the pirate, who has given reliable information in the past but asked for his name not to be used."

[NHSparky]

Ghadaffi also didn't have any hostages

Neither do the ones sitting on shore right now.  Use the terrorists (yes, that's what they are) as examples when you tie them to a buoy about 1/2 a mile offshore with a wad of raw bacon stuffed into their mouths as the carrion pick them over, you somehow see a rapid reduction in the number of hijackings.

Gee, I wonder why....

[TheSarge]

Neither do the ones sitting on shore right now.  Use the terrorists (yes, that's what they are) as examples when you tie them to a buoy about 1/2 a mile offshore with a wad of raw bacon stuffed into their mouths as the carrion pick them over, you somehow see a rapid reduction in the number of hijackings.

Gee, I wonder why....

You'll never convince Johnny Communist that any action we take will be justified.

He's the biggest apologist for anyone that opposes us you'll find on the internets.

[Airwolf]

I see Capt. Stupid has crawled out from his rock again. I guess there has to be someone to be the bitch in the middle and matrix is it.

[dutch508]

www.daybydaycartoon.com

damn. He's good.

[JohnMatrix]

You'll never convince Johnny Communist that any action we take will be justified.

He's the biggest apologist for anyone that opposes us you'll find on the internets.

right, and if obama actually went there himself and personally shot all the kidnappers, you would say that he didn't do enough.

[Hawkgirl]

right, and if obama actually went there himself and personally shot all the kidnappers, you would say that he didn't do enough.

Wrong, we'd trade hostages.

[thundley4]

Wrong, we'd trade hostages.

As it is, 0Bama will probably accede to the terrorists demands and give them the money, and the hostage will still end up dead.

[TheSarge]

right, and if obama actually went there himself and personally shot all the kidnappers, you would say that he didn't do enough.

No that would actually earn some honest respect for the man from me.

Try again jackass.

[dutch508]

obama goes and shoots all the hostages?

As long as we're dreaming, how about if Linsey Lohan gives him a blow job in the oval office?


....what do you mean it's all ready been done?

[Duke Nukum]

right, and if obama actually went there himself and personally shot all the kidnappers, you would say that he didn't do enough.

If Obama actually did that, man, it would totally change my opinion of him.  Instead he is hiding under his desk.

President Bush finished reading to children for seven minutes after the WTC attacks and we never heard the end of it.  Obama has been ducking and hiding from this for a few days now and the same people are defending him.

Obama is a weak, pathetic, shell of a man.  He had no concept of what the job entails when he ran and he's still clueless.

But he looks good in a suit and he can read a teleprompter well so the lefties love him..

[Peter3_1]

yOU'D THINK HE COULD MAN UP here and say SOMETHING useful, but no. He has become a bozo already.

[dutch508]

If Obama actually did that, man, it would totally change my opinion of him.  Instead he is hiding under his desk.

President Bush finished reading to children for seven minutes after the WTC attacks and we never heard the end of it.  Obama has been ducking and hiding from this for a few days now and the same people are defending him.

Obama is a weak, pathetic, shell of a man.  He had no concept of what the job entails when he ran and he's still clueless.

But he looks good in a suit and he can read a teleprompter well so the lefties love him..

bitchslapped for saying you'd like obama.

[Crazy Horse]

bitchslapped for saying you'd like obama.

Same back at ya cause that would be a feather in the cap

[Duke Nukum]

bitchslapped for saying you'd like obama.

Really, it's like saying "If the sun rose in the west tomorrow."  I know it's never going to happen because it isn't in Obama's character.

Johnny Matrix is talking about Obama actually going there himself and taking out the bad guys, I think if he actually did that it would be impressive.  But he wont ever so Johnny's point is moot.  It would be as if Johnny Matrix said, "If Obama were a man, you guys still would hate him."  So really it's just an impossible thing and Johnny doesn't have a point.  It's one of those twisty logic things.

[Carl]

While terrorists watch Obama says "present".

[Duke Nukum]

While terrorists watch Obama says "present".

That's what community organizers do.

[Sam Adams]

The president doesn't say shit. The Navy on scene should have been able, by now, to affect a rescue. We military types know this to be the case. The only thing stopping them is word from the White House.

And you know that? You somehow know that the Navy has not gotten "word from the White House"? How? 


The captain is surrounded by four armed pirates. I guess the Navy should take your advice. Of course, that might result in a dead hostage. But at least Obama would satisfy you by appearing all manly and tough.

[Peter3_1]

That particular cesspool has been over full for some time. Now, with the latest, it is overflowing, and the stink and mess are all over the front yard. It is past time to land on these idiots with both feet, can you say B-52? CRUSH anywhere they walk , ever, on dry land, then leave the place to rebuild itself.

We're already in the neighborhoood, and the entire area DESPERATELY needs a firepower demonstration. To include Mr. MOAB a time or two.

Indeed, lives WILL be lost, some "friendly", but those who are saved from being subjected to these barbarians will be thankful. And so would the refugees who DON'T die of starvation awaiting the arrivial of a pirated vessel.

[dutch508]

And you know that? You somehow know that the Navy has not gotten "word from the White House"? How? 


The captain is surrounded by four armed pirates. I guess the Navy should take your advice. Of course, that might result in a dead hostage. But at least Obama would satisfy you by appearing all manly and tough.

You ****ing retard. The only reason that the military hasn't taken action is they haven't been allowed too. In the military things work according to a set of guidelines. In a situation such as this, that is to say a political situation, a commander can not take independant action without authorization from higher. The rules of engagement in this situation have already been elevated to the White House the moment Hillery said the state department is sending in the FBI.

Guess what. The military trains just for such hostage situations and would ahve been able to respond as soon as they were on scene. In any event, the risk for casualties is present. You midigate the risks as much as possible, and then execute the mission. Worst case scenario, the Captain dies, the pirates are killed, and the rest of the 'criminals' know not to mess with US shipping.

As it satnds now- four ****s are holding off two American warships with AK-47s while the government tries to figure out how not to look like dumbasses.


Hell, even the French have more balls than this government does, now.

[thundley4]

The fact that the FBI is involved at all, is more proof showing that 0Bama and his administration is completely FUBAR. This is NOT a criminal hostage situation, it is an act of TERRORISM, not a man made disaster.