Captain tried to escape pirates, U.S. official says

[Apoptosis]

This news story makes me sick - http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04 ... index.html

Could you imagine being held at gun point by pirates in a 28 foot long life raft and seeing a US destroyer sitting there just watching?

So, now the captain makes a break for it and jumps out of the boat and tries to swim back to his countries ship only to be re-captured... Now Obama sends in the FBI to negotiate a deal and has sent more U.S. warships to the area... Why in the world are we talking with these people to secure Phillips' release?

This is an epic fail on Obama! When the US citizen jumped into international waters and tried swimming to the US naval ship for safety we should have helped. A couple snipers could easily peg off his for guards when he jumped and made a break for it.

I don't know about you guys, but this is the first pirate attack on a US ship since Thomas Jefferson was in office and I don't think we took the right action here... Sending in the FBI to talk with the pirates is stupid... A bunch of snipers or a Navy seal night assault is what was in order. I promise the next time a ship with a US flag on it went by they'd wait till the next ship.

[Sowser]

I agree with the Navy Seals plan but snipers would be very hard pressed to make a clean shot between two ships bobbing in the water. It is absurd that as soon as that guy hit the water there wasn't a fleet of speedboats rushing towards him. What the hell good are more ships going to do out there? (Obama has ordered more ships in for reenforcement) One U.S. destroyer can take out the entire Somali pirate force. This is the Obama kindergarden policy, use your words. N. Korea, Iran, China, are all watching how this plays out to gauge the iron of the knew administration; unfortunatly it's coming off as scroteless.

[martini161]

thing is destroyers arent very well suited for that. for that you need assult craft but i dont beleive speed boats can be launched directly from destroyers (least not the arly burkes) need a small scale marine carrier

[InspectahACE]

I sure hope the guy returns safely but I think the US dropped the ball on this one. Snipers should've and could've got them..Not hard to do when they're in the water. Not easy either I'm sure, but not harder than hitting a target that's running

[Skippman]

A couple Zodiac's is all that's needed to resolve this. Why do we have all this Navy hardware if we lack the tenacity to use it?

I was under the impression that the US didn't negotiate with terrorists.

[Apoptosis]

CNN said they are not terrorists they are pirates.... Also the government is helping make a deal with the shipping company and the pirates, not the US and the pirates... It's a political mess if you ask me... If someone is holding me against my will and I try to make a break for a US ship and no one helps me my hopes would be crushed... Glad to know the US fully backs me when I leave the country for a trip or vacation...

[camaroguy1998]

i just read and seen video about the 28' boat they are on. It is totally enclosed and the only time they go out is to go to the bathroom. So getting a sniper shot is unlikely and the US ship is several hundred yards away so as not to cause any harm to the Captain. Several ships are heading to this spot, both Pirate ships and Rescue ships! The pirates are trying to get to Somali so they can hide the Captain and negotiate a ransom!
This situation sucks to say the least!

[martini161]

ok, im abit ticked about everyone getting on the navys ass for this:
1. its a destroyer. not design for this stuff
2. Were they expecting him to make a run for it?
3. Like i said, this is a destroyer. they dont carry snipers on board
4. Thats one hell of a shot to make even if there were snipers

[camaroguy1998]

ok, im abit ticked about everyone getting on the navys ass for this:
1. its a destroyer. not design for this stuff
2. Were they expecting him to make a run for it?
3. Like i said, this is a destroyer. they dont carry snipers on board
4. Thats one hell of a shot to make even if there were snipers

My post was not for getting on the Navy's Arse! It was to point out that any attempt to resolve this with force, was and is going to be difficultat best, snipers or not! At this point the military's hands are tied!

Sorry if it came across that way!

[DMB2000uk]

I'm sure Marty's post wasn't directed at you camaro

Dan

[camaroguy1998]

I'm sure Marty's post wasn't directed at you camaro

Dan

Now that I go back and reread the posts I believe you're right!
I feel for the Captain and his family, if this is not handled right the outcome will not be in their favor

[martini161]

A couple Zodiac's is all that's needed to resolve this. Why do we have all this Navy hardware if we lack the tenacity to use it?

I was under the impression that the US didn't negotiate with terrorists.

were not negotiating. the destroyer is there jsut to make sure the pirates dont try anything stupid. any negotiations going on are between the company and the pirates

[Tim Burton]

I agree with the Navy Seals plan but snipers would be very hard pressed to make a clean shot between two ships bobbing in the water. It is absurd that as soon as that guy hit the water there wasn't a fleet of speedboats rushing towards him. What the hell good are more ships going to do out there? (Obama has ordered more ships in for reenforcement) One U.S. destroyer can take out the entire Somali pirate force. This is the Obama kindergarden policy, use your words. N. Korea, Iran, China, are all watching how this plays out to gauge the iron of the knew administration; unfortunatly it's coming off as scroteless.

They are 200 yards apart, that is child's play for most snipers. I was listening to a guy who was an ex-Green Beret sniper on the radio and he said he used to hit targets from a moving helo 50% of the time and could always miss non-OPFOR targets.

I don't understand why they didn't light that boat up the minute that guy jumped in the water.

John Paul Jones would be embarrassed of his ancestors.

Since Piracy is an act against humanity, they historically have gotten no civil rights. Same standard has been held to pirate havens, since they are willing accomplices who encourage piracy. I'd find out what port the pirates came from and tell them, "You have 1 hour to decide to give him up, or else we are going to start sending B-52s to carpet bomb your village. In the mean time, we will have F-18s hitting every other pirate port along the coast.

[camaroguy1998]

After a swift firefight Capt. Richard Phillips has been freed and 3 of the 4 Pirates have been killed!
The 4th is in custody!
IMHO....A proper ending!

[Darkstar]

Yes! the Seals come through.....

[Sowser]

Wow, nice job guys! I've shot a sniper riffle and while they are VERY easy to use (I scored 5 perfect head shots from 75 yards away with absolutly no training) it must take some real training and talent to make the coordinated shots the SEALs made. I'm very happy for the family that it ended the way it did.

[Tim Burton]

ok, im abit ticked about everyone getting on the navys ass for this:
1. its a destroyer. not design for this stuff
2. Were they expecting him to make a run for it?
3. Like i said, this is a destroyer. they dont carry snipers on board
4. Thats one hell of a shot to make even if there were snipers

1. You are right.
2. Ever hear of keeping a watch? The Marines on those ships should have lit the liftboat up the minute he hit the water. If a Marine can't keep their fire under control into a 28 foot boat from 200 yards, they have no business being a Marine.
3. There was no confirmation that there were or there were not snipers on board at the time (I tend to think there were knowing that 3 hours after Beruit Bombing a friend of mine was flying over there as a shooter.) but there were Marines on board at the time of his attempted escape.
4. At 200 meters? Not really. The shot would be no more than off by 1 inch from the rocking of the ship. I have seen said above shooter hit a playing card at 600 meters leaning on an unstable folding table.


http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/t ... ost2707310

This guy has had a book written about his time in the military. In the 80s and early 90s, he was the go to guy.

[vicaphit]

Destroyers aren't going to bob much in the water unless those are some choppy seas.

[Apoptosis]

Wow, nice job guys! I've shot a sniper riffle and while they are VERY easy to use (I scored 5 perfect head shots from 75 yards away with absolutly no training) it must take some real training and talent to make the coordinated shots the SEALs made. I'm very happy for the family that it ended the way it did.

I can't believe they pulled it off... I saw one news agency said it was 3 shots and 3 kills, but I haven't heard that on the news... If that is true that is very impressive... Good job to the seals and to Obama for giving the okay to take them out if the need was present.

[InspectahACE]

Yea CBS said only 3 shots were used. I'm glad the Captain is safe. I do have to admit that once I read the news on the shootout, the first thing that came to my head was " BOOM!! HEADSHOT!!! " . <---only because that is what it was, and that at one point we have to gloat the SEALs for doing their job swiftly and effectively(not gloat but you know what I mean, couldn't think of the right word) . . I do think there was a bit of lolly-gagging but I guess that's Diplomacy for ya