Updated: Navy SEALs Versus Somali Pirates?

(Washington, DC) -- There may be a resolution to the hijacking of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia.

CBS News cites two military sources as saying the crew of the Maersk Alabama has overpowered the pirates who boarded their ship and is now back in control of the vessel.

According to the report, one pirate was captured and three more were thrown overboard.

(NECN/ABC) - Pentagon officials believe the U.S. crew is back in control of a hijacked ship. Fox said to be reporting this, as well.

Hmm. Tigerhawk wonders how Obama might respond. Obviously, any orders would have to come through Obama. But if this registration only shipping site is correct, some folks at the Pentagon want to act.

MILITARY planners in Washington are studying the practicality of using Navy SEAL commandos to rescue the US-flagged Maersk Alabama, which was seized this morning off Somalia.

Intelligence analysts, demanding anonymity, told Fairplay today that senior Pentagon officials are “red-faced with anger” that the Somali pirates would have the audacity to strike against a ship flying the Stars and Stripes. “This is an attack on sovereig ...

Comments

[mark l.]

maybe aboma could go mano a mano with the pirates.

still waiting to hear how the somali pirates are the fault of the rich in the US, and how much money they'll get in the bailout. save us barry.

[JustOneMan]

Breaking News....

King Barry has issues a formal Whitehouse apology to the Somali pirates. His teleprompter told him to say...

"Those...I mean we Americans are arrogant and big bullies. I apology for flying the American flag in international waters and upsetting the happy go lucky pirates. We all know that this is all Bush's and Rish Limbaughs fault...I inherited this pirate situation. In fact the US is not and will never be at war with Pirates!"

[George R Powell]

Oh, we(usa) Under our President might want to call them up. and ask them. To remove the USA flag. Or some of the pirates may be Our president half brothers we will never know. CNN and others. Their will be now action from this president. He's alouding America to be knocked down by Iran. And he will not stand up for the Flag or our country. I do not belive he will. Those of us to realy love our Flag and country need to take a stand. Go to town meeting talk to other and have them re-look at what happen. I know the time is at hand. America is being knock around and lower in our belive of God. And our President bowed down to a man? Obama needs to be born agin. Yes Jesus was sent to save all who belive.

[mark l.]

boat recaptured?
hmmm...summary execution (by maritime law), gitmo, geneva conventions, or US federal prosecution?

I can't wait until the pilot of the pirate vessel offers that he was was just a 'chaffeur'.

eventually, it will become 'duck season' for small vessels near anything of value on the high seas.

[thegreatsatan]

teams practice for exactly this kind of assault, it would be the most logical course of action. I like how American's dont pussy around with a bunch of skinnys armed with decrepit AK's and take matters into their own hands, while every other nations sailors bend over and take it.

[hillary]

90% of the weapons used by pirates come from the US, smuggled across the Mexican border.

[MAS1916]

Look for Obama's Department of Justice to prosecute the crew for taking the law into their own hands and for violating the human rights of the poor pirates.

Obama didn't even have a chance to feel their pain or create a new crisis. He has been wronged!

[JustOneMan]

Breaking News - Hillary Clinton stated today at a press conference...

"Our insatiable demand for all sorts of stuff fuels the pirate trade," she said. "Our inability to prevent Americans from legally shipping stuff across the ocean causes the deaths of these poor pirates and thugs."

[plainslow]

"Oh, your Americnas? Never mind"

[mark l.]

"I like how American's dont pussy around with a bunch of skinnys armed with decrepit AK's and take matters into their own hands, while every other nations sailors bend over and take it."

god forbid that one of them has a hawaiian birth certificate.

[SacTownMan]

Drudge indicates that the pirates still have the skipper hostage.

[IslamoLlama]

I do so love the non-story. Pirates hijack boat on the other side of the world. Hijackies beat back hijackers. Conservatives beat off in a corner while telling themselves how this is all Obama's fault and how we should firebomb Somalia.

Given that we've been seeing pirate raids have been on the uptick since the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in December of '06, I would think the real goal would be to figure out how to blame this all on Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Cause the Democrats took Congress the month before that, and post hoc ergo propter hoc the November '06 elections are totally wrecking African international shipping.

[Mindroth]

well of course you know it's Bush's fault, O-man just inhearted this, and as soon as we apoligize for putting an American flag on a US vessle and send the pirates all a stimuls check it will all work out, Course it will help if Barry bows and kiss's a few pirates asses

[Watercruiser]

I don't know why, when compared to the ransoms being paid, it would not be cost effective to put tactical teams on board ships entering these waters. Vessels entering these vulnerable shipping lanes stop at a check point before entering and heavily armed tactical teams armed with night vision and the best war fighting gear hop on board for the trip through the lane. They off load on to another war ship positioned on the other end. The teams just go back and forth from ship to ship.

You start killing every one of these skinnies that try this crap; you'll see it stop.

For all you no solution whiners heckling the current administration from the cheap seats; why don't you join up and ask that you be allowed to go help fight these pirates. I know all your heroes like Levin, O'reilley, Limbaugh and Hannity are chickenhawks who hide behind a microphone in a studio but wouldn't have the stones to actually look somebody in the eyes as you end their life before they end yours; but you don't have to be just like them.

[Roy Mustang]

Obama wouldd bow to them because it is our fault that they had to hijack our ships.

[Raymond L. Cavness]

Hey, watercruiser, your's is the first and only semi intelligent comment on this situation I've seen. At least you know how to spell and compose a sentence reasonably correctly.

My personal opinion is that there would, or should, be no objection by anyone to installing a well armed and appropriately trained marine squad aboard several of subsequent merchant ships which would blow "breakfast" out of any attacking pirates and I'd bet next week's meals that we would see a dramatic drop in pirate activities.Seems to me that surviving pirates, assuming there would be any, would tell their buddies ashore, that "who knows which ships will equipped to "repel boarders" like the one we tried to take over. In fact, it might be a good policy to make sure some of the pirates "survived"!

RLC from10IC

[Philip McDaniel]

“…heavily armed tactical teams armed with night vision and the best war fighting gear hop on board for the trip through the lane.”

There are legal problems with arming merchant ships going through the area. There are even legal problems with warships responding with force. There is one way to effectively solve this problem: Fight fire with fire. Mercenary Gunboats properly manned AND the various navies more or less looking the other way will clean this up quickly. As Lord Palmerston, British Foreign Secretary in 1841 said, “Taking a wasps' nest...is more effective than catching the wasps one by one."

[seekeronos]

Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

Have Congress grant Blackwater (or whatever its derivative corporations call themselves today) a LoM&R to go after and terminate these pirates with extreme prejudice.

[Philip McDaniel]

"Letters of Marque and Reprisal."
Right! I would think an administrative approved black op would be the thing...and may already be on the table. More than likely though, President Chucklehead would be dead-set against the idea. Letting Congress manage -- or even be aware of -- this kind of project would be an unmitigated disaster, however.

[Jason]

90% of weapons used by Pirates are from the US smuggled through Mexico, Hillary? Is your last name Clinton? You lying liberal, anti-gun, brain washed, polarized view, political party loyalist! I did not know the United States gun manufacturers really made the Russian Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK) 47 machine gun. This is news to me! Not only do the Pirates in Somalia use AK-47's, it's also one of the most popular guns South of the border with the drug cartels. I guarantee you nobody is shelling out $16,000 in the US for a pre-ban AK-47 then smuggling it over the border when they can get right out of Russia for $600. Moron.

[Ed]

There's a reason it's been 200 years since Pirate's messed with the United States. It's because Thomas Jefferson had the United States Marine's take them out in 1804. He sent a message that lasted 200 years. This pirates must think just because we have a liberal bend over and apologize socialist president who is half african he would sympathize with them. Hopefully this sends a strong message that not only does the US not take crap, no American takes crap either! Who can kick Pirates armed with AK-47's off an unarmed ship? AMERICAN'S CAN! We might be arrogant and every once in a while we might take a good licking, but we never give up because we have founding documents that build a belief into our society the People should be free and be able to live their dreams. It is our mentality, we're no different than anybody else when it comes to capabilities; our difference is our belief and attitude toward freedom and life.

[Hooyah SEAL Team]

WTF. Just send the Navy SEALs in to kick their asses. who gives a shit about hurting the pirates. I mean seriously. We (USA) need some common sense, or a least know how to use our (USA's) elite commando forces like the SEALs against these pirate/terroroists whatevers. Damn. SEAL Team all the way! hooyah! Mess with the best die like the rest.

[jim calder]

Obama is a punk. I am old but sent me over there and I'll free that captain. Graduate of the second SEAL class ever.. J.C.

[JFK]

I trust all you Obama bashers will be just as quick to print out the above comments and eat them.

[John]

This is like Rambo 4 all over again.

Boat goes into water, passes Pirates, Pirates say"Where ya thunk yer goin'...arggg, attacks said ship, takes Captain, have a stand-ff, US Navy Seals pop off some Pirate heads, all is right in INternational waters again...or will there be a sequel?

[Warren W. Woessner]

The piracy situation off the coast of Somalia has grown into a thorn no nation has been able, or willing to pluck. International policy and 'saving face' appears to have prevented the action required to stop this archaic scurge on the high seas. It does, perhaps, make a good movie but it makes lousy daily news! Putting numerous sailors from a multitude of countries at risk of their lives for ransom and additionally stirring international fear and intimidation is not becoming of our current status in history!
KUDOS and an extremely 'Well Done' to all the links in the chain which culminated in the release of the captain of the Meaersk "Alabama".
It does appear extremely ironic that it took three U.S. Navy warships to re-deploy to the scene to accomplish something which could have well been orchestrated in a clandestine operation with three or four elite Special Warfare troops.
I offer a personal thanks to the SEALS who got in the determining shots in this target practice! CPOWES, USNRET

[JFK]

Rush said they were unarmed surrendering teenagers. That makes the SEALs a bunch of murderers who should be tried and executed.

[Warren W. Woessner]

Unarmed? The video captions show they were armed! Surrendering? No flags of any color were displayed! If you believe everything Rush says to be the truth in fact, well, I can't say anything about that except you are as much a part-time dunce as he.