Somali Pirates Remain Defiant

Through phone contact, Somali pirates holding an American hostage claim they will defend themselves if attacked and won't release the hostage without a price and safe passage. One report claims two additional boats of pirates have launched to meet up with the others now surrounded by American military forces.

"We are not afraid of the Americans," one of the pirates told reporters by satellite phone.

"We will defend ourselves if attacked."

However, experts say a more likely outcome is a negotiated solution, possibly involving safe passage in exchange for their captive.

The ship's lifeboat has run out of fuel and other pirates are too nervous to help them due to the presence of the US Navy.

"Other pirates want to come and help their friends, but that would be like sentencing themselves to death," said Andrew Mwangura, co-ordinator of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, which monitors the region's seas.

"They will release the captain, I think, maybe today or tomorrow, but in exchange for something. Maybe some payment or compensation, and definitely free passage back home."

Comments

[Philip McDaniel]

Pay them some dollars, guarantee their safe passage back to shore, get the captain back then sink the boat. Follow this up immediately with an attack on their nest and on any other boats in the area that are carrying arms.

Of course, this only works if deniability can be maintained, that is, if this is a special operation by an unknown organization. Very, very unlikely out of this administration.

[Lala]

When the Captain jumped out of the lifeboat action should have been taken to blow it up. Now, they are using telephones to contact other pirates? Disgraceful.

[mojo]

Give them whatever they want, get the captain. Then sink them all, and the boodle with them.

[Adjoran]

Whatever is done, NEVER give the pirates free passage home. NEVER. This means the worst which can happen to them in an attempted ship seizure is . . . nothing. To heck with that.

We have to remember the captain is just one man, and we are fighting for the right of free passage on the high seas. Offer the pirates their lives if they surrender, and death if they do not. No free passage, no ransom, only that they will not be executed.

If that's not good enough, let them do as they will, but they shall not pass.

Frankly, had it not been for the necessity of dealing with other threats around the world, this is one we ought have taken care of already. We need to follow these creeps to their bases (via satellite tracking) and take them out. Let them have some cost to their actions, even if they attack ships with other nations' flags.

That is, IF we want to stop this crap. Knowing Obama, he will "reach out" and let them have nukes or something. See for reference his tough response thus far.