Somalian pirates update

[Johnrb]

What I hoped would happen apparently did happen. The owners of the yacht Ponant paid the ransom demanded (not much of an option I suppose). After the ransome was paid this happened:

"French commandos seized six pirates in Somalia on Friday during a daring helicopter raid launched shortly after the bandits had released the 30-strong crew of a luxury yacht hijacked last week."

"French officials said the owners of the yacht paid a ransom to obtain the freedom of the crew and as soon as it was clear that they were all safe, the commandos went into action aboard helicopters to track down the pirates."

"A district commissioner in Somalia told Reuters that five local people had died in the attack, but the French military denied killing anyone in their daylight raid."

"It was an intervention not a pulverization," General Jean-Louis Georgelin, head of the armed forces general staff told a news conference in Paris."

"A sniper in one helicopter shot out the car engine while another helicopter dropped off three French soldiers who captured the six pirates and hauled them off to French navy helicopter carrier waiting off the Somali coast."


"The French navy sent 2 boats to the area, with 4 or 5 helicopters on board and around 50 commandos. A French admiral was also parachuted into the sea and picked up by the task force to help lead the operation."

"French officials said the pirates would be tried in France. They said Paris would also seek much tougher United Nations action against maritime piracy."
French commandos swoop after pirates free hostages - Yahoo! News

I would have preferred the pulverization option. The ransom was apparently recovered. Surrender monkeys indeed. Can anyone confirm whether the guillotine been retired?

[JohnRPollard]

Bravo!!!

Thanks for the update.

[Johnrb]

Here is a video update of the incident. Hope the link works.

[billyruffn]

My guess is that it would not have happened with Chriac in power. He was a "cheese-eating surrender monkey", if there ever was one. Sarkozy is a tough dude with a very pretty wife. Vive la France!

John, your link doesn't appear on my cmptr.

[Johnrb]

Billy:

Try this link to the Reuters story - the video link is embedded at the bottom. I originally had trouble watching it as it would skip immediately to the next video as soon as the brief commercial ended. I embedded the link into the above post and it works fine on my computer and still comes up. That's about the limit of my computer knowledge.

I think you're right about Chirac - maybe Nicolas is just trying to impress his new, much taller wife (I know I would be).
French commandos swoop after pirates free hostages | World | Reuters

[gyrfalcon]

How many of you keep small arms on board your vessels? It's just my opinion, but generally most pirates will go elsewhere when you're throwing lead in their direction.

[Stillraining]

Perfect...I think they played it out right...Safe Hostages ...Money returned...Now the only area left to screw up is letting them live..

[luckytexan]

I have read this same discussion on other boards where people argue this topic down to the bone. and almost always it is a split where half the people would carry heck some would have cruise missles if they could! The other half say it only encourages more violence and gets you into trouble with foreign authorities. You are better off traveling in packs without guns etc.
Myself if I were to venture into the areas where that stuff goes on (Africa, Asia sometimes the Carrib, you can be assured that my "Flare" gun, the Mossberg Mariner 12 gage would likely be right close by.
My personal feeling on this is that it is "Better safe than sorry", Trust in the lord but keep the powder dry", And it is easier to beg forgiveness than it is for permission"
So not a small arm but an Arm none the less! Not to say that I wouldn't have a handgun around as well. But then again I grew up with guns and guns are very much a part of my life. So it is natural for me, I even carry a pistol camping, but in Colorado where I grew up there are a lot of things in the mountains that can eat you! You are not on the top of the food chain there.
LuckyTex

[Stillraining]

ID take the job of bait and kill...Just got to be able to afford the bait first... ... Be more fun then picking off gofers at 200...cause me about as much remorse too...

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by luckytexan

My personal feeling on this is that it is "Better safe than sorry", Trust in the lord but keep the powder dry", And it is easier to beg forgiveness than it is for permission"... I even carry a pistol camping, but in Colorado where I grew up there are a lot of things in the mountains that can eat you! You are not on the top of the food chain there.
LuckyTex

I actually did a search on SailNet and found a bunch of discussions on it after I posted.

I'm of the opinion that everyone needs to be responsible for themselves and their own safety. Sailing in a group sounds pretty dumb as it just provides a false sense of security, and the pirates (aka: lions) can take their pick of the herd with complete immunity.

The idea that it encourages more violence and gets you into trouble with foreign authorities is fairly ludicrous.

Hopefully none of those damn Canadians will try to take over my vessel in Lake Superior.