Day Three
In a small boat with four Somali pirates, surrounded by US Navy destroyers, with more Somali pirates reportedly enroute. It’s a Somalian standoff. Updated with Phillips escape attempt, more pirates enroute: Boston Herald earlier:
Loved ones of Capt. Richard P. Phillips are walking an emotional tightrope this morning as they enter the third day of praying for the skipper’s release while assuring themselves he’s tough enough to outlast ransom-hungry Somali pirates.
“We owe our lives to him,” a crewman of the hijacked Maersk Alabama said of 53-year-old Phillips.
This morning, which is afternoon in Somalia, FBI negotiators aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer are deep into hours-long negotiations with the pirates, who since Wednesday have held the captain hostage in a lifeboat that is now out of fuel.
Updated version:
The pirates, fearing a deadly shoot out or arrest, are banking on rogue colleagues speeding toward the scene to use Filipino, Russian, German and other hostages captured in recent days as human shields even as more U.S. war ships descend on the region, The Associated Press reports.
Adding to the international drama, CNN, ABC and CBS News are reporting this morning that Phillips briefly escaped from the lifeboat before being recaptured.
Phillips’ brother-in-law, Tom Coggio, said he has no confirmation that Phillips made a dash for freedom and was recaptured, but he’s outraged if it’s true.
“Who the hell knows what went down?” he said this morning. “Where the hell is the Navy? They have all these people over there. Why wouldn’t this boat be monitored 24 hours a day in case he escapes?”
Riehl: Pirates defiant.
The pals enroute part sounds like a bad idea, given the proximity of at least two destroyers, unless those guys just plan to give their buddies a lift. But if it is true they are bringing other hostages, then this could be about to escalate dramatically.
Strong clan ties, big ransom opportunity sensed, or al-Qaeda? I’m guessing, hoping some combination of options 1 & 2, with an emphasis on 2. They may be looking for a big payoff on a lot of hostages at once.
Ed at HotAir, on Obama’s correct decision, for once, to avoid an opportunity to say something unhelpful. Ed also praises Kerry on calling for hearings, something I can’t quite bring myself to do given the timing, mid-crisis. May be useful, even if they are chaired by Kerry and apparently called to remind everyone how important he is, that he exists, etc. (Morrissey clarifies by email that’s more or less what he meant)
More from the Herald, on the rise of pirates and arming merchantmen:
The case for arming merchantmen:
Adm. Richard Gurnon, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, said the hijacking and hostage drama could have been avoided if the pirates knew there would be deadly consequences.
“I think after this, the international community will recognize that arming crews makes sense,” Gurnon said.
His academy graduated Capt. Richard P. Phillips, 53, and Capt. Shane Murphy, 33 - the skipper and first officer of the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama, which was seized Wednesday by pirates.
…
Shipping companies don’t arm sailors because they’re concerned about liability, insurance and training costs, Gurnon said. They also believe arming sailors would escalate an already dangerous situation, he added.
…
Mass Maritime began firearms training this semester as it recognized “increasing threats” in the dangerous shipping lane off Somalia.
Booty and The Beasts. Herald:
Khat-chewing, AK-47-toting Somali pirates don’t kill their hostages because they’re really in it for the money.
So far this year, Somali pirate ransoms topped $30 million, according to the UK-based Chatham House institute.
Pirates have become fashionable rock stars of the Somali coast, spending their booty on cars, guns and girls.
Many pirates were fishermen but wised up to the fact that they could do a lot better plundering than fishing.
“A lightbulb went off and they realize they can get ransoms by taking unarmed ships,” said Robert Rotberg, a Harvard University Kennedy School professor.
Topics: courage
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 7:50 am on Friday, April 10, 2009
One Response to “Day Three”
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April 10th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Yes, it’s better for President O to keep his mouth shut and be thought a fool, rather than to open it and remove all doubt (if there’s any remaining anyway). Let his ilk stay out of the way until this thing is resolved by the professionals who know what they’re doing.