Free!
Boston Herald on the raid that saved Capt. Phillips, calls it an “Easter miracle.” Exactly. God helps those who helps themselves. A 5.56/7.62/9 mm miracle, by the grace of frogmen.
UNDERHILL, Vt. – After a valiant raid nothing short of an Easter miracle, the captain of the Maersk Alabama is free and safe on board the USS Bainbridge after five days of being held hostage by pirates in a drifting lifeboat off the Africa coast, the ship’s owners and his family confirm.
“They have Richard! They have Richard!” a woman gleefully cried out when a Herald reporter called Phillips’ home.
The freighter’s owners, Virginia-based Maersk Line, Limited, was informed by the U.S. government at 1:30 p.m. that Phillips had been rescued.
Early news reports suggest elite Navy Seals scooped Phillips from the ocean after he jumped overboard, and that three of his four Somalia captors have been killed.
More from NYT on the escape/rescue here, on the negotiations here. It’s great news. But it isn’t over, though some people in positions of authority might like to think it is. There are 240 other captives of various nations. Needs a program. Meanwhile, those Somali elders the Americans were negotiating with might want the bodies of their clansmen. I’d suggest a delivery from altitude.
Topics: crime, law & order
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 3:09 pm Comments (9) on Sunday, April 12, 2009
9 Responses to “Free!”
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April 12th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
You know I like the way your paper reports things. Seriously, the tone is just so much more my style. I’m from a different city though.
April 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I’ve been a fan of the Herald for many years. It started out because they have a pretty good sports section, and they also have Howie Carr as an opinion columnist. But the reporting is much more balanced and in depth than the Globe. The Globe is basically the NYT lite, and almost always reflects the Grey lady’s reporting on every issue and, especially, the editorial slant.
respects,
April 12th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
[...] Jules Crittenden notes: It’s great news. But it isn’t over, though some people in positions of authority might [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
When Navy SEALS are not on assignment they train Every. Single. Day. They’re smart, brave MFers and we’re lucky as hell to have them on our side. They’re the elite of the elite and they don’t just do their thing on/in water.
My daughter’s marrying one soon and I’m proud as can be, he’s one hell of a guy.
http://www.jourtegrity.blogspot.com
April 12th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
“Meanwhile, those Somali elders the Americans were negotiating with might want the bodies of their clansmen.”
The USN should politely inform the elders that the bodies of dead fishermen can be returned if possible. And that their status as fishermen must have been established before hand. In time, it would be established that non-returnees may have claimed to be fishermen but were interrupted while acting as pirates, which would now be a fatal occupation choice.
Cheers
April 13th, 2009 at 12:32 am
U.S. military officials acknowledged Sunday that the killing of the three pirates could worsen the problem, an outcome that shipping companies have sought to avoid.
“This could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it,” Gortney said.
Okay then. Let’s escalate the violence in this part of the world, and see how many pirates and enabling elders we can kill.
April 13th, 2009 at 1:02 am
[...] Jules Crittenden suggests delivering the dead pirates’ bodies back to their clansmen via airmail. [...]
April 13th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Good news! Perhaps we should send a few Predator drones down there. If it doesn’t see fishing nets behind a boat…
And Mr. Crittenden, nowhere in the Bible or Torah does it say “God helps those who help themselves.” In fact, the inverse is inferred–God helps the helpless and despairing. Captain Phillips and the Seals are heroes, but God is God.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:03 am
You’re absolutely right, jwayne54. It’s reportedly Ben Franklin. A theological view that appears to have arisen among the self-reliant northern barbarians who ironically ended up civilizing much of the world. Another version is “God favors the bold.” That’s an adaption from that Roman idol worshipper Ovid. Though with all that righteous smiting that goes on in the Bible, it’s pretty clear God has a soft spot for self-helpers.