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April 11, 2009
Captain Richard Phillips Still Held Hostage ~ Obama Still No Public Comment
John Bolton comments about Obama statements....and the situation. John Bolton calls AG Holden comments pathetic.
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Pirates are moving a hijacked German freighter into position as a reinforcement in a stand-off with the US Navy over an American hostage.
The Hansa Stavanger is heading to the area in the Indian Ocean where cargo ship captain Richard Phillips was seized, a pirate source said.
The 20,000-ton ship, which was taken a week ago between Kenya and the Seychelles, has a crew of 24, of whom five are German.
Fox News correspondent Greg Palkot, who is in the Kenyan port of Mombasa, told Sky News:
"What the pirates are saying they intend to do is transfer the American and the four pirates from the lifeboat onto this other boat.
"They think the Americans wouldn't attack one or the other because they would be afraid of killing people."
"We are not afraid of the Americans," one of the pirates told Reuters by satellite phone.
The pirates holding Phillips have demanded $2m (£1.6m) for his release and a guarantee of their own safety.
UPDATE as I was posting above information...update below
Hijacked German Vessel Heads Back to Somalia After Attempt to Reach Standoff
Pirates on a German ship with 24 foreign hostages said Saturday they had returned to the Somali coast after failing to locate the scene of a standoff involving an American captive on a drifting lifeboat, Reuters reported.
The pirates hoped to use the hijacked 20,000-ton container vessel, Hansa Stavanger, as a "shield" to reach fellow pirates holding American ship captain Richard Phillips.
"We have come back to Haradheere coast. We could not locate the lifeboat," a pirate on the ship told Reuters. "We almost got lost because we could not find the bearing of the lifeboat."
Mohamed Samaw, a resident of the pirate stronghold in Eyl, Somalia, claims to have a "share" in a British-owned ship hijacked Monday, said four foreign vessels held by pirates were headed toward the lifeboat.
"We are not intending to harm the captain, so that we hope our colleagues would not be harmed as long as they hold him," a pirate who identified himself as Badow said. "All we need, first, is a safe route to escape with the captain, and then (negotiate) ransom later."
President Barack Obama, who is getting regular updates on the standoff, made no public comment about it Friday for a third day.
Wild Thing's comment.......
"We have come back to Haradheere coast. We could not locate the lifeboat," a pirate on the ship told Reuters. "We almost got lost because we could not find the bearing of the lifeboat."
Pirates apparently can't navigate like they used to.
Obama ducks question on pirates
When asked about the kidnapped American captain in a blatant act of war, Obambi replied, "guys, we're talking about housing right now". Then had the reporters escorted from the room.
When not bowing to Muslim kings, he is ducking Muslim pirates.
Posted by Wild Thing at April 11, 2009 04:55 AM
Comments
Now, if it were a black captain who was a muslim, he'd be all over this like flies to pig butts! It just seems like this is no emergency to him and that is a very bad thing. Being calm is one thing, doing nothing is another.
Obviously his lack of foreign relations is really showing here. The housing market can wait a few minutes for him to extrapolate an answer on why he isn't doing anything about the Somali pirates.
Posted by: Lynn at April 11, 2009 06:17 AM
According to the report. Joe Biden is working 'tirelessly' on this situation, that should send a message right there. AG Holder, is vague and relating this whole situation as a Law enforcement problem. Hillary Clinton was laughing about it, saying the scourge of Piracy should be gotten rid of...But most important of all they are worried about the 'Human Rights' of the Pirates.
Nobody has mentioned the Human Rights of the Captain, being held against his will, his ship attacked by Pirates...but they're working around the clock.
The fact that Biden is working around the clock on this does not exude confidence. First Biden has never worked around the clock on anything in his life, and second any solution Biden may stumble upon could be conjured up the a Seaman deuce on the Bainbridge.
Bolton is right Pathetic, the whole response is pathetic, Its amateur hour at the White House.
Posted by: Mark at April 11, 2009 07:34 AM
Neither pirates or Islamist radicals have human rights. They are not "human" but pieces of scum that terrorize, torture, murder and destroy.
As far as Barack Obama Bin Barry Soetoro goes why would someone who pirated the presidential electiom comment on pirates.
Bob A.
Posted by: Bob A at April 11, 2009 07:56 AM
Obama and his whole aministration appear to be failing this test. They are absolutly confused and perplexed as to what to do. Obama thinks he will avoid mistakes, bad publicity and condemning opinion by just not making a decision or comment.
The Jimmy Carter crisis strategy. Do and say nothing.
Maybe if Obama spoke to the pirates bro to bro they would understand him.
Posted by: TomR at April 11, 2009 12:48 PM
Lynn, good point and I bet he would too.
Your right too about being calm vs. doing
nothing.
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 11, 2009 11:14 PM
Mark, that was good, your right, no one
has mentioned the rights of the Capt.
and to call it a crime scene is an insult
to what is happening.
Yes, LOL when I hear Biden has something
to do with it any confidence I would have
goes away.
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 11, 2009 11:19 PM
Bob A., good way to put it...
"why would someone who pirated the presidential electiom comment on pirates."
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 11, 2009 11:21 PM
Tom, "bro to bro" ......LOL yes maybe that
would work. I still can't get over we have
this guy in supposedly in charge.
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 11, 2009 11:25 PM
