The military has called in FBI hostage negotiators to help end a standoff with Somali pirates holding a U.S. ship captain hostage. (April 9)
BBC
The US Navy has called in FBI hostage negotiators to help secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates in a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean.
Capt Richard Phillips was taken from the Maersk Alabama cargo ship after it was briefly seized by pirates.
Officials said a US warship had arrived in the area and was remaining in sight of the lifeboat during the tense talks.
Relatives of the Maersk Alabama crew told US media the ship was now sailing to Mombasa in Kenya under armed guard.
‘Dead in the water’
FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said the navy had called his hostage experts “to assist with negotiations”.
He said the FBI was now “fully engaged in this matter”.
The pirates took the lifeboat from the Maersk Alabama when they fled the ship after being fought off by the American crew.
Analysts have said the negotiations could be lengthy, with the pirates keen to extract a ransom for the captain as well as compensation for a boat that was wrecked in the attack.
And the lifeboat is thought to be equipped for a week at sea, although the ship’s owners, Maersk, said it had run out of petrol and was “dead in the water”.
Wild Thing’s comment……
F.B.I ? You have got to be kidding me. By sending an FBI negotiator Obama has just enabled MORE PIRACY.
This is the only message we should be sending the Pirates:
You can surrender now or add another verse to the Marine Corps Hymn.
Just think, a few .50 caliber machine guns placed in front and back of our ships could easily prevent this. Those .50’s will rip those pirate speed boats apart.
I thought it was the policy of the USA to not negotiate with terrorists. Maybe pirates are not considered terrorists? As I have been reading about these acts of piracy for several months now, the question keeps coming to mind, “Why do ship owners allow their craft to be boarded by pions running around with speed boats or beat up old frigates?” If they don’t want to train and equip their crews to repel these “attacks”, then maybe they should be talking with Blackwater or some ex-military that like to ride around on ships?
surender? Just where are you going to put them? Gitmo? Blow them up into little pieces of fish food. No clean up reqired.
The government is treating this as a Criminal action. Hostage negotiators ? This is why we got hit on 9-11, Clinton treated WTC one as a criminal case not as it is an act of war against the United States.
BobF., that would be so great if they did that.
Tango Bravo, I thought so too. But things now
are so differnt under Obama. I agree with you
and about Blackwater too.
I would prefer they take out these terrorists
then arrest them. Teach the rest of them a
lesson.
Odin, haha I was only making a point really
by saying surrender, see the other part of
what I said about our Marines.
I agree with what you said Odin, that is exactly
what we should do to them.
Mark, your so right.
That is exactly what this is an act of WAR.
Obummer hasn’t uh uh uh figured out his apology to them yet (the pirates). He just told the reporters covering his current meeting with his tax cheat cabinet that he wasn’t going to talk about the Somalis right now, they are discussing housing fer chrissakes! Let him eat that waffle!
I know it’s not just me and you all. I know that people everywhere are just becoming infuriated.
An FBI negotiator?? What about 4 Navy Seals instead.
If this ridiculous administration is determined to make this into a civilian law enforcement issue at least turn it over to the Texas Rangers. I am sure they would end it sooner than the FBI.