Paul and Rachel Chandler (AP photo)
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As we saw on Friday, pirates are a misunderstood lot. They're not cutthroat sea scum, bent on pillage, ransom and death, they're...sea stewards. It's just that the successful ones drive pretty nice cars.
Case in point, consider the current plight of Paul and Rachel Chandler:
A retired British couple snatched from their yacht by Somali pirates said in an interview broadcast Friday they fear they could be killed within a week or handed to a terrorist group if a ransom demand is not paid.
They were no doubt fishing and dumping?
And here's an interesting wrinkle:
[T]he couple had been told by their captors that a terrorist cell is searching for them.
An Islamic militia commander and a local elder in the central Somali village of Bahdo told the Associated Press previously that rival pirates and militia groups had fought for control of the British couple.
So basically, we're looking at the classic conflict between secular humanists and religious fundamentalists? Making the unfortunate Chandlers either eco-criminals or infidels? And making that $7 million ransom demand either a donation or a collection?
I wonder if the armed detail on the Maersk Alabama worried about motive?
It seems to me they just returned fire, and didn't worry if they were sending their attackers to feed the fishes, to enter Paradise, or just to hell.
And it seems to me that worked. And that anything else just places you at the mercy of the merciless.
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LEAA's Deeds on Gun Talk
Law Enforcement Alliance of America Chief Operating Officer Ted Deeds will be the guest on Tom Gresham's Gun Talk Radio today, to discuss Attorney General Eric Holder's call for new "gun control" edicts.
Ted's segment will begin at 4:05 pm EST.
Click here to access Tom's website, then click "Listen" to access either live streaming or find a radio station near you.
I'll be listening and hope you will be too. Spread this one around--this story merits a lot more exposure.
Photo © Tom Gresham's Gun Talk Radio Show. All rights reserved.
Comments
Not to excuse the aggressors in any way, but why do ships and yachts still sail off the coast of Somalia? I mean, isn't that about as dumb as walking around unarmed downtown in the middle of the night carrying a bank bag, and looking weak and confused?
I have to agree with Kent on his comments about why are people still sailing that part of the world knowing the dangers? You cannot defend stupid decisions. However why hasn't someone taken a play from the Germans and used a q-ship to lure the pirates and then sink them. A freighter that looks helpless until it gets within range and then sides drop and the the firepower eliminates anything on the surface of the water. Or how about a high flying predator that can stay up for 8-12 hours and armed it can deal death from the air? There are ways to end this if the governments really want to. Makes me question why the governments aren't doing just that.
I wondered about that too, Kent. Not that I disagree for a moment with you, David.
But, what was the definition of insanity again....
Hey, doesn't Al Gore's daughter drive that same model of car? Coincidence?
Simple math and economics really. That is why they still sail that part. Your products will cost you double if they have to take the long way round. So they risk it. There is about 1000 ships per month sailing those seas, so if 20 or so gets captured, the odds are really in your favour.
Although carrying a few .30 cal miniguns "just in case" could not hurt... ;)
Stupid, arrogant British couple. They probably thought no harm would come to them because they were on a yacht.
As Gomer Pyle would say, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"
David,
Armed detachments aboard merchant ships would seem to be the only effective way to prevent acts of piracy, but it remains to be seen for how long that will be cost effective.
One would have to be quite daft to deny the connection between illegal fishing/dumping and Somalian pirates.
Quoting Johann Hari from the Independent in January 2009, "Did we expect starving Somalians to stand passively on their beaches, paddling in our toxic waste, and watch us snatch their fish to eat in restaurants in London and Paris and Rome?"
tinyurl.com/9h7cq9
A.I.G. insurance.... and I think the some of the bail-out cash was/and still is involed. AIG insures ships!
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