Pirates
 

Although obviously scary for captives and family,
nonetheless quite captivating:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/wo...omalia.html?hp

Apparently it is cheaper for shipping companies not
to arm their vessels (insurance and such) and just pay
these ransoms. Cost benifit analysis says the Somali
pirates have found a money niche.

Also rather sad. The US ship detained was carrying food
bound for Kenya to be transported to starving in Somalia. It has
made its way to a Kenyan port.

They were very good today. Maholm was sharp.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=pit

Damn it man this is the politics section.
You should read this stuff.
Its quite interesting imo.

On a roll tonight Chuck.....bravo!

:tro: :tro:

I found out why so many pirates
wear eyepatches.

pgardn why do so many pirates wear eyepatches?

Obama speaks out on Somali pirates
 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/...in_a_whil.html


"Since the pirates are still holding the captain, I have sent FBI negotiators to facilitate his safe and speedy release. I assure his friends and family that I will not stop until this man-made disaster is resolved in a peaceful, tolerant and ecologically-sound manner.

Obviously, this incident has raised many concerns among Americans. There have been calls for justice and even violence against the misguided perpetrators. But such an emotional reaction has led to the disparagement of entire groups with which we are unfamiliar. We have seen this throughout history.

For too long, America has been too dismissive of the proud culture and invaluable contributions of the Pirate Community. Whether it is their pioneering work with prosthetics, husbandry of tropical birds or fanciful fashion sense, America owes a deep debt to Pirates.

The past eight years have shown a failure to appreciate the historic role of these noble seafarers. Instead of celebrating their entreprenuerial spirit and seeking to partner with them to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.

Some of us wonder if our current Overseas Contingency Operation would even be needed had the last administration not been so quick to label Pirates as "thieves," "terrorists" and worse. Such swashbucklaphobia can lead to tragic results, as we have seen this week."

Congrats to the SEAL team for a great job and almost perfect with 3 pirates dead and a fourth wounded. Who missed?

Damn I wish I had written the bolded.

arrrrrr

it has to be obama's fault.

He's busy hunting Easter Eggs. Doesn't want to micro manage. He'll have comments prepared over the next few days.

:D sometimes a wound turns out not to be fatal...

just saw the news on my homepage. way to go navy! great ending to this one.

Wow the Obama adm. is looking Cowboy-like
with this rescue. Heck the French even
killed a few pirates although they also had
a hostage die.

What is the world coming to when ransoms go unpaid...

Answer to the eyepatch question:

Apparently covering one eye allowed the pirates to
easily look below deck (dark down there) without having to wait for
the eye to adjust as long as the patch was on while in light.

I would have worn patches over both eyes
and stumbled overboard.

interesting.

i always assumed it had something to do with allergies and having a hook instead on a hand.

:tro:

Wow, go Navy! Good news.

Cool.

The peg leg and tropical bird still remain
deep pirate mysteries. As does the
hook itself.

Loss of life and limb...

Still leaves the shoulder parrot unanswered.

I can take a subject and drive right off the
side of the road with it.

Without the full story in,
I still dont get how snipers can
hit a target where both boats are
constantly moving up and down and around
relative to each other.

Skill.

practice, practice and more practice. besides, after a while the sailors don't really notice the up and down. now, put them on dry land after a few months at sea...that's a whole nother ball game!! and many can't sleep at first, nothing rocking them to sleep at night.

I was mistaken. No one was wounded. The fourth guy went aboard Navy ship and gave up. The other three were taken care of using only 3 bullets. So the SEAL Team was perfect after all. Apparantly Obama gave the OK so I give him some of the credit as well.