NationStates Jolt Archive


Pirates take on USN, win Darwin award

Lt_Cody
18-03-2006, 21:17
Ok, they didn't actually win one, but IMO they deserve a nomination:

Link (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11233378/)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Two U.S. Navy ships exchanged gunfire with suspected pirates Saturday off the coast of Somalia, and one suspect was killed and five others were wounded, the navy said.

The early morning gunbattle ensued after sailors spotted 30-foot fishing boat towing smaller skiffs and prepared for a routine boarding, said Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Brown, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Passengers on the fishing boat then began shooting, and U.S. naval gunners returned fire with mounted machine guns.

Three suspects were seriously wounded and being treated on one of the Navy ships, Brown said.

Their nationalities were unknown.

No U.S. sailors were injured, the Navy said.

The Navy said the incident involving the USS Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez occurred at about 5:40 a.m. local time, approximately 25 nautical miles off the Somali coast in international waters.

The Cape St. George, a guided-missile cruiser, and Gonzalez, a guided-missile destroyer, were conducting maritime security operations in the area. They are based in Norfolk, Va.

On March 15, the U.N. Security Council encouraged naval forces operating off Somalia to take action against suspected piracy. Pirate attacks against aid ships have hindered U.N. efforts to provide relief to the victims of a severe drought in the area.

I mean, a fishing boat vs. a destroyer and cruiser? Stupid people just don't know when they're beat.
Megaloria
18-03-2006, 21:20
The only thing more dangerous than a pirate is a martyred pirate. Beware the vengeance of the Seven Seas!
Tweedlesburg
18-03-2006, 21:22
It's not like they wanted to engage the navy. They were doing something illegal and got caught. I do not see how that is such a colossal lapse of judgement.
The Nuke Testgrounds
18-03-2006, 21:23
Arrr matey.

Beware of the ninja pirates.
Sdaeriji
18-03-2006, 21:29
Ok, they didn't actually win one, but IMO they deserve a nomination:

Link (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11233378/)


I mean, a fishing boat vs. a destroyer and cruiser? Stupid people just don't know when they're beat.

What else could they do? They were about to be boarded and apprehended.
Lt_Cody
18-03-2006, 21:30
It's not like they wanted to engage the navy. They were doing something illegal and got caught. I do not see how that is such a colossal lapse of judgement.
Yeah, they got caught. They sure as hell arn't going to make a get-away, and they're not going to outfight them. Opening fire on a superior target is not the smartest thing to do.
The Nuke Testgrounds
18-03-2006, 21:34
Yeah, they got caught. They sure as hell arn't going to make a get-away, and they're not going to outfight them. Opening fire on a superior target is not the smartest thing to do.

What should they've done then? Held up fishes as hostages?
Santa Barbara
18-03-2006, 21:41
What should they've done then? Held up fishes as hostages?

Maybe they "should have" just surrendered. That's what I'd do, if I'm captain of a FISHING BOAT and a DESTROYER AND CRUISER want to board my craft.

It's not that hard a decision. Fishing Boats < Destroyers and Cruisers

Attacking government property and military servicemen = added jail time and risk of death
The Nuke Testgrounds
18-03-2006, 21:45
Maybe they "should have" just surrendered. That's what I'd do, if I'm captain of a FISHING BOAT and a DESTROYER AND CRUISER want to board my craft.

It's not that hard a decision. Fishing Boats < Destroyers and Cruisers

Attacking government property and military servicemen = added jail time and risk of death

They were probably so starved, that when they saw the destroyer and cruiser they thought they saw the biggest 2 fish they would ever bring home.

I sympathize with these people. They were just trying to catch dinner.
Taredas
18-03-2006, 21:46
Maybe they "should have" just surrendered. That's what I'd do, if I'm captain of a FISHING BOAT and a DESTROYER AND CRUISER want to board my craft.

It's not that hard a decision. Fishing Boats < Destroyers and Cruisers

Attacking government property and military servicemen = added jail time and risk of death

Hmm, I thought piracy was still an offense punishable by death. If you're already a dead man, then why not try to take as many of your enemies down with you as you can?
Ifreann
18-03-2006, 21:48
Hmm, I thought piracy was still an offense punishable by death. If you're already a dead man, then why not try to take as many of your enemies down with you as you can?

That is the pirate way. Yargh.
Santa Barbara
18-03-2006, 21:49
Hmm, I thought piracy was still an offense punishable by death. If you're already a dead man, then why not try to take as many of your enemies down with you as you can?

You still get a trial, even IF that is true (I don't know if it is).

And there are more than enough bleeding heart liberals who oppose any death penalty whatsoever that you'd have a much better chance if you surrendered nicely.

Whereas shooting at a military warship with a pop gun won't even take anyone down... just throw away your chances of life.

Really, I can't think of many dumber things than what these dolts did.
Novoga
18-03-2006, 21:51
Hmm, I thought piracy was still an offense punishable by death. If you're already a dead man, then why not try to take as many of your enemies down with you as you can?

They didn't take anyone down with them though and I don't think they ever had a chance too.

Thank You Mr. Clinton for leaving Somalia, afterall everything is better after the US leaves...