Pirates (alternative, country, American, French, effect)

At Sixes and Sevens · 04-10-2009, 09:27 PM

I'm going to jump on my soapbox right now for a few minutes. Sorry to do this but I feel like I need to go on a good rant right now.

We have all heard the news stories going on with the pirates that tried to overtake that American shipping vessel off the coast of Somalia. The captain of the ship, who gave himself up for the safety of his crew, is being held hostage on a lifeboat (which is out of gas) in the middle of the Gulf of Aden. The USS Bainbridge and other US Navy ships are on scene and as close as 500 feet from the lifeboat. It has been over 48 hours and we have gotten no where. The pirates are sending in reinforcements and are planning on making a run for the coast. We just sit idly and twiddle our thumbs.

I can point the blame at a lot of people in this situation. The two people at the top of my list is President Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It has been over 48 hours, Mr. President, what are we going to do? Are you going to let these 4-5 jagoffs take an American hostage and hold off entire WARSHIPS with nothing more than small arms for two days?!? Are you going let them go? The French military just recently (yesterday or today) went in and took over a yacht that was overtaken by pirates in the same region. The French have balls and we don't.

George W. Bush was criticized for him spending 8 minutes in a classroom reading to children after being informed of the first attack on 9/11. Where is the criticism now for Obama when it has been nearly three days and we have yet to see any kind of action taken? We are going soft and right now is not the time to go soft. This story right now is just going to inspire more and more piracy acts in the near future. It's already gotten out of hand, but it's about to get a lot worse after this debacle.

Which leads me to my next rant. What is the United States going to do about all these pirate attacks? The U.S. Navy (MY U.S. Navy :rolf: ) claims we operate for the purpose of providing free and safe travels for any vessel across the seven seas. We justify the billions and billions we spend a year on these ship deployments across the globe as "physical deterrent and to assure freedom of the seas". There is no other region right now that needs that presence than the horn of Africa. So why isn't the Navy making more of an effort to confront and counter act these kind of attacks?

This is the United States Navy. We are the most powerful Navy in the entire world. Ever since the last World War, the Navy has been in somewhat of an identity crisis mode. We don't have large naval battles anymore. We don't need these ships to transport all these materials and troops anymore. The Navy has been rather lost over the past decade or so. The rise in pirate acts over the past few years should bring in the forefront of the new Navy's agenda. This is a concern and threat to national and global security that the U.S. Navy can specialize in. Yet I don't see any kind of effort or even a mention that the Navy plans on making anti-piracy missions a large part of it's gameplan.

It's not the Nay's fault. They are ill-equipped to effectively patrol the Gulf of Aden and the surrounding waters. Our smallest ships, frigates, aren't small enough to be successful in such missions. We don't have enough ships to patrol that large of an area, that tightly. It is a problem they have but I don't see them trying to come up with an alternative.

We have mobile security force teams that specialize in deployable, security team measures. Why not start training all of those units in anti-piracy? You could slowly start forming units specifically designed for those missions. Even if you can only put one or two units out there at a time that would be better than what we have right now. Our ships would be within range to respond to pirate attacks in a day rather than two or three. They would be trained and ready to handle these matters. It wouldn't be a cluster**** of FBI officials and big government brass. I don't think anyone really knows what we are doing out there right now and all that's doing is making us and everyone who sails the Horn of Africa that much more vulnerable.

We need to take action and these attacks. This is an important shipping lane for many nations and allowing these scumbags to interfere in it and get away with millions is passim.

/rant

**Janszoon** · 04-10-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

About At Sixes and Sevens

Occupation
U.S. Navy

LOL. Of course.

At Sixes and Sevens · 04-10-2009, 10:03 PM

What is that suppose to mean? Since I'm in the Navy that must mean that I have some kind of blood lust? I must just be looking for a fight, huh?

Or perhaps I'm sick of my country sticking it's nose in everyone's business for the past 20 years but when something truly awful happens that requires our attention our government is content with being on the sidelines.

We, as a nation, aren't very good at picking our battles.

**Janszoon** · 04-10-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by At Sixes and Sevens

What is that suppose to mean? Since I'm in the Navy that must mean that I have some kind of blood lust? I must just be looking for a fight, huh?

Did I say any of those things? I just think it's funny to see commentary on a current international situation that's full of "US Navy", "US Navy", "US Navy" and then when I click on the person's profile the first thing I see is "Occupation: US Navy".

Bane of your existence · 04-10-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I just think it's funny to see commentary on a current international situation that's full of "US Navy", "US Navy", "US Navy" and then when I click on the person's profile the first thing I see is "Occupation: US Navy".

Makes sense to me.

LoathsomePete · 04-10-2009, 11:33 PM

I think if anyone is to blame it's the UN for not going in and helping aid the country back in the early '90's when the coups happened and the country tore itself apart. That county is so ****ed up now and really has no chance of ever catching up with the rest of the world because like just about everything else in Africa, the West turns it's back on it. We have ****ed that continent up and set it back so far by our own greed that it's a wonder if it will ever recover before we inevitably destroy ourselves.

I agree, a lot more should be done about protecting that coast, but it's funny that all of a sudden everyone seems to care because it's an American this time.

If you haven't already heard of or listened to him yet, I would highly recommend the hip hop artist K'Naan who is originally from Somalia and was lucky to get out on one of the last commercial flights before the **** really hit the fan. He has a first hand view on how messed up that country is and can provide more insight.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-11-2009, 01:44 AM

I'm surprised the RIAA hasn't got the wrong end of the stick tried to sue them yet.

LoathsomePete · 04-11-2009, 02:14 AM

Quebec tries so hard to be different, they're like the weird kid at school who would just go against everything in a vain attempt to disassociate them self from everyone else, even if it was so painfully obvious.

anticipation · 04-11-2009, 11:22 AM

pirates are badass, especially somalian anarchist pirates.

don't ask don't tell.

lucifer_sam · 04-11-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I'm surprised the RIAA hasn't got the wrong end of the stick tried to sue them yet.

i wouldn't put it out of the question.

they sent cease and desist letters to NIN fans after their label (Interscope) already signed off on their plan to give away CDs after concerts.

04-10-2009, 09:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
At Sixes and Sevens Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 19	Pirates I'm going to jump on my soapbox right now for a few minutes. Sorry to do this but I feel like I need to go on a good rant right now. We have all heard the news stories going on with the pirates that tried to overtake that American shipping vessel off the coast of Somalia. The captain of the ship, who gave himself up for the safety of his crew, is being held hostage on a lifeboat (which is out of gas) in the middle of the Gulf of Aden. The USS Bainbridge and other US Navy ships are on scene and as close as 500 feet from the lifeboat. It has been over 48 hours and we have gotten no where. The pirates are sending in reinforcements and are planning on making a run for the coast. We just sit idly and twiddle our thumbs. I can point the blame at a lot of people in this situation. The two people at the top of my list is President Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It has been over 48 hours, Mr. President, what are we going to do? Are you going to let these 4-5 jagoffs take an American hostage and hold off entire WARSHIPS with nothing more than small arms for two days?!? Are you going let them go? The French military just recently (yesterday or today) went in and took over a yacht that was overtaken by pirates in the same region. The French have balls and we don't. George W. Bush was criticized for him spending 8 minutes in a classroom reading to children after being informed of the first attack on 9/11. Where is the criticism now for Obama when it has been nearly three days and we have yet to see any kind of action taken? We are going soft and right now is not the time to go soft. This story right now is just going to inspire more and more piracy acts in the near future. It's already gotten out of hand, but it's about to get a lot worse after this debacle. Which leads me to my next rant. What is the United States going to do about all these pirate attacks? The U.S. Navy (MY U.S. Navy :rolf: ) claims we operate for the purpose of providing free and safe travels for any vessel across the seven seas. We justify the billions and billions we spend a year on these ship deployments across the globe as "physical deterrent and to assure freedom of the seas". There is no other region right now that needs that presence than the horn of Africa. So why isn't the Navy making more of an effort to confront and counter act these kind of attacks? This is the United States Navy. We are the most powerful Navy in the entire world. Ever since the last World War, the Navy has been in somewhat of an identity crisis mode. We don't have large naval battles anymore. We don't need these ships to transport all these materials and troops anymore. The Navy has been rather lost over the past decade or so. The rise in pirate acts over the past few years should bring in the forefront of the new Navy's agenda. This is a concern and threat to national and global security that the U.S. Navy can specialize in. Yet I don't see any kind of effort or even a mention that the Navy plans on making anti-piracy missions a large part of it's gameplan. It's not the Nay's fault. They are ill-equipped to effectively patrol the Gulf of Aden and the surrounding waters. Our smallest ships, frigates, aren't small enough to be successful in such missions. We don't have enough ships to patrol that large of an area, that tightly. It is a problem they have but I don't see them trying to come up with an alternative. We have mobile security force teams that specialize in deployable, security team measures. Why not start training all of those units in anti-piracy? You could slowly start forming units specifically designed for those missions. Even if you can only put one or two units out there at a time that would be better than what we have right now. Our ships would be within range to respond to pirate attacks in a day rather than two or three. They would be trained and ready to handle these matters. It wouldn't be a cluster**** of FBI officials and big government brass. I don't think anyone really knows what we are doing out there right now and all that's doing is making us and everyone who sails the Horn of Africa that much more vulnerable. We need to take action and these attacks. This is an important shipping lane for many nations and allowing these scumbags to interfere in it and get away with millions is passim. /rant

04-10-2009, 11:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	I think if anyone is to blame it's the UN for not going in and helping aid the country back in the early '90's when the coups happened and the country tore itself apart. That county is so **ed up now and really has no chance of ever catching up with the rest of the world because like just about everything else in Africa, the West turns it's back on it. We have ed that continent up and set it back so far by our own greed that it's a wonder if it will ever recover before we inevitably destroy ourselves. I agree, a lot more should be done about protecting that coast, but it's funny that all of a sudden everyone seems to care because it's an American this time. If you haven't already heard of or listened to him yet, I would highly recommend the hip hop artist K'Naan who is originally from Somalia and was lucky to get out on one of the last commercial flights before the ** really hit the fan. He has a first hand view on how messed up that country is and can provide more insight. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

04-11-2009, 01:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I'm surprised the RIAA hasn't got the wrong end of the stick tried to sue them yet. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

04-11-2009, 02:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Quebec tries so hard to be different, they're like the weird kid at school who would just go against everything in a vain attempt to disassociate them self from everyone else, even if it was so painfully obvious. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

04-10-2009, 10:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
At Sixes and Sevens Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 19	What is that suppose to mean? Since I'm in the Navy that must mean that I have some kind of blood lust? I must just be looking for a fight, huh? Or perhaps I'm sick of my country sticking it's nose in everyone's business for the past 20 years but when something truly awful happens that requires our attention our government is content with being on the sidelines. We, as a nation, aren't very good at picking our battles.

04-11-2009, 11:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
anticipation Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,565	pirates are badass, especially somalian anarchist pirates. don't ask don't tell.