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The Somali pirates have now vowed revenge:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6369121.html

IMO, the only way to deal with these dregs is to kill every pirate who touches an American citizen or an American-flagged vessel.

As the saying goes, billions for defense, billions for charity, but NOT ONE CENT for tribute!

Wino you know wrote:I'm not sure what four rag-tag tinhorn thugs were thinking by going up against the UNITED STATES NAVY were thinking, but the three bozos who've assumed room temperature don't have to worry about that anymore, do they?

I'm thinking that U.S. flagged ships may be just a tad bit safer from pirates than they were a week ago...

"Attention pirates.... Your attention please.... We do not negotiate. We do not pay ransom. We send in the SEALs. Any questions?"

Kidding aside, however, prayers and phin power to the hundreds of hostages still held by pirates in that part of the world. The crew of a French sailboat wasn't as fortunate yesterday; one of the hostages was killed when French commandos stormed the boat.

Fact is, it would have been better if this could have been resolved without bloodshed. I believe VADM Gortney is correct that it may escalate violence in the area. But at the end of the day an American life was in peril and American forces did their jobs extremely well.

bestseller92 wrote:IMO, the only way to deal with these dregs is to kill every pirate who touches an American citizen or an American-flagged vessel.

As the saying goes, billions for defense, billions for charity, but NOT ONE CENT for tribute!

I agree.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:"Attention pirates.... Your attention please.... We do not negotiate. We do not pay ransom. We send in the SEALs. Any questions?"

We should drop leaflets with those words all over Somalia.

When it comes to those two-legged soup sandwiches, we should invoke the strategy of MR. RONALD REAGAN:
WE WIN,
THEY LOSE!

SchoolGirlHeart wrote: Fact is, it would have been better if this could have been resolved without bloodshed. I believe VADM Gortney is correct that it may escalate violence in the area. But at the end of the day an American life was in peril and American forces did their jobs extremely well.

There are only two ways for the situation to be resolved without bloodshed.
1. They don't commit piracy.
Instead of threats the pirates need to realize they are out of their league and it is time to call it quits and go home.
2. Pay the ransom.
Neither is a real viable option
The first is not going to happen.
The second has happened one time too many and was considered "just the cost of doing business" for far too long. That just become cost ineffective for the pirates.

The pirates cannot really do much to escalate the situation other than killing hostages and THAT would not be good for their business.
Their weapons are seemingly limited to RPGs and small arms. Something should have been done long ago when this first started. Something must be done before they start acquiring better weaponry.

Most likely once again the Somali people are going to suffer. It is easy to understand why they support the pirates. They have more from the pirates than they ever had before.

If America has not learned anything, we are going to have shades and repeats of "Blackhawk Down". We know where they are. We know more or less who a majority of them are. We know mostly what their capabilities are. <<<(ALL WAYS INCLUDE THE MURPHY FACTOR HERE!) No doubt they are counting on America pulling out, once again after such attacks. The Somali coast is only so long, and is more or less, limited and contained/constrained.

All we need now is the political determination and will power, to wipe them out and put an end to them. We already have the weapons and capability. Our troops have the will power and motivation and more than capable stand off weapons. All they need is a political green light and to be unleashed.

Perhaps now all of the shipping insurance companies and countries will change the ROE.....who would blame them? Will the world unite behind the US or do we have to do it alone?

The pirates made their bed/bunk, now they are going to have to sleep or die in it. Let the pirates keep up their threats of retaliation. Let the pirates lie in their beds/bunks and wonder when an air delivered package arrives special delivery with their name on it is going to arrive. Or perhaps wonder when the men with black/green faces are going to pay them a visit in the night....Sweet dreams pirates, FOREVER!!!

Perhaps the next ship the pirates attack there will be a very special surprise waiting aboard for them courtesy of the US or other countries special forces. Among the surprises will be the ultimate gift of one way tickets to Hell. It is easy to attack and take over an unarmed vessel.

Let's see what happens when the pirates face a highly dedicated, motivated, and determined team that says they are not going to suffer you any longer. You had a good run and now you kicked over the wrong anthill this time.....This anthill has cruise missiles and standoff weapons, air power/ air support, SEALs and more. MUCH MORE.

What do you have?

How long do you think that human shield thing is going to work? Maybe you might want to ask Saddam about that... I am sure arrangements have been made for you to meet with him...we are just waiting on confirmation of your travel arrangements.

bestseller92 wrote:"A Pirate Looks at 5.56mm"

Assuming you're referring to the standard 5.56 mm NATO round (5.56x45mm), my way of looking at it is:
52 grains of 'whoop-ass'.

And there's a whole lot more where that came from.........

-"BB"-

One of the pirates had an AK-47 pointed at the captain's back. The snipers got the word to wait
till they had a clear "head shot" at all three remaining pirates (one was aboard a navy ship either
negotiating or surrendering). When they were all in the cross-hairs that was all she wrote.

BZ, Navy!
Welcome home, Cap'n!

Footnote.... And what's so cool about this is that it ISN'T considered news!

The commander of the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (of which USS Bainbridge is a part) and the Anti-Piracy Task Force would have been the headline a few years ago but instead was just one of the people in uniform escorting Captain Phillips as he arrived aboard the Boxer. That's because the Boxer ESG commander, Rear Admiral Howard, is an African American woman.

And my sons' reaction to this was, "So?" Look how far we've come! My kids don't even understand why this is a big deal!!

Too bad the captain wasn't rescued by Coast Guardsmen carrying .40 caliber SIG pistols.

Then we could've really had title for this story.

Bicycle Bill wrote:

bestseller92 wrote:"A Pirate Looks at 5.56mm"

Assuming you're referring to the standard 5.56 mm NATO round (5.56x45mm), my way of looking at it is:
52 grains of 'whoop-ass'.

And there's a whole lot more where that came from.........

-"BB"-

Hmm I am going to guess you made a typo here or that you mean the "newer" (if you will allow that term) 5.56x45 round. The old standard issue was 55 grain pills. That changed when the SAW came out and the new version of the M-16 was issued. It is a 62 grain projectile. The rifling was changed to stabilize the bullet and allow a longer accurate range ( around a 2 MOA around 800 meters ) or there abouts.

FWIW, most military snipers typically use a 7.62x51 NATO (.308 Winchester) or larger round/caliber for the performance of their duties. This does not mean to say they will not use smaller calibers at closer ranges.

For bestseller92, I am not aware of any teams that would use any handgun in such a primary role. That does not mean they do not exist or are not used as such. I admit there are handguns that could easily make such a shot with the right person operating the weapon. I also admit such a role in a story would make a great one. Generally handguns are only of use when, there is the possibility of trouble, and trouble is not really expected.

Also generally when trouble is expected, larger weapons and what may be referred to as "long guns" are employed. If it is all you got, then one uses what they have at hand and/or take other action as is needed/dictated.

Who was the General who was asked, "How do you fight an enemy that is willing to die for their cause?" by replying, "Accomodate them." Put him in charge of the pirate problem..



I may have paraphrased the quote but you get my drift.

Tropic_Al wrote:Who was the General who was asked, "How do you fight an enemy that is willing to die for their cause?" by replying, "Accomodate them." Put him in charge of the pirate problem..



I may have paraphrased the quote but you get my drift.

That sounds like something General Patton would have said....

Spider Johnson wrote:

Tropic_Al wrote:Who was the General who was asked, "How do you fight an enemy that is willing to die for their cause?" by replying, "Accomodate them." Put him in charge of the pirate problem..



I may have paraphrased the quote but you get my drift.

That sounds like something General Patton would have said....

...or any other general who fought with rifles and bayonets.

Tropic_Al wrote:Who was the General who was asked, "How do you fight an enemy that is willing to die for their cause?" by replying, "Accomodate them." Put him in charge of the pirate problem..



I may have paraphrased the quote but you get my drift.

Norman Schwartkopf ...
When asked "How do you fight an enemy that is not afraid to die, an enemy who in fact welcomes death?" He replied "You accommodate them!"

LIPH wrote:

Tropic_Al wrote:Who was the General who was asked, "How do you fight an enemy that is willing to die for their cause?" by replying, "Accomodate them." Put him in charge of the pirate problem..



I may have paraphrased the quote but you get my drift.

Norman Schwartkopf ...
When asked "How do you fight an enemy that is not afraid to die, an enemy who in fact welcomes death?" He replied "You accommodate them!"

That's it. Thanks.

Spider Johnson wrote:

Bicycle Bill wrote:

bestseller92 wrote:"A Pirate Looks at 5.56mm"

Assuming you're referring to the standard 5.56 mm NATO round (5.56x45mm), my way of looking at it is:
52 grains of 'whoop-ass'.

And there's a whole lot more where that came from.........

-"BB"-

Hmm I am going to guess you made a typo here or that you mean the "newer" (if you will allow that term) 5.56x45 round. The old standard issue was 55 grain pills. That changed when the SAW came out and the new version of the M-16 was issued. It is a 62 grain projectile. The rifling was changed to stabilize the bullet and allow a longer accurate range ( around a 2 MOA around 800 meters ) or there abouts.

FWIW, most military snipers typically use a 7.62x51 NATO (.308 Winchester) or larger round/caliber for the performance of their duties. This does not mean to say they will not use smaller calibers at closer ranges.

For bestseller92, I am not aware of any teams that would use any handgun in such a primary role. That does not mean they do not exist or are not used as such. I admit there are handguns that could easily make such a shot with the right person operating the weapon. I also admit such a role in a story would make a great one. Generally handguns are only of use when, there is the possibility of trouble, and trouble is not really expected.

Also generally when trouble is expected, larger weapons and what may be referred to as "long guns" are employed. If it is all you got, then one uses what they have at hand and/or take other action as is needed/dictated.

I realize this. I just thought it would be cool if we coulda titled this episode "A Pirate Looks at .40".

Elrod wrote: