"HK" wrote in message
m...


Let's keep in mind the fact that the pirates are holding a very valuable
hostage who has proved how worthy he is. So long as he is alive and
unharmed, it is important for cool heads to prevail. Also keep in mind
other pirates in that area are holding other crews as hostages. What is
needed is a plan that can be implemented to sweep these waters of pirates,
and keep them them clean, far worthier tasks for a military force than
invading a country on trumped-up charges from lying politicians that they
are building weapons of mass destruction.




I agree. This situation is far more complex than some of the Clint Eastwood
types calling out, "Make my day" think it is.

The commanding officer of the Bainbridge is under rules of engagement that
precludes him from taking any action that would put the hostage's life in
jeopardy. Some people are critical that the lifeboat wasn't "blown out of
the water" when the hostage briefly jumped overboard.
The reality is that in the middle of the night and from over 200 yards away,
any firepower brought to bear on the lifeboat would also have a significant
risk to the hostage.

The rules of engagement change if the destroyer itself is in danger due to
attack. Under those circumstances the captain is authorized to take any
action necessary to save his ship. Four guys in a powerless lifeboat
armed with small arms and maybe AK-47's isn't exactly a serious threat to a
destroyer.

This is a tough situation. Apparently there are about 200 other hostages
that are being held as ransom bait by these pirates and some of them are on
the boats that the pirates have called upon for reinforcement. "Blowing
them out of the water" brings the same risk of killing hostages.

Right now, nobody is going anywhere and time is on the side of the hostage
and of the Navy.

Eisboch