Captain Richard Phillips, 53, captured by pirates last Wednesday, was rescued after a brief firefight today, Sunday, April 12, 2009. See photo and read more below.
Captain Richard Phillips Rescued
Captain Richard Phillips and Maersk Alabama
It is being reported that Captain Richard Phillips, Maersk Alabama, made another escape attempt this morning when the lifeboat he was held captive in drifted dangerously close to the Somali shoreline. Negotiations with the pirates had broken down yesterday and had they reached shore, it would have been more difficult, if not impossible to have a positive outcome to this ridiculous insanity foisted upon on us by these terrorists pirates.
Capt. Phillips was not hurt in the rescue, and is now on the USS Bainbridge. Three pirates were killed and one injured during the rescue. The wounded pirate is in US custody, likely awaiting the outcry of the peacenik people (i.e. Code Pinko), about his rights being violated. Most folks these days have such a hard time grasping the concept of “don’t take what ain’t yourn”.
Anti-piracy expert Nick Davis stated
“They (the pirates) will learn from this. They’re not going to stop piracy in any way, shape or form. They will up the anti, they will get better organised.
“The only people that would have been shot here are the foot soldiers. They’re not the people that make the decisions and have the controlling interest.
“It’s now going to fall back to the chain of command in the Somalian network of piracy, both ashore and in different countries, as to how they want to up the anti.
“This is not going to send any message at all, apart from ‘now the Americans have been aggressive towards us, then we can be aggressive if we don’t get what we want’.
“It’s a very, very big business and there are hundreds, if not now thousands of people involved in this, in several different countries.”
That’s all well and good but being a Navy brat, I have a neener-neener attitude …. Don’t mess with the US Navy, Navy Seals, or any branch of our Military!
Well done, sailors! And welcome home Capt. Phillips … your courage is an inspiration!
This story is still breaking. Will keep you informed ……
Photos of the Maersk Alabama, crew and special Navy escort below ….
Maersk Alabama
Captain Richard Phillips Grateful to Navy - Video
April 12th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I can’t help but think this ‘expert’ is wrong. One of the reasons so few Americans are kidnapped by pirates and rebels around the world is that Americans don’t negotiate with them or pay ransoms.
If they are doing it for the money, its not profitable to kidnap an American. Its also very likely the hostage takers won’t come out of it alive. At least, that’s been our reputation up to now.
I was so worried that our democrats in Congress and the Presidency would tie the Navy’s hands and the situation would go for bad to worse, especially after it went on for days.
Thank goodness it didn’t go down that way and the Navy came to the rescue and saved Phillips life!! What a brave hero HE is!
April 12th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I hope we go after these Somali Pirates big time. A little payback would do them and anyone using that shipping lane a world of good.
Taking care of this situation sent a great message to the world that we aren’t quite as wussified as people have been afraid we were. Unarmed Americans took back that merchant ship from those pirates! You gotta love that!
April 12th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
wonderful what a great present for his family from the Hopping Bunny
April 12th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
@ Lydia : Not the hopping bunny ! T’was the Easter Seals
April 12th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Yeah! HOOAH for the Navy Seals!!!
April 13th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Wonderful news related to the end of the Maersk AlObama hijacking! Phillips, Navy Seals, USS Bainbridge captain, and Obama proved their amazing capabilities! A ship sending food and aid supplies is subjected to hijacking by a band of lawless pirates who send their weakest to face the dangers of piracy while they are cashing millions. The best of humanity and human ideals won triumphantly over the worst of human characters. Let all humanity celebrate this great triumphal moment as a symbol of humanity’s potential for developing an ever advancing civilization rather than being dragged back into lawlessness reminiscent of centuries past.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Nick Davis, according to an NPR piece from the winter, runs a business called Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions, where for $30,000, three unarmed men will “deter” pirates traveling in that area. Having armed men kill pirates is not good for his “deterrence” business.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Don’t mess with the USN.Go seals!makes me proud