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Danish Aid Workers Rescued by US Military in Somalia

Manic Moran

Since it hasn't been mentioned here...

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/25/world/africa/somalia-aid-workers/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

US probably undertook the job because one was a US citizen, but the Danes were fine with it.

Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, had been held since October 25, when they were abducted in Galkayo, central Somalia, after they visited humanitarian projects, said the Danish Refugee Council, the agency for which they worked.

Old-fashioned stuff that the US has always been good at. Parachute at night from high altitude, attack without warning, kill the bad guys, rescue hostages unharmed, leave.

Apparently the kidnappers had turned down a $1m ransom, God knows what they actually wanted.

I'm a little disappointed by the governments, though. Yes, aid workers go at their own risk, but all things considered, you would have thought that the governments wouldn't be waiting months to go in and get their own people back.

NTM

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enfant terrible

Manic Moran wrote: »

US probably undertook the job because one was a US citizen, but the Danes were fine with it.

Obama more than likely did it for some good publicity around his state of the union address.

But for whatever reason they did it, its a good result.

biko

Well done for getting them out.
The Somalis have tonnes of people hostage.

Remember www.savethechandlers.com ?
They got out safely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My6dCwUJCr4

ejmaztec

There should be a joint international effort to annihilate those feckin pirates. In the good old days they'd have been strung up from the yard-arm or walked off the plank. Nowadays, they're just given a choice of beverages and cakes, before being sent home with goody bags.

biko

As background and for levelling the debate.
Somali pirates claim they protect their coast from illegal fishing and ships dumping toxic waste in Somali waters.
The ransom they get for prisoners goes towards cleaning up the coast.
Since Somalia has no government local lords have taken this upon themselves to sort this out.

Chuck Stone

In fairness to the US they do seem to put great effort into extricating their citizens and military people from those types of hostage situations.

I remember watching a documentary about a US pilot being rescued after being shot down behind enemy lines in Vietnam. I think the US lost like 5 or 6 men getting him out which sounds like a bad deal but must be good for the morale of hostages or potential hostages.

ejmaztec

biko wrote: »

As background and for levelling the debate.
Somali pirates claim they protect their coast from illegal fishing and ships dumping toxic waste in Somali waters.
The ransom they get for prisoners goes towards cleaning up the coast.
Since Somalia has no government local lords have taken this upon themselves to sort this out.

Some of the Somali "eco-warriors" allegedly chopped off a Vietnamese captain's arm because the ship-owners wouldn't play ball.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120122-323373.html

Cookie_Monster

Chuck Stone wrote:

I remember watching a documentary about a US pilot being rescued after being shot down behind enemy lines in Vietnam. I think the US lost like 5 or 6 men getting him out which sounds like a bad deal but must be good for the morale of hostages or potential hostages.

are you sure it wasn't this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat*21
you were watching

Show Time

Why anyone with a half a brain would go near that hell hole is beyond me. Fair dues to the yanks i hope they racked up a major body count.

tallus

9 pirates killed.

Well done Seals.

[Deleted User]

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

are you sure it wasn't this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat*21
you were watching

Or Little Dieter Needs to Fly.

Nevertheless, that area is lawless.

saveourseafarers has an updated piracy map, worth a look now and then.

ejmaztec

tallus wrote: »

9 pirates killed.

Well done Seals.

Had it taken place here or in the UK, the Americans would have been arrested for murder, and the pirates' families would have been awarded millions in compensation.

Chuck Stone

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

are you sure it wasn't this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat*21
you were watching

No it was a documentary based on these real life events.

pickarooney

ejmaztec wrote: »

There should be a joint international effort to annihilate those feckin pirates. In the good old days they'd have been strung up from the yard-arm or walked off the plank. Nowadays, they're just given a choice of beverages and cakes, before being sent home with goody bags.

We should pass some kind of Stamp Out Piracy Act.

Doc Ruby

biko wrote: »

The ransom they get for prisoners goes towards cleaning up the coast.
Since Somalia has no government local lords have taken this upon themselves to sort this out.

What?

Abdiwali Nor, a resident in Hobyo, elaborated as to how he thinks the pirates spend their money. He indicated that most of pirates’ money goes to neighboring countries, such as Kenya and Ethiopia, where they can purchase large quantities of drugs and alcohol.

The pirates are always chewing khat and drinking alcohol, said Ali. Speaking about the possibility that ransom money was being invested outside Somalia, Ali laughed, saying, the pirates do not have the knowledge to create businesses. All they think about is their drugs and their pals.

The reality is a bit less PC I'm afraid, what you have is a bunch of opportunists on a get rich quick scheme.

the_syco

http://www.military.com/news/article/after-tense-months-new-intel-prompted-sof-hostage-rescue.html?comp=1198882887570&rank=1

TV cameras even captured Obama congratulating Defense Secretary Leon Panetta as he shook hands in the House chamber Tuesday night, telling him "You did a great job today." Another top Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. John Kirby, said that at that moment, Obama and Panetta had learned the hostages were safe, though the special operators had not yet "buttoned up" the raid.

The White House said Obama was congratulating Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey after learning about "the success of the mission" at 6:43 that evening.

Nice!

Patrick2010

ejmaztec wrote: »

Some of the Somali "eco-warriors" allegedly chopped off a Vietnamese captain's arm because the ship-owners wouldn't play ball.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120122-323373.html

They're probably running low on equipment and cleaning material to clean up the coast and are getting desperate. Thats the only reason the pirates need money apparently.

Happyman42

It's quite amazing to read a thread where Irish people (given our history) cheerlead a nation who habitually refuse to respect the sovereignty of the world's nations (typically the impoverished ones). Of course it would never dawn on the brutish Americans that there is a root cause for the behaviour of the Somalians and perish the thought that they would do something selfless in world diplomacy to properly address issues. The American 'interest' is always served first. That is the behaviour of despots imo. That does not imply that I condone the behaviour of the Somali pirates.

token101

biko wrote: »

As background and for levelling the debate.
Somali pirates claim they protect their coast from illegal fishing and ships dumping toxic waste in Somali waters.
The ransom they get for prisoners goes towards cleaning up the coast.
Since Somalia has no government local lords have taken this upon themselves to sort this out.

So they're like Greenpeace Africa then?

Surely if there's people dumping toxic waste they wouldn't also be fishing there? They're scum. Pure and simple. Fair play to the Americans. Pity they only got nine.

token101

Happyman42 wrote: »

It's quite amazing to read a thread where Irish people (given our history) cheerlead a nation who habitually refuse to respect the sovereignty of the world's nations (typically the impoverished ones). Of course it would never dawn on the brutish Americans that there is a root cause for the behaviour of the Somalians and perish the thought that they would do something selfless in world diplomacy to properly address issues. The American 'interest' is always served first. That is the behaviour of despots imo. That does not imply that I condone the behaviour of the Somali pirates.

Somalia isn't a sovereign nation. It's a failed state with about 2 or 3 different breakaway regions. They haven't had a government in around 20 years. They kidapped two innocent people and would have killed them. What were the Americans supposed to do? Apply for an extradition warrant? :rolleyes:

pickarooney

token101 wrote: »

Somalia isn't a sovereign nation. It's a failed state with about 2 or 3 different breakaway regions. They haven't had a government in around 20 years. They kidapped two innocent people and would have killed them. What were the Americans supposed to do? Apply for an extradition warrant? :rolleyes:

That sounds a lot like Belgium.

Happyman42

token101 wrote: »

What were the Americans supposed to do? Apply for an extradition warrant? :rolleyes:

What is the average Somalian father or mother supposed to do? Do you always side with the one with the biggest gun? Try putting yourself in their shoes for a wee while and understand their worldview.

ejmaztec

Patrick2010 wrote: »

They're probably running low on equipment and cleaning material to clean up the coast and are getting desperate. Thats the only reason the pirates need money apparently.

"The following video gives details of the ransom monies required, but first a word from our sponsors, Flash cleaning products"

ejmaztec

pickarooney wrote: »

We should pass some kind of Stamp Out Piracy Act.

Noonan is working on the viability of introducing a "Pirate Charge", and is trying to get round the small problem of Somalia not being part of Ireland.

It wasn't me!

Happyman42 wrote: »

What is the average Somalian father or mother supposed to do? Do you always side with the one with the biggest gun? Try putting yourself in their shoes for a wee while and understand their worldview.

It's not the average Somali mother or father kidnapping folk and ransoming them. To suggest so is horseshít. Pirates get killed, innocent hostages get rescued. Solid day at the office as far as I can see.

suicide_circus

"COUNTER TERRORISTS WIN"

Happyman42

It wasn't me! wrote: »

It's not the average Somali mother or father kidnapping folk and ransoming them. To suggest so is horseshít. Pirates get killed, innocent hostages get rescued. Solid day at the office as far as I can see.

How far would you go to ensure your children are fed and have a future? You haven't walked in their shoes for a second, have you?

suicide_circus

Happyman42 wrote: »

How far would you go to ensure your children are fed and have a future? You haven't walked in their shoes for a second, have you?

So what do you suggest? Pay the ransom and perpetuate this carry on? or leave the hostages to languish in captivity and eventually have their throats slit?

It wasn't me!

Happyman42 wrote: »

How far would you go to ensure your children are fed and have a future? You haven't walked in their shoes for a second, have you?

Don't care. I come from a wealthy background in western Europe. It's not going to happen. What if it were someone from west Dublin kidnapping folk and holding them to ransom for their lives? If AGS raided and killed those people, we wouldn't bat any more of an eyelash. We don't need to walk in anyone's shoes to define what's acceptable behaviour. And as I've said, you're still being extremely disingenuous in suggesting that this is the behaviour of the average somali, that this is typical. The vast, vast, vast majority are not doing so. Piracy is a local industry peopled by the same people who'd be involved in criminality wherever they were. Nothing to do with feeding or clothing their children, which is a total straw man.

ejmaztec

Happyman42 wrote: »

How far would you go to ensure your children are fed and have a future? You haven't walked in their shoes for a second, have you?

If they wanted their kids to have a future, they wouldn't be spending any ransom monies on drugs and booze.

Happyman42

suicide_circus wrote: »

So what do you suggest? Pay the ransom and perpetuate this carry on? or leave the hostages to languish in captivity and eventually have their throats slit?

If it was a strategic interest they would have a massive naval fleet in the area in a heart beat. Create a deterrent and then spend some of their otherwise ill spent cash in bringing real democracy to these people. Goodness knows they bang on enough about bringing democracy to regions which have oil, (funnily enough)