British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates

[John]

Does anyone know what this Country actually does in circumstances
like this?

It does not seem much. If you take the lack of sophistication of the
so called enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is very low. Somali
pirates are barely on the scale.

So what are we doing about it Gordon???

Tip: We have Special Forces only a matter of miles away.

[Papaumau]

The answer to that question is easy:

1) National governments  - especially this one - have the policy of not paying ransoms to kidnappers because if it gets around that Britain is a soft touch for kidnappings all that paying ransoms will do is increase the incidence of kidnaps.

I for one agree with this policy even although it may be sad that the victims may suffer or die as a result.

( In this case in particular, everybody and his dog knows that the coastline of Somalia is rife with pirates looking for people to kidnap. Maybe people and companies should avoid sending boats and ships into that area ).

2). National and international authorities do NOT want to send special forces in to attempt to rescue such victims as if they do there is a very good chance that the victims will be killed long before the special forces can get to them.

With this in mind the policy of DO NOTHING at least means that the people who do "do nothing" can not get directly blamed for the deaths of the kidnap victims.

Once again I think it is churlish to blame ole Brown for this as well !

I mean, John, do you blame Gordon Brown for your milk going sour ? as you seem to be willing to blame him for everything else that happens under the sun.

[Hugh]

This couple were advised not to travel in this area but they knew best, so they only have them selves to blame. Hope  this is a lesson to others stay well clear. All ransom which as been pay as able the pirates to buy larger and faster boats and weapons. NATO will have to sort this problem out before much longer.

[Papaumau]

The thing is Hugh that these pirates are getting more and more adventurous as they are now prepared to attack and take control of even the largest ocean-going ships, ( they took a massive oil-tanker hostage a few weeks ago ).

Many of the very rich companies that take this route around Somalia do it as it is the shortest route around this headland and to go round this coast far out to sea where the pirates cannot get at them with their fast but short-range boats costs them money in extra fuel.

The rest are reckless and foolish and think that it is never going to happen to them and it is because they take this calculated risk that I say why I say that we should NEVER give in to kidnappers of any kind that take advantage of such thoughtless recklessness.

[John]

If you know the area and actually sail to many destinations in the Far East -
there is little chance to avoid this risk.

It is dangerous to go to the local shops in some areas.

People know the risk, but needs must...

[Hugh]

Does anyone know what this Country actually does in circumstances
like this?

It does not seem much. If you take the lack of sophistication of the
so called enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is very low. Somali
pirates are barely on the scale.

So what are we doing about it Gordon???

Tip: We have Special Forces only a matter of miles away.

You may find there is alot going on which we don't know about. It will be a secret from us and the pirates.

[John]

I might even find that there is nothing going on - which will be another State secret.

My days of believing in State competences and caring have long been dispelled.


Anyone for secret torture?

[Hugh]

I will be very surprised if nothing  going on, but we will just have to wait and see.

[John]

What would you expect to be going on?

[Hugh]

At the moment mainly gathering of intelligence for a start. Who is the brains behind the pirates. The pirates have small fast well equipped vessels and the crew are well trained.
They are allowed to buy what ever equipment they require at inflated prices I expect. They are operating in a vast amount of water and with radar which they must have are able to stay clear of patrolling warships. The warships will have an impossible task of spotting them because they just show up as a small dot on the radar screen. Unless they are attacking they can't be touched. It is quite possible the SBS are now or trying to become members of the pirates crew to be able to gather intelligence this way. The pirates may never go into harbor as they can get fuel and supplies brought out to them, they now have the money paid in ransom to pay for this service.
The kidnapped couple will be so well hidden it will be more or less impossible to find them.
I just wonder where all this ransom money is going??? terrorist ?

   

[JoachimB]

The answer to that question is easy:
With this in mind the policy of DO NOTHING at least means that the people who do "do nothing" can not get directly blamed for the deaths of the kidnap victims.

And that is the heart of it.

Headlines for  'pirates kill family' is page 3 stuff

SPECIAL FORCES OP RESULTS IN CIVILIAN DEATHS gets page one. In 24 pt:two-line pica

J

[JoachimB]

and the crew are well trained.

hahaahaaaahahaa
Is there intelligent life on the planet you come from?
Your tactical assessment of the situation is right out of a Dan Brown novel.
Special ops as you call it have resources you cannot believe. The US has radar sats that can see a submerged sub from the hump in statistical mean water level in open ocean.. Cant find a 2 bit pirate boat  LOL.
'They' cant find Bin Laden either.  And both because they dont want to.

J

[Hugh]

and the crew are well trained.

hahaahaaaahahaa
Is there intelligent life on the planet you come from?

Hello my friend from Australia I thought this was a pensioners forum and at 50 you are rather young to be retired. Any way great to hear from you nice to have some youngsters among us. If you are trying to wind me up forget it because I am to thick skinned for that. But I know you from down under love to play these games with us limies. Do you know or come across ChristianG who is a member of forums down here.

[John]

Yes - the looking for 'Bin Laden' is an excuse to justify slaughtering who they want in the 'US' self legalised search for him. The truth of the matter is that most probably he has already been slaughtered in indiscriminate drone attacks.

Any supposed communication from him, which just happens to come out after an incident that needs a label of blame hanging on it, can easily be faked and again probably is.

The UK Government already conspires to keep torture it is supposed to oppose secret, this is just the tip of the secrets iceberg.

[JoachimB]

Hello my friend from Australia I thought this was a pensioners forum and at 50 you are rather young to be retired. Any way great to hear from you nice to have some youngsters among us. If you are trying to wind me up forget it because I am to thick skinned for that. But I know you from down under love to play these games with us limies. Do you know or come across ChristianG who is a member of forums down here.

Hugh

Im old for my age [ from 22 to 25 i aged 16 years]
Are you an 'ageist', do you object to me wishing to think in your circle of elitist aged people. We low youth who pretend wisdom that
we have allegedly gained from a few extra years of watching bbc news
I guess most need some handle on their insecurity...I have none  .Cant wait to shrug off this coil...as slim pickens said as he rode the hBomb   yeeeehaaa
Aside from that.
Nice comeback and so polite.. well done.
And we down under will hold the door open so you 'limies' can escape the brit weather.
You all seem to come here . I had a man united guy at work a few years back who carried a soccer ball everywhere
I wore black and pretended to be a newcastle supporter  LOL

I'll keep an eye out.. [the bad one] for ChristianG.. sounds like a born again twat tho

J