Report: Somali Pirates Capture 4 Americans
- Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:35pm by
Meredith Jessup
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The S/V Quest
UNITED NATIONS (AP/The Blaze) — Somalia’s U.N. Mission said Friday that pirates hijacked a yacht carrying four U.S. citizens in the Indian Ocean off the Somali coast.
Omar Jamal, first secretary at the Somali mission, identified the yacht as the S/V Quest. According to the ship’s travel log, the last time the Americans checked-in was off the western coast of India near Mumbai six days ago.
He said the mission is calling for the immediate release of the hostages and all other captives who are in the hands of the pirates.
Jamal said the hijacking raises “serious concern” as it follows the sentencing in New York on Thursday of a Somali pirate who kidnapped and brutalized the captain of a U.S.-flagged merchant ship off the coast of Africa in 2009. Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
A website chronicles the voyage of a yacht named S/V Quest describes it as being the home of Jean and Scott Adam. The couple has been sailing around the world since December 2004, according to the website. “This is planned to be an eight or ten year voyage,” it states.
Image: SVQuest.com
Earlier on Friday, The European Union’s anti-piracy task force said it appeared that Somali pirates had hijacked a separate vessel, the Alfardous, and its eight crew members in the Gulf of Aden. The force said it had no more details about the vessel since it was seized Sunday.
Somalia hasn’t had a functioning government since 1991, and piracy has flourished off its coast. The pirates earn multimillion dollar ransoms from the hijackings. They were holding 29 ships and roughly 660 hostages before the latest seizures.
Jamal said the mission again appeals to the international community to help curb the ever increasing acts of piracy.
Also Friday, Interpol said it will help seven African nations better fight piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The program is expected to cost $2.17 million (euro1.6 million), said Pierre Saint Hilaire, the assistant director of the Interpol’s maritime piracy task force.
The first phase of the European Union-funded program will include Interpol providing Seychelles with a digital fingerprint identification system to make it easier to identify pirates and share information on them, Hilaire said.
Other countries to benefit from the 20-month program are Djibouti, Kenya, Mauritius, Somalia, Tanzania and Yemen. Kenya and Seychelles have more than 100 Somali pirates in their custody. Some of the millions of dollars in ransom is believed to be invested in Kenya.
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Comments (84)
NHABE64
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:31pmWhy was FOUR Americans sailing on a yacht off coast of one of the most dangerous places ? And now they expect our brave special forces to come to the rescue. I say let them rot and find their own way out of it. Not ONE American should risk their life to save boneheads like this.
Report Post »colonial10
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:30pmUse the Israeli tactics on them. As long as the world politically corrects itself to death these murderous pirates, criminals will get away with everything. Or we can do it this way. Republican. Col West is from southern Florida, a bastion of the Democratic Party. He won in a walk.It is worth the viewing. This new Congressman was an extremely popular
commander in Iraq. He was forced to retire because during an intense combat
action a few of his men were captured. At the same time his men had
captured one of the guys who were with the Iraqis who captured his men.
Knowing that time was crucial and his interrogators were not getting
anywhere with the prisoner COL West took matters into his own hands. He
burst into the room and demanded thru an interpreter that the prisoner tell
him where his men were being taken. The prisoner refused so COL West took
out his pistol and placed it into the prisoner’s crotch and fired. Then the
COL told the prisoner that the next shot would not miss. So the prisoner
said he would show where the American service members were being taken. The
Americans were rescued.
ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:28pmThere is no respect for Americans anywhere in the world and we have all become targets for whatever agenda folks have.
Report Post »I.C.U.R.N.V.S.
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:47pmHow very true, it’s us and Israel against the world. How did it get like this?
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:26pmIn this case, I must agree with Donald Trump at CPAC- to paraphrase,
“Give me a good Admiral and a couple of good warships, and we can take care of this really easily.”
Or something like that…
Enough already!
Steve
http://stephencharles-poppin-off.blogspot.com/
parmajohn
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:26pmI was Thinking P-bo and his Ego were Gonna get called to the Principals Office To tighten up those Puppet Strings
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:23pmThey now sense Obama’s weakness and I fear they might be killed because of it.
Report Post »Willie Wonka
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:21pmMaybe we should hire the Mexican drug cartels to do the negotiating. They don’t seem to fear anyone.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:19pmSHOWTIME
Report Post »Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:52pm
No! Give it to Obama. Maybe he’ll leave the United States and take his thugs with him.
_______________________________
Nah … he will bow to the pirates & apologize to them .
chasbronson
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:18pm29 ships ,660 hostages,all the worlds a stage,or is that stooge?Its incredible the mindset is to continue to allow this type of thing to go on.Go get the ships ,and what’s left of the hostages.Kill the pirates and their cohorts and set the example that this won’t be tolerated.Why don’t these people arm themselves and their crews against these pirates?Am I missing something here?
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:23pmIt’s against international maritime law to have weapons on board. Kind of like our gun laws … only the criminals have guns… keeps things safe doesn’t it?
Report Post »CaptDick
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:18pmIf a sailing ship “arms itself” sufficient to repell boarders you have made your self into pirates. When I enter a port and clear customs and immigration if I fail to declare weapons on board and I am caught my boat will be taken and I will be imprisoned in almost any country. I have been baorded and search off St Martin once. They were just checking for ganja probably but had the found a automatical rifle(s) I would have been toast. By the way a sailboat against any reasonably fast motor boat with a bunch of skinny somalis armed with AKs and RPGs would not make for a pretty experience. Even if you survive the holes in the boat make for a long swim!
Report Post »111gecko
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:17pmI totally disagree….these pirates are only using their fundamental right to organize and protest the use of their waters….Currently, Mr. Trumpka is in negotiations with them for representation and Obama is in support of their protests…..I am so tired of you Anti-Americans on this site….
chickenlittle
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:11pmGeorge ain’t returning his calls lately.
Report Post »S_Malc13
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:05pmIf they’re American….they’re expendable.
Next story!
Report Post »jp11
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:22pmI totally disagree. If they are not union workers or welfare rats they are expendable.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:03pmObama is a whimppy panzi so there is really no use in sugesting that our country will do what is the right thing to do. Everybody knows and I am sure they knew about the risk of going into that area, so it begs the question, why did they go there? I mean, I Would love to see Iran because I’ve heard that parts are very pretty, but, will I go? Hell no I’m not stupid.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:52pmNo! Give it to Obama. Maybe he’ll leave the United States and take his thugs with him.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:51pmGet armed cause itis coming t neighbood near you.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:09pmReally? I live in the midwest… are there pirates on the Mississippi now? I’m with the people who say to go in and clean them out, but then we‘d be accused of imperialism again wouldn’t we?
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:26pmThe world respected the U.S. when it was seen as to tough to mess with. Now it is a Joke. Went from a tiger to a mouse in a couple of decades.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 10:46pmI agree .. .a weak America is bad for the world. You need someone who is willing to stand up to these thugs .. unfortunately they are busy now putting down the voting Americans .. aka TEA Party.
Report Post »TheRealElvis
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:50pm29 SHIPS and 660 hostages? What does it take for an army to move in and disable them? Pretty soon they will have a bigger Navy than most civilized countries.
Report Post »It would make for good practice for Seal type training for larger countries.
troyvar
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:50pmIt is so “big-stick” time…
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:49pmget armed cause it is coming to a neighborhood near you.
Report Post »roostercogburn
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:48pmWhen will enough be enough, these clown are a plague on the world, the four Americans are just a drop in the bucket, they are holding a large number of hostages, it’s time to let the navy have some fun, send a few ships there and blow them all out of the water, good target practice, they are just scum, time to take out the trash..
Report Post »etetetet
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:48pmOk, Hillary – it’s 3:00 a.m. in the mornng and you’re the US Secretary of State. What’s your plan?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:54pm“The government of Egypt is stable.”
Report Post »etetetet
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:11pmSHOWTIME – LOL – almost forgot about that – Thx Hillary for all your influence in that situation. What did she do again? I forgot.
Report Post »Now, what will she do regarding Smoresland and these pirates and our 4 Americans – it is in her job jar?
Showtime
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:36pm@ETETETET
Just before the S~ hit the fan in Egypt, she came on the TV and said that the government in Egypt is stable. Then our reporters got over there and SHOWED all those people, and Mubarak was supposed to step down but didn’t. After it got rowdy over there, he slipped out the back door, and the military took over managing the government until elections. “But the government in Egypt is stable.”
Yeah, right!
I can’t get her words out of my head.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:19pmEgypt and the Somali pirates sure will be a black eye if Hillery runs for Prez….that is a good thing!!
Report Post »Voice-O-Reason
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:47pmwell, now it’s personal!
Report Post »Paleo Archer
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:46pmThe World seems to be a dangerous place these days….Best just stay home and hunker down….
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 10:43pmThat seems to be the best tactic to me .. .don’t give them the “opportunity” to turn you into a hostage .. whether in pirate waters .. or the TSA at the airport.
Report Post »Ben__Franklin
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:45pmWith President Obama in the Whitehouse – these four are as good as DE@D……
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:53pmWith PUDATIVE president Obama in the White House…..
Report Post »Ben__Franklin
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:43pmWith President Obama in the Whitehouse – these four are as good as dead….
Report Post »Rob@AmPre
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:43pmI pray for their safe return, however, I am forced to ask how stupid one must be to travel in waters known to be infested with pirates?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:56pmDo you mean like someone living within 80 miles of the Mexican border when we know it is infested with scumbag Mexican drug cartels? It seems like the Obummer policy is “every man for himself”. But you don’t have the right to defend yourself or you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:58pmI agree totally. It goes beyond stupidity and arrogance to think because you’re rich, you‘re immune from the world’s realities. It‘s not exactly something new that’s been happening. In AZ a few years back they enacted “stupid people” laws… if you drove around a barrier to cross a flooded wash in your car, got stuck or flooded and had to be rescued then YOU PAID FOR IT. I would imagine that anybody that has the money to do nothing but sail the globe in their yacht with eight crew members for TEN YEARS has enough money to pay for their rescue? I do wish them a safe recovery, but it goes beyond stupid here. I would also think that there are more pressing concerns for our military and state department right now.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:40pmI agree, I can’t feel sorry for these dumb asses.
Report Post »http://bioterrorsurvival.com
jblaze
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 9:58pmChips1
Report Post »Speaking of Mexico, what’s with the cutting heads off thing? Is that a Mexican thing? I don’t every remember hearing about drug cartels chopping off heads 7-10 years ago! Isn’t that a radical Muslim thing?
CaptDick
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:10pmIt is so easy to type blather on the internet. The uninformed and ill-informed have equal voice. I am a sailor. I am not rich by American standards (I live on less than $2600/month). I have sailed the Texas coast to Mexico, the Virgin Islands, and the Leewards. There are many sailors out on the oceans like myself that have a passion for the liberty found on the sea that sadly can no longer be found on terra-firma (even in the USA). Most that cross an open ocean in a small sailing boat know (or should know) that they are all alone against the elements and whatever situation they may encounter. I would like to think that with more introspection the readers of the Blaze would appreciate those that would embrace this liberty at the risk of their life. I myself have only fully understood what liberty means after spending a few days well off-shore, knowing that there I am truly free.
Report Post »