The captain of the Maersk Alabama was freed Sunday after being held captive since Wednesday by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation told CNN.
The official said Capt. Richard Phillips is uninjured and in good condition, and that three of the four pirates were killed. The fourth pirate is in custody. Phillips was taken aboard the USS Bainbridge, a nearby naval warship.
Earlier Sunday afternoon Maersk Line Limited, owner of the Maersk Alabama, said the U.S. Navy informed the company that it had sighted Phillips in a lifeboat where pirates are holding him.
Phillips was spotted another time earlier in the day, the Navy said.
A man who answered the door at Phillips home in Underhill, Vermont, told CNN’s Stephanie Elam that the family has known the news for hours. He said details would have to come from Virginia, apparently referring to the home base of Maersk Line Limited, based in Norfolk, which owns the ship.
On Saturday, the FBI launched a criminal investigation into the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship by Somali pirates, two law enforcement officials told CNN. The probe will be led by the FBI’s New York field office, which is responsible for looking into cases involving U.S. citizens in the African region, the officials said.
The Maersk Alabama reached port in Mombasa, Kenya, on Saturday. Crew members aboard the freed cargo ship described how some of their colleagues attempted to “jump” their pirate captors.
A scuffle ensued and one of the sailors stabbed a pirate in the hand in the battle to retake the container ship, one of the sailors told CNN.
Apparently the Captain jumped overboard again but this time there were Navy SEALS in the water who then took the pirates out. Good job Navy!
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That has got to be one ballsy captain! Certainly not the kind of man to resign himself to fate and close his eyes while a trigger is about to be pulled.
Thank God for him and his family, that he’s finally safe.
Great way to ring in Easter Day!
What a relief! I’d hate to mess with the SEALS, they’re kick ass!
Happy Easter!
WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me!!! I kid you not, I’d just said a prayer just before I read about it on another blog as breaking news, so it’d already happened 20 minutes before my prayer, but it was a great answer nonetheless! Something in me suddenly wanted to yell outloud about the situation, and say no way are we going to be held captive on the seas by terrorists!! Hallelujah for navy seals!!!!!! GREAT JOB GUYS! What a GREAT Easter gift to his family and us all!
Thank you, SEALS. Thank you, submariners.
Now, let’s see if Obie has the guts to actually go in and clean out these pirate bases. Otherwise, we’ll be seeing a repeat of this story again and again.
America! F@*# yeah!
Also, this should finally settle the issue of who wins between ninjas and pirates.
excellent! Go Navy! Pirates should know if they attack American flagged vessels, we will destroy them. Too bad the remaining Somali has to come back here to be tried. He should be tried and hung at sea, and tossed to the fishes along with the other 3 fish food pirates that took on the US Navy.
Prayers answered, that made my day. SEALS 3. Pirates 0. There is absolutely no substitute for excellence!
I knew that there would be no success in negotiation on this matter. If the French realized that,
it was a foregone conclusion that the FBI would fare no better. Had they gotten the Captain to shore
there would have been no good outcome.
Thank You Navy!
Had there been a hostage taking instance in Wasilla, Alaska during Sarah Palin’s watch as mayor I am damned certain it would have been over in less than five hours not dragged on for five days. even if Wasilla because of it’s only 9,000 population made it neccesary for Saracuda to call for a SWAT team from Seattle if there isn’t one in Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Sap season is long over in Vermont as proved by the actions of Captain Phillips but certainly not at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Even Sweeter and ironically delish is the happy fact that DDG 96 bears the name of one of Great Satan’s original pirate killers from way back in the last millennium.
Yes! It’s been a long time since I cheered at a the television during a news story!!!! Good job Navy!
“The Defense Department twice asked Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Phillips, most recently late Friday evening, U.S. officials said. On Saturday morning, Obama signed off on the Pentagon’s request, as he had a day earlier, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations”
They had to ask him twice for permission to use force!!!!!!! In situations like this the decision on how to handle the problem should, and normally is, given to the commander on site, not to some idiot politician. What a P#$%%$.
Aaah….blame-America-first loons to the left speak out:
@Harvey: Time to get out those reading glasses
– CNN
Congratulations to the US NAVY and everyone involved, job very well done!
Excellent news:)
It’s shame that everyone can’t feel grateful that Capt Phillips is safe – rather than having another right versus left argument over this. @Wanderer: No one knows what Palin would have done – that seems rather churlish @Wordsmith – no doubt it’s easy to pick out idiot quotes the loons from the left – as it with the loons from the right. The pirates were asking for it.
I just hope that the international community and business can now make a concerted effort to clampdown for good on these pirates.
Gaffa, get a grip. Only four comments out of 15 had anything to do with “right vs left” on this thread…. and one of those was yours. Feeling a bit punchy today?
Shoot ’em in the head.
Shoot ’em in the head.
Shoot ’em in the head.
No negotiations.
No ransom.
No trials.
No Gitmo.
No problem.
Shoot ’em. In. The. Head.
Justice as it should be done for piracy on the high seas.
Go Navy!
@MataHarley
I don’t think I am taking a left vs right stance on this one – am I? I’m criticizing any loons on both sides for being churlish on this one. It only takes a few post to sour the occasion. I’m not going to even mention Obama on this one if I can.
Check out the below – for negativity.
Congrats to the US Navy.
@Aye
I agree wholeheartedly. Cross the line and you ask for it. Giving money to hostage takers only endanger most lives in the future. Pirates are scum and should be regulated to the 18th Century.
@GaffaUK:
You’re absolutely right! Thanks for calling me out on it!
Now get a load of those blame-America-firsters on the left…. 🙂
Congrats to the US Navy! That sounds like a good job done, and finally one good story related to those pirates, since it seems they make a lot of problems each day… I hope someone will take some serious actions to stop them soon.
@Missy:
Someone is posting under my name again, didn’t make the above remark, just got home.
GaffaUK
Just pick a side, you will feel better about yourself, bud.
Besides, if we wait for a consensus from the International community, nothing will get done. They have been kidnapping for quite a while and no one has lifted a finger.
100% class. 100%
Most uplifting thing I’ve read on the Internet in at least a month.
@Tom
Side – as in Pirates & Sailors?
Or Limbaugh or Moore? In terms of left and right My views are my own – I don’t have to pick a ‘side’ and have to feel that I have to defend the indefensible that those who are purely partisan always seem to get themselves painted in a corner.
As for international community – I’m not referring to the UN. I’m refering to any nations who want to band together to see of this scourge.
I’ve told my democrat friends that when I thought Obama was right, I would say so and show respect. Obama gave the standing order to act if the Captain’s life was endanger, the Seal’s carried out that order. Much respect Mr. President.
GOP leaders were hoping (and convinced) Obama would fail
by Joe Sudbay (DC) on 4/13/2009 08:43:00 AM
The Republicans desperately want Obama to fail — even if that means the nation suffers. What’s most disturbing is just how vocal so many GOP blowhards, which includes everyone at FOX, are about it — even in the midst of a crisis. The latest example was the pirate hostage situation. But once again, the President stayed cool, calm and collected. He acted like a president should. The results speak for themselves, just as the GOP’s bizarre obsession with wanting Obama and the U.S. to fail, says so much about them.
Watch a compilation video of those who hate America:
http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001151/
@liberaldude:
Please tell me you’re a 15 year old kid who is just starting to pay attention.
Republican and Democrats alike have acknowledged that the Rush Limbaugh “wanting Obama to fail” story is nothing more than rhetorical political spin created by White House marketing experts to vilify the perceived voice of the GOP, who isn’t even a politician. Both sides spend a great deal of time and energy finding ways to make the other side look bad, both sides reaching pretty far to do so. In other words, it’s just blah blah blah politics, and nothing substantially worth paying attention to.
You can see on this blog that there are many Conservatives who give Obama his due credit on this particular matter, and a few others who refuse to do so. It’s unfair to make a blanket statement on the GOP with this issue.
Don’t get carried away liberaldud. If Obama was that cool, the Seals would have been allowed to take the pirates out the first time the Captain jumped.
No one wants Obama to fail at the cost of the economy, but I want his policies to fail if they WILL cost the economy.
As I said in my previous post…if he’s right, I’ll support him. When I think he’s wrong, I won’t. That’s more than you and your buddies did for Dubya the last 8 years.
Libturd is a troll. He or she is here to spew “liberal tolerance” at us
along with Koslim talking points.
Reading his points is not only a waste of time, it’s like being
bukakked with stupid.
Yes larry, you are so classy when you hypocritically defend obama after
bashing W for 8 years. (roll eyes)
Oh, and BTW libturd, try to stay on topic and try not to
educate us with you “liberal tolerance”.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy
I just hope Obama doesn’t make the same mistake that Clinton did. I don’t know much about military strategy, but I know that was not handled well.
“The latest example was the pirate hostage situation. But once again, the President stayed cool, calm and collected. He acted like a president should. The results speak for themselves, just as the GOP’s bizarre obsession with wanting Obama and the U.S. to fail, says so much about them”
Cool, calm, collected??? My take is he was PARALYZED into DUMBNESS.
Obama’s response to matters he does not know how to handle is to do nothing and hope:
1)somebody else solves it or messes it up so he can place blame or
2)act cool by doing nothing while secretly clutching his gonads and watching his own hair turn grey
Only a moron will say that a person who does nothing in a crisis looks cool. When you do nothing in a crisis, quite frankly, you look DUMB.
And that is how Obama looked to me: Dumb and Paralyzed. I pity america for having such an incompetent and useless president.
And we don’t WANT Obama to fail—he is screwing up everything nicely on his own, without the help of the GOP. He is ALREADY a failure, according to most people outside america.
hey sigmundringeck – where are you from?
@GaffaUK:
In case he’s not around right now to answer, he’s our guest from China, I always look forward to his comments. Bright, witty and well schooled, especially in finance.
It’s kind of neat to have voices from the outside share their perspective on our politics, history, etc.
@Missy
Absolutely. Though kinda of throwing stones at glasshouses when criticising Obama – when in his own country he has no democracy with the communist dictatorship imposed there. I look forward to his criticisms of that regime;)
@GaffaUK:
Don’t know what he can say about his homeland, maybe that can of worms need not be opened.
This is a blog abt america.
So I write about america.
Helpful suggestions abt the mainland we write in other blogs, some not in english.
Gaffa of Arabia is welcome to make criticisms of chinese culture, chinese people, and the chinese mainland anytime he wants to.
But please learn chinese first, just like I have learnt your english.
Then you can post happily your honorable criticisms about the despicable yellow chicom peril.
Ni Hao!!! Ni Hao!!!!
Ah Sigmungringeck
Sure China is connected to US and democracy issues – so perfectly relevant. I guess you aren’t allowed to criticized the leaders of the Commie regime incase those who monitor communication get wind of it. Well hopefully one day your country will have freedom from the ugly and hypocritical Communist system. Still at least you can take shots at Obama for the meantime.
As for chinese – guess what you don’t have to learn the language to have an opinion. I’m sure most on here have opinions on China but don’t speak Chinese, same with Iraq etc. Does that mean the Chinese can’t express opinion on the English speaking countries on Chinese forums unless they speak English?
btw where did your nick come from?
Gaffa of Arabia
The reason I told u to learn chinese is so that u can join chinese language forums to criticise us chicoms as much as u want. As far as I know, there aren’t many english language forums talking about china mainland politics.
Understand??
You are welcome to make criticisms of china in english, but where will u do it????
Here in floppingaces??? This forum is about america, Oh Gaffa of Arabia! Did you miss that point?
Learn chinese and you’ll see a rich discussion of chinese criticising every damn thing under the sun, from their leaders, to their officials, to their companies, their sportsmen, everything. Chinese can complain just as much as westerners, and if you think the authorities can censor it and or even crackdown, you are pretty ignorant.
But I guess if learning a foreign language is beyond you, then you’ll just have to bendover and take it when chinese criticise your idealogy, your poor economics, or your knowledge of history, bendover and take it like your idol Lawrence did while he was in Arabia.
@sigmundringeck:
Thanks, sigmundringeck, I doubt I could learn Chinese so will have to be content with your visits here. Years ago I tutored several Ukrainian students, ranging in ages from 7 to 10, my task was to teach them English, thought I was failing but, right after Easter break they came back to school speaking English. It all finally clicked, then they wanted to teach me their language, needless to say, they failed but they got quite a few laughs out of it.
There were two families smuggled out of the Ukraine and the kids were placed in our school. At the time, our school system only had Spanish bi-lingual teachers, so I was asked to do whatever I could. They were outstanding kids and the little geniouses sure didn’t need any tutoring in one subject, even before they were speaking English they were excelling in math.
@GaffaUK:
Got a puppy you can go chase around? The stalking is getting old, why should the rest of us have to sift through your little game?
@Missy
I’ve been on FA for several months and of the many posts I have added – Sig and I have had a few posts back and forth including the recent half dozen today which is a tiny minority – I would hardly call it stalking. In fact I see there quite a lot of vigourous back and forth from others including moderators which also includes tangents, sarcasm, humour and insults. Overall I reckon I’m fairly polite and if you somehow find healthy debate like a little game then simply don’t read my posts if it so offends you. ta
@GaffaUK:
Yes, you can be “fairly polite” and that’s when I enjoy your posts. Unfortunately, today in the Tea protest, and Somali Pirate threads you have ventured OT to bash China to harrass, not debate Sigmund. He’s answered your question, he’s a citizen of China he doesn’t control it and knowing as much as he does about finance as it relates to our two countries, his opinion of Obama is valid and he has a right to say so.
Actually, I think Gaffa is sort of upset with me after I pointed out that his idol, Lawrence of Arabia was not a counter-terrorism expert as he claimed, but actually an “insurgent” himself.
Gaffa was arrogantly scolding me and claiming that the british were experts in counter-insurgency, like Lawrence of Arabia. So I pointed out that Lawrence was an insurgent himself, not a counter-terrorism expert, as Gaffa described him.
Gaffa got upset after that.
In any case, we need dumbasses like Gaffa as a foil for our discussions on Obama’s policies, liberalism and socialism in general. So Gaffa, despite his dumbness, is very welcome in this forum, because he serves the function of the “useful idiot” as Lenin(?) described it.
—————————————————–
On language, I think my english has become better than my chinese. When you start to think in the other language, you know something has happened already. In china, there is a great hunger to learn foreign languages, esp english. Being able to spout english is almost regarded as a status symbol there.
To really learn about another culture, you have to learn their language, IMHO. My thinking has been so enriched by learning about the history of america, its founding fathers, the constitution and so on. It really is a special idea, this idea of america, and you americans are very blessed and you should never forget what you have.
That is why it sickens me to see marxist scum like Obama destroying the freedom and liberties that america is about.
Of course sometimes america does not live up to its ideals, but at least those ideals are there. Not so with many other societies.
Can china ever become like this? I don’t think so, not in the near future, but generally chinese have a lot of economic freedom. You do your business, do your job, stay out of politics(don’t do more than complain about govt on the internet) and nobody bothers you. Tax is low, artificial restrictions and barriers to business are not many, and everyone is an enterpreneur if he can do it. There is no welfare, no govt to help you if you go down, only your friends or family.
My grandfather was a poor peasant farmer from the central regions who did well in business and made good. From literally nothing to assets of more than US$50M. And he went thru WW2, almost got killed by the japanese, and also survived thru the vietnam conflict. So many ups and downs, and no big govt to bail us out or control us.
My family went through the mass riots in SEAsia in the 60s and 70s, where hundreds of thousands of chinese were killed by muslims, the rivers choked up with butchered chinese body parts for days.
I think we understand politics and I think we understand what is wrong with Mr Obama.
@Comrade Sig
So where I have become upset about you pointing this out originally Sig? At the time of that specific thread I immediate said I got it wrong. But not only do you like a little boring child mention it as much as you can – you add in Lawrence sexuality – as if you are getting aroused about him being gay – which isn’t even relevant to whether he was an insurgent or not. Get over yourself.lol
However you have now made a fool of yourself refering to Robin Hood as if it was a historical fact and a real person. You also compounded that with your ignorance that the US didn’t need to do a D-day landing to contribute massively to the defeat of Japan and help liberate China.
Now if you were man enough – you would see your factual errors like I did and admit them. We can then call it quits and get back to some more interesting debate.
Unfortunatley I worry that you are to childish to do so. So I will have to treat you as you treat me, get down to your level and mention this everytime I get. Which is going to bore the pants off everyone else. Ho hum.
So it’s your call….
Oooohhh, is the widdle Gaffa getting upset???
On yer bike matey……the hot, vibrating motorbike of Mr Lawrence of Arabia!!!!
Comrade Sig
lol – that’s what happened when I try to talk you like an adult.
So what do you see the ‘historic’ figure of Robin Hood then? Is it because he’s like a good commie and steals from the rich or do you just like watching Men in Tights? I think you better put down the fairytale book and start reading real history.