Somali Pirates Arrested Trying to Board Spanish Navy ship

Piracy isn't funny, but...

Talk about epic fail

These pirates bit off more than they could chew this time around.

MOGADISHU Jan 12 (Reuters) - Somali pirates tried to board a Spanish navy ship off the Horn of Africa nation but it repulsed the attack and arrested six pirates, the European Union Naval Force for Somalia said on Thursday.

The EU Navfor said that the Patino, EU Navfor's flagship, had just finished escorting a U.N. World Food Programme ship to Somalia when it was approached by a skiff carrying the pirates.

"The suspected pirates opened fire with light calibre weapons and tried to board the Patino. The ship's force-protection team returned fire in self-defence and the ship's helicopter was launched," a statement said.

"The skiff broke off the attack and the men surrendered to the helicopter after throwing their weapons, ladder and fuel barrels overboard."

af.reuters.com...

The moral of the story is...

Don't rob armed navy ships.

Morans...

Second line, good as the first. Morans...

That, my friends, is hilarious!

Epic fail for sure.
/facepalm.

They sure weren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

Actions like this clearly demonstrate that life in Somalia is in such a state of Anarchy that even the most basic levels of education are unavailable. It is one thing to attack a tanker, a small yacht or cargo vessel -- ships that are clearly civilian in nature -- but to attack a military vessel can only be described as the height of ignorance.

In my opinion, these Somalian pirates have plied their "craft" for too long. It is time that tolerance of this sort of behaviour be stopped.

Currently, dozens of warships from a group of nations patrol the oceans in the vicinity of pirate activity. This is actually an untenable activity. It's expensive and the costs have not produced the desired results: it has not stopped the piracy.

In my mind, the only way this piracy can be stopped is to bring Somalia back into the community of nations. At present, Somalia is, for all intents and purposes, a rogue state. In a rogue state, except for the pirates and criminals who victimize the population, the innocent "citizenry" are suffering. To end this, I would call upon the surrounding African nations to unite in effort to restore order and to provide the mechanism for a new, democratic regime to arise.

To restore order to Somalia is certainly a massive undertaking that is why I would expect that the United Nations should render any and all assistance to this effort. Otherwise, I see no other alternative but continue the very expensive effort to patrol the waters of pirate activity. An activity that has brought little positive result except for the apprehension of a veritable handful of pirates.

reply to post by benevolent tyrant


One of my guesses is that perhaps they knew this was a military ship and also knew that they would end up getting fed some solid meals if captured. It's a risk on their behalf but it's a possibility in my opinion. As you said things are really hard over there and desperate people do drastic things.

reply to post by Corruption Exposed


The idea that you propose might be a very valid one. However, the idea that the "pirates" actually knew that they were attacking a military vessel in the anticipation that they would be apprehended in order to receive shelter and regular meals only serves to underscore the desperate situation in Somalia.

reply to post by benevolent tyrant


I'm not sure what you mean.

Underscore it in which way?

Just a theory BTW.

Chances are they were trying to rob the ship.

Maybe the whole world is getting tired of these Somali thugs kidnapping the citizens and cargo of the worlds maritime trade fleets and hopefully something will eventually be done about the lawlessness of the sea's in that area.

I think the statement about the African nations uniting in an effort to restore order on land is a valid point but maybe with a combined blockade of the Somalian coast by the world's navies only letting searched fishing and aid vessels pass by. Stop them at the source and hinder escape routes from land actions to restore peace and aid to the citizens of Somali..

Originally posted by dcmb1409


I think the statement about the African nations uniting in an effort to restore order on land is a valid point but maybe with a combined blockade of the Somalian coast by the world's navies only letting searched fishing and aid vessels pass by. Stop them at the source and hinder escape routes from land actions to restore peace and aid to the citizens of Somali.

map SOURCE

Somalia has a very long coastline. That would make any blockade of the coast rather untenable. With more than 3,000 kilometers of coast, it would be nearly impossible to stop the sort of piracy that originates from Somalia. Blocking ports is one thing, but considering that much of the pirate activity is performed using small craft and zodiac-type boats, a blockade not be practical at all.

Let us not forget they are chewing those roots which give you a mighty high and an a invincible feeling to boot.
When i was a teen and had a few brews I did some pretty brash stuff but I never attacked a police car. :-)
Regards, Iwinder

reply to post by Iwinder


I wasn't aware that they may be under the influence of drugs. That would definitely be a factor in their behavior. Here is a site with a picture of the boat.

www.eunavfor.eu...

If you click on the picture in the article it enlarges to a decent quality pic.

Originally posted by Corruption Exposed
reply to post by Iwinder

 

I wasn't aware that they may be under the influence of drugs. That would definitely be a factor in their behavior. Here is a site with a picture of the boat.

www.eunavfor.eu...

If you click on the picture in the article it enlarges to a decent quality pic.

edit on 12-1-2012 by Corruption Exposed because: (no reason given)

Here you go....
Link
www.bar-kulan.com...


Thanks for the link and I hope this helps, this khat stuff is bad google it and you will see what I mean.
Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by benevolent tyrant

In my mind, the only way this piracy can be stopped is to bring Somalia back into the community of nations. .

Ignorant. This isn't Somalia, these are individuals. They are idiots, plenty of them everywhere. We don't have to go policing Somalia now because of these 'pirates'. Quit espousing this nonsense.

reply to post by againuntodust



There is no valid governance in the area that is known as Somalia.

And, again, these acts of piracy are being committed by "individuals". That is only common sense.

However, it is no secret that the individuals who are perpetrating these acts of piracy are primarily based in and out of Somalia. Many of the crewmen from ships seized by these "individuals" (aka as "pirates) are held in various locations within the area we know as Somalia.

At present, the Indian ocean is being "policed" so to speak by a coalition of nations -- US and Britain among them-- to help to prevent piracy.