Moscow joins war on piracy: Mogadishu, Somalia Update Oct 06-08

Update: Oct 06-08Barry Artiste Op/Ed

The Pirates of Somalia, stating to the Superpowers that they will fight to the last man to hold off attacks from the Ukrainian ship they boarded, may not understand that if Superpowers tire of the game, may just sink the whole Ship to send a message to the pirates. That is what I would do. besides it would make a nice reef.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2008/10/06/6990181-sun.html

Pirates hold all the cards off Somalia

Keeping superpowers at bay

By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NAIROBI — With a Russian frigate closing in and a half-dozen U.S. warships within shouting distance, the pirates holding a tanker off Somalia might seemed doomed to wave the white flag.

But that’s not how it works in Somalia, where anybody with a gun controls the streets and where every public institution has crumbled.

The 11-day standoff aboard the Ukrainian MV Faina raises the question: How can a bunch of criminals from one of the most wretched countries on Earth face off with some of the world’s richest and well-armed superpowers?

“They have enough guns to fight for another 20 years,” Ted Dagne, a Somalia analyst in Washington, said. “And there is no way to win a battle when the other side is in a suicidal mindset.”

“If we are attacked, we will defend ourselves until every last one of us dies,” Sugule Ali, a pirate aboard the Faina, said over satellite phone from the ship, which is carrying 33 tanks, military weapons and 21 Ukrainian, Latvian and Russian hostages. One Russian has died of illness.

The pirates are demanding $20 million ransom.

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Russia will be joining the US fleet off Somalia , hopefully to fire a shot across the Bow of Somalian Piracy. Russia, unlike the US, Russia is not under the watchful Left Wing Eyes or World Opinion or UN restraints to treat the Somalia Pirates with Kid Gloves, as the US Warships continue to circle the Ukrainian Frigate in a standoff as Somalia Pirates are demanding 20 million dollars ransom.

To date there is nary a shot fired by the US Navy, but in my Opinion, as I know something about Russian Navy Members, this will certainly be different tune once the Russian Navy arrives who may say to Hell with paying any Ransom to the Somalia Pirates and Bomb the Ukrainian Frigate into Davy Jones Locker to send a point home to these Pirates once and for all that actually it is bot the USA, but Russia who never negotiate. Gotta love the Russkies, cause when push comes to shove, well……..let’s face it,  sometimes there isn’t an opportunity for you even to push.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2008/10/04/6973921-sun.html

Moscow joins war on piracy

Sat, October 4, 2008

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOGADISHU — Six U.S. warships circled a hijacked ship off Somalia and a Russian frigate headed toward the standoff yesterday.

At the same time, Russia called for naval forces gathering in the area to co-ordinate their efforts against piracy.

The Somali government has given foreign powers the freedom to use force against the pirates holding the Faina and its 20 crew members, including two Russians.

The Ukrainian ship is anchored near the Somali town of Hobyo. ‘ALL NECESSARY MEANS’ Russia, whose warship is not expected for several days, has used commando tactics to end several hostage situations on its own soil, but hundreds of those hostages have died.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said yesterday Russia and other nations will act on the basis of a UN resolution that authorized countries to enter Somalia’s territorial waters and use “all necessary means” to stop piracy

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