4 American hostages killed by pirates

[wildfirepower]

Four Americans captured by Somali pirates while sailing in the Indian Ocean have been shot and killed, NBC News reported Tuesday.

The two couples, Phyllis Macay, 59, and Robert Riggle, 67, of Seattle, and the yacht's owners Jean and Scott Adam of California were on an around-the-world sailing trip when they were captured by pirates Friday.

Military officials told NBC News that about 1 a.m. ET shots were heard aboard the yacht. Negotigations had been under way with the pirates at the time.

The officials said U.S. military personnel boarded the yacht and discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors.

The officials added that two pirates were killed and 13 others captured after a brief gun battle.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41715530/ns/world_news-africa/

 

[amy31416]

Weird. Hostages are worthless dead, and from what I've read thus far (easily could have missed something), the pirates had been mostly civil.

Why are people so goddamned stupid that they follow laws (unarmed ships), when it's crystal clear that it's not in their best interests? Not trying to "blame the victim," but that really irks me about people.

 

[Pericles]

Weird. Hostages are worthless dead, and from what I've read thus far (easily could have missed something), the pirates had been mostly civil.

Why are people so goddamned stupid that they follow laws (unarmed ships), when it's crystal clear that it's not in their best interests? Not trying to "blame the victim," but that really irks me about people.

And if you don't get anything for the hostage, they become a liability. I can't recall coming across many rational criminals. The unpredictability combined with a willingness to use violence is why I believe in being heavily armed.

 

[ravedown]

hmm...im not sure we're getting the whole story on this. i find this part suspicious.

The sequence of events was not immediately clear, but the US military's Central Command said the dead hostages were only discovered after US forces responded to gunfire and boarded the pirated yacht.

"As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been
shot by their captors," the Central Command said in a statement.

"Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/201122215416125245.html

 

[gls]

I feel bad for their friends and families but if you're going to sail your yacht around the world it's probably best to avoid the Somali coast. Seems like common sense.

 

[amy31416]

And if you don't get anything for the hostage, they become a liability. I can't recall coming across many rational criminals. The unpredictability combined with a willingness to use violence is why I believe in being heavily armed.

There are plenty of "rational" criminals--just look at our government.

Seriously though, my question was in response to the feeling that it's not really the whole story.

 

[nobody's_hero]

I feel bad for their friends and families but if you're going to sail your yacht around the world it's probably best to avoid the Somali coast. Seems like common sense.

Yep.

I would not be against allowing merchant/recreational vessels in route to the U.S. to be armed but I doubt we could get other nations to pass similar laws (I doubt the U.N. would allow it, of course).

 

[Doug8796]

I just think it was dumb to try to play hero and try to rescue the hostages. It ultimately lead to their demise..

 

[Vessol]

Why would they kill hostages? Especially Americans, especially older Americans who can afford a freaking yacht, that's top dollar there.

Either they were accidentally killed in the crossfire, or the hostage takers panicked when being attacked and killed them.

Sad though.

 

[Doug8796]

That is exactly what happened ^ (I think )

 

[torchbearer]

I just think it was dumb to try to play hero and try to rescue the hostages. It ultimately lead to their demise..

they were dead the moment they set off to sea defenseless.
the ocean has become a known warzone in some areas, yet some people don't see anything wrong with bringing a shit ton of black gold through a war zone, completely unarmed.
the dumb label goes to the jerk offs that got killed. the people that tried to rescue them were putting themselves in danger because of the stupid actions of the crew.

 

[RideTheDirt]

should have been armed heavily

 

[nandnor]

nvm

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Heard it through the grapevine that there is zero tolerance from the US military on pirates. Basically the pirates are now behaving like a "three strikes" felon. If they get caught (or surrounded), they have nothing to lose. They know they will most likely end up dead, or at a minimum, in jail for the rest of their lives. It only becomes a big issue when it makes the media...

 

[amy31416]

Sad. All 12 posts have sympathized or found excuses for the actions of pirates, the libertarian love of anarchist Somalia. Well guess what it aint no party there, bandits running the streets bullying protection money and fightin each other down there, lack of government is a real destabilizer both economically and socially.

Okay...my bad. It was a brilliant idea to sail into waters where it's known to be incredibly dangerous, completely unarmed and unaccompanied. Yes...the beautiful anarchist Somalia, love it so very, very much. Wonder how much this already cost us/will cost us to pay for their undeniable stupidity? Maybe we can even start another war!

I also love wading in rivers infested with crocodiles with meat strapped to my ankles--of course, if I get bitten, that's entirely the fault of the crocodile.

 

[silentshout]

Okay...my bad. It was a brilliant idea to sail into waters where it's known to be incredibly dangerous, completely unarmed and unaccompanied. Yes...the beautiful anarchist Somalia, love it so very, very much. Wonder how much this already cost us/will cost us to pay for their undeniable stupidity? Maybe we can even start another war!

I also love wading in rivers infested with crocodiles with meat strapped to my ankles--of course, if I get bitten, that's entirely the fault of the crocodile.

This. I just read that people are calling for military intervention because of their actions. Hello, why would you think of sailing near there (or in other areas known to have pirates etc) completely unprotected? It is simply common sense.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

This. I just read that people are calling for military intervention because of their actions. Hello, why would you think of sailing near there (or in other areas known to have pirates etc) completely unprotected? It is simply common sense.

The military (Navy) is already there. Dealing with pirates is their original mandate.

 

[libertarian4321]

should have been armed heavily

These folks were missionaries.

They were defended by Jesus, the Bible, and their imaginary friend (God).

Unfortunately they didn't get the email that those waters are out of the Christian God's jurisdiction- Allah rules there.

Who woulda thunk old, rich unarmed Americans on a yacht trying to spread Christian BS in a lawless violent region that prefers Muslim BS would have been in any danger?

I'm shocked that this could happen.

In further shocking news, the sun will rise tomorrow.

 

[Pericles]

There are plenty of "rational" criminals--just look at our government.

Seriously though, my question was in response to the feeling that it's not really the whole story.

Also going around is some of the pirates got into an argument among themselves. Since a number of them were captured, they can tell their own story. Not that I would be in a mood to take prisoners .......

 

[Batman]

Aren't there enough heathens in the Western world? Why can't they convert folks in SF and NY? God know, they need it more than those pirates.