viking01 on April 12, 2009 at 1:03 AM

How do you damage the ship without the pirates knowing about it? That is the trick.

It’s just an idea. Nothing more. Something to make those on board visible while reducing the drift of the lifeboat towards the pirates’ base.

Unfortunately, the lifeboat is drifting ever closer to Gara’ad the pirates’ haven so it soon will be past time for any water based rescue strategies to remain realistic. Once Phillips is on the pirates’ home base his chances won’t be very good at all. Apparently, the negotiations with the pirates have now broken down as they see Obama’s procrastination or obstruction to a chain of command which would be less to their advantage with an adult in the White House.

viking01 on April 11, 2009 at 11:20 PM

Getting them to abandon the craft is the ideal situation but how do you do that without attracting suspicion? Damaging the hull is great but not realistic.

Romeo13 on April 11, 2009 at 9:48 AM

kanda on April 11, 2009 at 5:06 AM

The aircraft on board will be Marine Corps aircraft as we’re talking about a gator freighter. I would suspect that the Boxer is part of an MEU so there are at least 2 other ships with her.

I’m suggesting (and hopefully obvious to most serious people here) something far more covert and less detectable such as timed (applied at night activated at day) thermal to weaken or buckle a seam thus depriving the hijacked craft of maneuverability, buoyancy and reducing the habitable space to the top of the craft. Sure, a bullet into the hull would work as too yet provoke a quick end to Phillips. Of course, we could raise a sub under it and provoke a panic reaction by the thugs who are bound to be of limited brightness and established brazenness.

Sometimes it is better to act than navel-gazing, twiddling of thumbs and showing more self-doubt now working to the pirates’ advantage and Capt. Phillips disadvantage. Captain Phillips has shown some resolve. It’s time we did.

That’s , in part, why I suggested in my 4:44 post that if we can make that lifeboat mysteriously spring a leak it could work to our advantage.

viking01 on April 11, 2009 at 2:37 PM

I like that plan. A 18V Makita drill with a 3″ hole saw from underneath would just about do the trick.

That makes it even tougher.

csdeven on April 11, 2009 at 12:40 AM

That’s , in part, why I suggested in my 4:44 post that if we can make that lifeboat mysteriously spring a leak it could work to our advantage. If everyone has to be on deck it could give us the upper hand. A big “could” but better than Zero’s usual “let’s do nothing” policy.

Its killing them how lame obama is.

hes not cutting it!

True or not, the longer this drags out, the more impotent Obama appears to the world. He has to know that, doesn’t he?

a capella on April 11, 2009 at 9:54 AM

It’s true but seemingly that’s what the Dems actually want. Sen. Schumer actually said that the days of a “strong foreign policy are over with” (among other things like “traditional values) and he meant it as a good thing in his warped sense of what America should be.

Video 2:55 – 4:00 (I couldn’t stand to watch any more)

Weakness or coincidence?

True or not, the longer this drags out, the more impotent Obama appears to the world. He has to know that, doesn’t he?

a capella on April 11, 2009 at 9:54 AM

Carter redux:

The way things are going… the US will get the pirates a new boat, and the hostage situation will end in oh 400 days or so.

Dasher on April 10, 2009 at 11:58 PM

The thing is the Iranian student takeover of the US embassy took place late in Carter’s presidency. It kind of capped off his entire term as a summary event of his administration.

With Obama it happened at the beginning. His measure has already been taken.

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of Americans to be outraged at their countryman being taken hostage and this is the sort of incident to wake people up.

The French have to be nearby. Maybe we can surrender to them.

a capella on April 11, 2009 at 9:54 AM

I know, I wake up every morning… make my coffee, jump online HOPEING this is over…

If you read Bin Laden’s writings, you’ll find that he believed that the West was not only decadent, but was no longer capable of doing what was needed to protect itself…

That even though America had overwhelming strength, its lack of will to use that strength made it impotent…

kanda on April 11, 2009 at 5:06 AM

Thats a Max load…. ie… it CAN carry that many Marines, but usualy doesnt…

As she was tasked to be Command Ship of the Pirate Ops (read it on Wiki so don’t know the validity) seems like she’d have less Marines…. perhaps embarked SEALs… and more Combat Helos with less Transport…

But, that would make sense…

USS Boxer LHD-4
Displacement 40,650 tons (fl.)
Length 844′
Beam 105′
Speed 20 kts.+
Complement 104 Officer, 1004 Enlisted
Marine Force 1894 (plus 184 surge)
Armament
two RAM launchers
two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers
three 20mm Phalanx (CIWS) mounts
four .50cal. machine guns
Aircraft
twelve CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters
four CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters
six AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft
three UH-1N Huey helicopters
four AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters
planned capability to embark MV-22 Osprey VTOL tilt-rotors
Power Plant
two 600 psi boilers
two geared steam turbines
two shafts
70,000 total shaft horsepower

U.S. Constitution

Article 1 – The Legislative Branch

Section 8 – Powers of Congress

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;

The minor piracies have been happening for a long time

The major publicity has been Obama centered

Could this be Obama’s useful little war? It worked for Bill Clinton

The Obama media machine runs on diversionary news points

There has been too much economy talk lately. People were starting to believe there is a Depression. Time to change the news feeds