Somali Pirate Situation (an opinion)

USS Bainbridge DDG 96

Somali Pirate Boat

The situation in the waters off the Somali coast is intolerable primarily because of an international aversion to spilling Somali blood. I don't understand this reluctance to kill pirates. The pirates found success in taking a few ships and now it's becoming a cottage industry in Somalia. 

Historically, the United States has defended its ships against piracy. One of the first examples of this took place during the First Barbary War or Barbary Coast War (1801-1805). North African states, collectively known as the Barbary States (Sultanate of Morocco and the Regencies of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli) demanded tribute from the United States. When the tribute was not paid, they seized American ships on the high seas. 

In October 1803, the Tripoli fleet captured the USS Philadelphia when it ran aground while patroling the area. Captain William Bainbridge and the officers and crew of the Philadelphia were taken ashore as hostages.

On the night of February 16, 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a small contingent of sailors and marines to recapture the Philadelphia. The marines set fire to the Philadelphia, denying her use to the pirates.

On July 14, 1804, Commodore Preble attacked Tripoli with the American fleet by sea and US Marine First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a mixed force of eight marines and 500 Greek and Arab mercenaries across the desert from the city from Alexandria, Egypt, to attack and capture the Tripolitan city of Derna. (This action was memorialized in a line from the Marines' Hymn - "to the shores of Tripoli".)

Account of the Rescue - Somali Pirates

USS Boxer, LHD 4

I received this from a senior enlisted man on the USS Boxer

I've been taking notes on facts and (well noted) speculation and rumors. What I do know is that on 11 April 2009 at 1600 two C-17 cargo planes flew over Boxer and out of the back four parachutes emerged.  Then came the boats! Four very fast 1300 hp SWCC boats with radar and guns! After those were safely extracted the personnel and SEALs jumped. About 95 people in all arrived in the water near Boxer, Swam to the ship and entered the well-deck.

I spoke with some of the SEALs in the hangar bay where they are staging their gear for the time being. He was rearranging his gear and talking to a younger looking Ops guy with shoulder-length hair and a feeble semblance of a beard. I struck up a conversation with them and they're really friendly.  The older SEAL finished with his bag and reached for a rifle case casually unzipped it and pulled out a Mark 416 a highly specialized carbine and as he explained "it's basically an M-4, but made by H&K so it's better!" "Visible and non-visible lasers, collapsible stock. It's nice." "And is that an advanced armament suppressor?"  I asked. "Yeah that just makes it sound better, and the ladies love it!"

I asked him if it's the coolest job in the Navy. "Well, I haven't ever flown an F-18 off a carrier, but yeah, pretty much!" "You guys don't wear any insignia." "We don't wear it, but we're still in the Navy." "I know that but what's with that?" "Well I'm a Chief, and he is a second-class" "Oh, OK"

"So, Chief, did you come in as a SEAL?" "Yep, you don't have to be formal, that's why we don't wear it. It gets in the way and besides, we know who's in charge."

"Well I have to get back to watch." "OK, any time you see us over here and just want to chat and shoot the shit, feel free!" "Cool, thanks" "Any time"

I also found out from the CPO that the guys flew in from VB on C-17s and that it took 18 hours! They parachuted into the ocean! That's' cool as hell!

At 2100 on Saturday we were headed for the area where the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) was already in position several hundred miles east off of Somalia's coast. And on Sunday there were so many parts of our engine that were broken from traveling at flank speed (full Bendix) that we stopped the shaft, engaged the jacking gear, pinned the gear and tagged out the motherfucker! I spent three watches fabricating parts, helping replace sight-flow indicators on journal bearings and running around the ship.

On Easter Sunday night, at around 1530 I was making my hourly rounds through the hangar bay and heard four distant rifle reports and knew exactly what happened. There was an orange capsule being towed by Bainbridge. Two SEAL snipers laying prone on the fantail with Barrett .50 cal rifles pointed at the small craft.

CAPT. Richard Phillips of Vermont was swimming toward the RHIB sitting close to the lifeboat. When the Navy said that we want to see proof of life the good captain jumped into the water and started to draw fire from the pirates. The snipers fired.

I had to return to my watch station and at close of business I assumed my next watch: CNN's live broadcast of speculation and grievous bullshit! I have to decipher all of this crap for you.

At 2300 Africa time, the Maersk Alabama safely docked in Mombasa, Kenya and the crew was debriefed by the FBI for some reason. Captain Phillips was logged onboard Boxer at 1836 and one skinny, short, pitiful-looking (and never in a million years is he sixteen) pirate, who was escorted, handcuffed despite the wounds, wearing blacked out ski goggles, through the hangar bay by like 20 marines and MA's. He has asked for amnesty. He'll probably get a UN trial for international piracy.

"We always laugh and joke about pirates onboard and don't realize that this is one of the world's most serious crimes!"

Me, four hours ago.

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Monday, APR 13, 2009.

At 0930 USS Boxer sits of the coast of Somalia and the Bainbridge is at her stern on the port side in tow, the life boat containing three lifeless pirates dispatched into oblivion by the best sharpshooters the world around. The corpses are transferred under the heaviest morgue security I've seen since President Ford's funeral to the USS Boxer's chilled holding facility.

At 1000 the lifeboat from Alabama is hoisted onto Boxer's flight deck by the local crane. I was there when the boat arrived onboard. Standing next to some chopper refueling buddies and joking about the incident. "Hey, what's orange, full of blood and hanging from a crane?" "What?" "That boat that some pirates got smoked in."

Probably the most interesting Easter I've ever spent!

Looking closely at the boat, I see four large bullet holes on the STB side where "justice" entered the pirate's mind's, some brain matter sloshed around in the boat. I was told before I left San Diego that I would hate the Boxer, I tell you now, I wouldn't want to be on any other ship. Broken parts and all - I like it.

1025 "Maersk Alabama, Departing." is heard over the 1MC. The name of the ship is used to describe the Captain as he is at the top of the command. Personal speculation and trusted brass scuttlebutt says that our AOR has shifted from the Gulf of Aden where there aren't any pirates, to where we sit now. 16 ships and 200 hostages from various countries still remain   stranded...not for long, I predict.

As always, keeping it real on the high seas with the US Navy, MMFN (NAME REDACTED) USS Boxer, Somalia

Somali Pirate Seizure

Having spoken to some SEAL pals in Virginia Beach and asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I was told the following:  

1. President Obama (BHO) wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to the scene for 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander) recommendation.

2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their rules of engagement (ROE) such that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in "imminent" danger.

3. The first time the hostage jumped into the water, the SEALS had the pirates sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction

4. When the navy RIB (Rigid-hulled inflatable boat) came under fire as it approached with supplies, no fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the pirates were shooting at the RIB, they were exposed and the SEALS had them dialed in.

5. BHO specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the USS Bainbridge captain (CPN) and SEAL teams.

6. Bainbridge CPN and SEAL team CDR finally decide they have the OpArea and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead pirates.

7. BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behavior. 

Read the following accurate account, e-mailed to me by a friend: Philips’ first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean hadn’t worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his country’s Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison, enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear shot at his captors — and none was taken.  

The guidance from National Command Authority — the president of the United States, Barack Obama — had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the hostage’s life was in clear, extreme danger.  

The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the floating raft was fired on by the Somali pirates — and again no fire was returned and no pirates killed. This was again due to the cautious stance assumed by Navy personnel thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a mandate from the commander in chief’s staff not to act until Obama, a man with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of decisiveness, decided that any outcome other than a “peaceful solution” would be acceptable.  

After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the on scene commander decided he’d had enough. Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostage’s life and having heard nothing from Washington since yet another request to mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before, the Navy officer — unnamed in all media reports to date — decided the AK47 one captor had leveled at Philips’ back was a threat to the hostage’s life and ordered the NSWC team to take their shots.  

Three rounds downrange later, all three brigands became enemy KIA and Philips was safe. There is upside, downside, and spinside to the series of events over the last week that culminated in yesterday’s dramatic rescue of an American hostage.  

Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration and its supporters claimed victory against pirates in the Indian Ocean and declared that the dramatic end to the standoff put paid to questions of the inexperienced president’s toughness and decisiveness.  

Despite the Obama administration’s (and its sycophants’) attempt to spin yesterday’s success as a result of bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours — as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and its team of NSWC operators to steam to the location — became an embarrassing four day and counting standoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship.

Should California be Divided?

According to Wikipedia, there have been at least 27 attempts to divide California into two states since 1850. Obviously none of them have worked so far. The state is culturally divided and politically divided to the extent that it would make sense. Will there be a 28th attempt to split the California? Odds favor it. Will it become reality? Doubtful.

Can Texas Secede?

TIME Magazine suggests that it can't - The War of Northern Aggression/American Civil War/War of the Rebellion,  in the mid 1800's may have killed that opportunity, but TIME also says, "...but the state does have the right to split into five states, offering the prospect of 10 US Senators, math that would send cold shivers down the Democratic back." 

I checked SNOPES.COM to see if they agreed. CLICK to read their opinion. They say, YES, Texas could be legally subdivided into five states. I further checked WikiAnswers.com and they agree with snopes.com -- CLICK HERE.

Rightwing Extremism

Returning war heroes and veterans are potentially terrorists according to Department of Homeland Secretary, Janet Napolitano . Congressman Bennie Thompson (D - Mississippi) is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and he has a different opinion. He said that he was "dumbfounded" that such a report would be issued. CLICK HERE to download the report. The DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis released a report on April 7, 2009, titled, "Right Wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalism and Recruitment". 

The report identified as potential terrorist threats,  people who collect guns, supporters of border control and pro life advocates. CLICK HERE to read the news feed.

Waterboarding - Torture?

Torture?

or 

Coercive?

Clearly, there are different opinions on what constitutes "torture" and what constitutes "coercive interrogation".  There are different methods of accomplishing interrogation through the use of a waterboard. I'll cover some of the most widely used. Essentially it's the old "Chinese Water Method".  Today a person could be restrained either be in a seated position with his head inclined backward or prone, inclined down on a board or platform, face-up.

In Mexico the common method, still in wide use involves stuffing a rag of questionable hygiene into the subjects mouth and then pouring Tehuacan (soda water) into the subject's nose. To breathe, the subject inhales the soda water and it has a very painful impact on the sinuses as the subject feels like they're drowning. It leaves no marks, scars or damage on the subject but they are inclined to cooperate with law enforcement.

The waterboard method requires that the subject's face is covered with a cloth and water is poured on the cloth. The subjects inhales some of this water and they feel as if they're drowning. It's an unpleasant experience and people again feel more disposed to cooperate.

The military exposes a certain class of personnel to waterboarding by putting them through the process in Search Evasion Resistance Education for the purpose of teaching them to resist this method of coercive interrogation. It's not a high school prom by any means, but is it torture? If the military puts special forces and aviators through this experience, as a part of training, is it really torture?

Today the US Department of Justice announced that CIA personnel who engaged in coercive interrogation techniques against terrorists planning attacks on the United States would not be prosecuted for following government guidelines in their administration of those coercive techniques. 

I do NOT believe that these procedures are torture. They were never used by law enforcement to further a criminal case, and they would be considered "cruel and unusual punishment" in the case of imprisonment of domestic prisoners. Torture to me includes standard procedures in Egypt such as ripping out fingernails, bashing out teeth, vivisection, blinding, electrocution, etc. Waterboards leave no lasting damage. They're just darned unpleasant.