U.S. warship shadowing hijacked American yacht

A U.S. warship appears to be shadowing a private yacht that was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea on Friday.  Scott Adam and his wife Jean own the boat.   Also on board were Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, both of Seattle.

Somali mission: Pirates capture 4 Americans

Jean and Scott Adam had been distributing bibles on their round the world sail. "We are just hoping for their safe return," said Jim Muneno.

CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports hymns were sung and prayers were said for the yachting couple at their Santa Monica church. 

The hijacked yacht, the Quest, is now reported to be heading for the pirate coast of Somalia. Pirate sources say the U.S. Navy is shadowing the yacht. It may be trying to do what it did in the rescue two years ago of the commercial vessel, the Maersk Alabama - slow the captured vessel down and try to negotiate with the pirates in the hope they give up or allow an opportunity for a rescue by other means.

The Adams had been sailing with The Blue Water Rally, which planned to sail together for safety reasons, as it headed from Mumbai to the Gulf of Aden on its way to the Suez Canal.

But the Adams chose to break off from the group and head alone for Salalah in Oman. They were easy pickings, boarded by pirates 275 miles off the coast.

Barring a dramatic rescue, the hostages' prospects are grim.

"Ideally for the United States, they intercept this ship, there will be something of a military stand off, hostage negotiation at sea, but there are not a lot of very good options," said Jennifer Cooke, director of the CSIS African Program.

And with the Quest heading for the pirate coast of Somalia, not a lot of time.

[vissionquest]

It is an exremely well known tax dodge to use your yacht to give "something" to children and turn your world cruise into a tax deduction. How much do you think it would cost to get a crate of bibles to a village in Africa? How much do you think these people claim on their taxes because they have made their yacht a non-profit company. I wish them all the best and worry about them, but lets not pretend they were sacrificing for their church.

[us_1776]

Somalia does not have by any definition a functioning government.

There are so many countries spending enormous resources dealing with all the lawlessness eminating from Somalia that it would be better if Somalia was put under the protection of the United Nations and had a provisional government installed until the country was once again able to govern itself in a lawful manner.



.

[jonesgrl5]

The world has been putting up with Somalia for far too long. The country has been in a state of civil war and near anarchy for the better part of two decades. We should not allow these outlaws (the pirates) to viciously attack our ships or sailors, regardless of nationality. There are many countries who are shelling out the resources to have an anti-piracy military presence in the Gulf of Aden in order to essentially protect their country's economy. The money and manpower needed for these patrols could be put to much better use if we were to nip these pirates in the bud.

[1234god]

I love Christ but I can't stand evangelical Christians. Way too many moneychangers in the temple!
"By your works, so shall he know thee."
This is supposed to be about Scott and Jean Adam and their excellent crew, not a blathering board so tunnel visions idiots can spout off on wild rants! I am praying that they will get back to their families who do love them, safe and sound.
These people do no harm.
Huge mistake to leave the caravan. Let this be a lesson to all yachties all over the world.

[AlanW33225]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmxVlHwLplE

Pres. Obama has an interesting interview.

[novamba]

Why do people continue to venture into this area of the world? all these imbeciles going into North Korea, Iran, gulf of Aden, get what they deserve. I agree with the poster that wants to put special oprators on civilian ships except that it violates about half the geneva convention...

[AlanW33225]

I agree that all the civilian ships should have some armed people on board.

But, I don't agree with any statement that implies the victims are to be blamed for their own kidnapping. That is so clearly wrong that it doesn't even merit debate.

[AlanW33225]

You libs and athiests are truly in trouble if your only spokesperson this morning is this mindless "GOPgold". His sarcastic one-liners are less than worthless.

[AlanW33225]

GOPgold: just another lib who thinks glibness is a substitute for intellect.

[bobnjersey]

[You libs and athiests are truly in trouble if your only spokesperson this morning is this mindless "GOPgold". ]
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there are no 'spokesmen' on online news site message boards ... only posters forwarding their own perspective.

[wlhoppers]

I can just imagine the Somali pirates and their cohorts on sea and shore dancing with glee over how they're keeping a huge American warship at bay. "The American Menace is afraid of us - we triumph!"

Someone with some testicular fortitude should make the call, board the pirate ship and use whatever means necessary to get those religious nuts back to safety - where they can pay start making payments for the cost of their rescue.

[bobnjersey]

[Someone with some testicular fortitude should make the call, board the pirate ship and use whatever means necessary to get those religious nuts back to safety ]
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so it's safe to say you're not a hostage negotiator by trade?

[AlanW33225]

What do people think when you hear Obama say he is a Christian?
What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmxVlHwLplE
Go watch.

I see so many you say you dislike Christians, yet you like and support Obama.

But, Obama is a Christian. So how do you square those 2 opinions?

The way I see it: Obama is either a Christian, so you have to dislike him too, or you think he is lying. Which is it?

Of course, I'll hear only the sound of crickets from the liberals on this. Libs never, EVER give you a straight answer on this question.

[AlanW33225]

Ahhhh, the sound of crickets. Just as I predicted. Nothing stumps or shuts up athiests like reminding them that Obama is a Christian. LOL

[AlanW33225]

Ah ha. LOL, an hour since my very direct and very clear question, and still nothing but crickets. It's funny, but libs have NO idea how to respond to the "Obama is a Christian" issue, do they? LOL.

[bobnjersey]

[Of course, I'll hear only the sound of crickets from the liberals on this. Libs never, EVER give you a straight answer on this question.]
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there's only one type of christian? why isn't there one type of religion ... supporting the singular type of christian?

there are those christians who know what their relationship w/ their god is ... and they keep that whole thing to themselves ... since it's between them and the god they believe in ... and there are those christians who feel it their mission to stick themselves into the lives of others ... to judge others ... to forward whatever agenda they happen to have w/ an ends justify means attitude ... claiming all along that 'gods on their side'.

these are two different types of christians. is this straight enough of an answer ... or we will continue to hear you crying 'liberal this ... and libearal that'?

[AlanW33225]

Pres. Obama actually says "Jesus Christ died for my sins."
hear it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmxVlHwLplE
It's within the first minute of the tape.

Hey, don't take my word for it, go watch.