Biden and Holder Weigh On The Pirates

By: Michelle Levi
Topics: In The News

Vice President Biden and Attorney General Holder have both weighed in on the seizing of the US Maersk Alabama by pirates off the Somali coast.

"The FBI is assisting the Navy with a crisis team. The FBI is in touch with the people in the Navy to try and assist in that situation," Holder told reporters.

In reference to whether the pirates may face criminal charges in the United States, the attorney general said, "it is a little early tell, at this point. There has not been an act of piracy I think against a United States vessel in hundreds of years. So ah...I'm not sure exactly what would happen."

"What we'd have to do is make sure the maritime life of this nation is is protected. Is what we have to do," he elaborated.

Biden was also asked about the pirate situation during an event to promote stimulus spending.

"We're not going to settle that here. I think what you should do is contact Jim Jones and the White House," he said referring journalists to the national security advisor.

"This is being worked on 'round the clock since this happened. I'm not in a position right now to comment," he added.

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by Bosco49 April 11, 2009 10:55 PM EDT: What is wrong with our government! We have special forces throughout that area and we cannot rescue one of our own. It is time to stop playing nice with terrorists .; Reply to this comment


by lindalulu353 April 10, 2009 5:30 PM EDT: Here is my overview of whats happening with these pirates:
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/61223_unsafe-waters
something really needs to be done to stop these villans.; Reply to this comment


by duger4 April 10, 2009 7:11 AM EDT: "it is a little early tell, at this point. There has not been an act of piracy I think against a United States vessel in hundreds of years. So ah...I'm not sure exactly what would happen."
Holder's comments certainly don't inspire confidence that he, or the administration, knows what they are doing. What are we going to do with the pirates if they are captured when the Attorney General himself doesn?t know? Aren't these individuals hijacking ships at sea terrorists? What are we going to do with terrorists we capture in the future? Don?t ask the Attorney General, he doesn?t know. Should we sit down and talk with them and try to convince them that what they are doing is bad? Pay them off? Maybe it is time for the Obama administration to start thinking about life in the real world.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 April 9, 2009 4:45 PM EDT: This unfortunate situation is not a new issue. CBS sixty minutes reported on the collapse of the Somali (corrupt) Government and the advantage the international community was taking by traversing through Somali sphere of ocean water ways without impunity.

Somali war lords have taken on the responsibility of policing what is thought of as their corridor of ocean water. The international community is fully aware that Somalia is has no viable authority and outlaws have taken on the task of controlling the sea corridor adjacent to their shores.

International Shipping vessels need to pay for their right of passage to the current Somali Outlaws in the anticipation that legitimate commerce will be rectified in the future or, just don't go there!; Reply to this comment