Pirates Shoot at U.S. Navy Helicopter

Bandits Aboard Hijacked Taiwanese Fishing Vessel Take Aim with "Large Caliber Weapon" But Miss

(AP)  The U.S. Navy says one of its helicopters was fired on by Somali pirates holding a hijacked ship off the coast of Somalia.

The Navy says the chopper was making a surveillance flight yesterday over the Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel when the pirates opened fire with "a large caliber weapon." The helicopter did not return fire. According to the Navy, the helicopter from the USS Chancellorsville was not hit and there were no injuries.

A spokesman for the 5th Fleet says it marks the first time pirates have shot at U.S. Navy helicopters conducting daily surveillance flights over areas where pirates anchor hijacked vessels and await ransom.

Since seizing the ship and its 30-member crew in the Gulf of Aden in April, the pirates have used the vessel as a base for attacking other commercial ships, including the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama.

The Navy says four other merchant ships and 105 crewmembers are currently being held by pirates near the Win Far.

[TLischak]

My hubby is on that ship. I hope they do make the right decision on what their going to do on taking them down. I would like to have him home and everyone else safe and sound. Just like other say, they probably didn't shoot back because there might be hostages and on top of that, I believe if they do decide to shoot back, that's their decision. I believe that If your going to shoot at us, were going to shoot at you. It s a fair deal.

[babooph]

Drones or other ,after a public warning,could destroy all boats along the coast-no civilian exposure,as long as piracy went on -the locals would then stop it fast.

[swami545]

Please, whatever we do DON'T KILL the PIRATES! THEY HAVE FAMILIES TOO!

[NYCindependent]

From 1800 to 1815, the US Marines fought the terrorist Barbary Pirates who were attempting to steal loot from American merchant ships sailing trade routes near the North African Coast. Big mistake!!!
The Marines decimated the pirates from the first contacts made all the way to their surrender and capitulation to our country's demands that those N.African countries (supporters of the terrorists [ring a bell??]) involved, "cease and desist" from attacking ANY foreign ships doing the same thing US ships were doing. The reference to "the shores of Tripoli" refers to WHERE there was some very bloody fights and also to the place where USMC snipers first earned their reputation for surgically "removing" pirates with their famous rifle marksmanship. Snipers avoided their own troops by having those Marines wear a special insignia on the top of their head gear so that the same snipers could accurately hit any target even if they were inches away from "friendly" Marines standing on the decks of the bad guys ships' decks. Nothing has changed. If you need bad guys taken out who are hiding behind womens skirts or children, as in Pakistan or Iraq or Afghanistan, just tell it to the Marines and then count the bad guys bodies.

[fstop100]

nobama needs to grow a set and order military to destoy targets.

[mav547166]

They would have shot back, but the President wasnt available to give the ok to shoot. As for the sniper thing, well half a dozen guys in a john boat tied up at least 10 billion dollars in US equipment, personnel, etc for over a week. Not really something to be proud of.

[mysteriousjz]

The reason(s) there was no "fire back" might be that a) there were/are hostages in the ship, b) would be considered a war crime when one actually did not encounter any physical harm, c) the fire was probably just a boastful "flare" rather than intentional from an improvised weapon, d) the "mighty" is losing its credibility and support of waging wars and wars in almost every corner of the world. Really, the world is losing its patience!!!!

[fdx22]

If the helicopter shoots back, then the lives of the Taiwanese hostages will be in jeopardy. Patience and planning are needed to carryout rescue mission.

[jsd330]

See what the Russians do with the pirates they caught. I'll bet they send a message to the rest of them.

[Aldymac]

The pirates are acting just like they and their terrorist bed partners do, they use hostages for their own protection. Their time will come, just have a little patience.

[Ace22257]

As when the snipers shot and killed several pirates a couple months ago....these highly trained soldiers will KNOW when they should return fire and when they shouldn't. Their main goal right now is to keep all the hostages safe. If the opportunity arises where they can take out the pirates without endangering a hostage they will take their shot and the game will be over.......

[gunownerdan]

I'm glad those pirates don't have those .50 caliber rifles because according to liberal gun haters you can shoot down helicopters and even airplanes with them.
I guess I can shoot down the moon with my .58 caliber rifle.
And those British .69 caliber flintlocks? You can take out the sun with one of those.
I'm just glad the redcoats never tried it.

[ToolMangler1]

You have to know how to lead a target that is moving before you can hit it with 'any' caliber weapon, They apparently didn't...

[ToolMangler1]

Ever fire a flintlock? I did, then I picked myself up and walked back to where I had been standing and punched out my friend for not warning me, (he got even later) It was my 'bad'

[dwilson59]

gunownerdan

I am still saving for my .50cal Barrett. I should have it by X-Mass. It is a little bit bigger then my Daisy Red Rider.

[infomanSS]

I'm confident that we'll get 'em eventually. I'm former military and law enforcement....you don't necessarily shoot back in all situations...especially when hostages are involved.

According to the article, the pirates are holding 105 hostages on the ships. Return fire and you could be partly responsible for the deaths of up to 105 innocent victims.

They did the right thing. You don't go around firing without thinking about the consequences of your actions. Had they returned fire and hostages been killed, the same people who are now complaining that they didn't return fire would be outraged that they didn't act more responsibly.

[speakinup23]

Time to have another assault by USN Seals.

Let each one of the pirates be awakened to see the guy next to them with their throat cut. Arrrrrrr.... a fitting end to a pirate.

[ThinkFirstThenType]

Hey MattieBlaylock - I think you are 100% correct (except that you have everything backward). The real reason many countries around the world have lost respect for the US is not because we appear weak, but because too many times we have gotten ourselves into situations without thinking them through to their logical conclusions. Wait, wait, don't tell me - you voted Republican didn't you? Ha! Thought so. I suspect that is what your comments are really all about - you're just being a sore loser. BooHoo for you.

Oh, and by the way, if I recall the '08 campaign correctly, the "Obama Strategy" completely kicked ass on the "McCain Strategy".

[speakinup23]

Any strategy will work better than another if you have a good enough liar, thinkfirst. Problem is, now the liar has to perform...

And he don't seem too adept at that task.

So is barry voting 'present' again ?

[bobnjersey]

[A student of rewritten history. Sore loser? Make you feel better imbecile. ]

does this look familiar? it's only about 10 minutes old.

by MattieBlaylock August 27, 2009 12:14 PM EDT
Name calling is the typical way of you idiots responding.

[Benton09]

by tkephart1 August 27, 2009 10:17 AM EDT
"did not return fire"
how I yearn for the Regan years
*****************
How can you yearn for something you can't even SPELL????

[mike450-400]

Why not establish a joint military force through the United Nations specifically to combat this pirate problem. Then this force could be deployed on ships from the nations that contribute troops. Since commerce flows both directions through the affected area forces could redeploy on a new ship for the return voyage. I'm sure these pirates would think twice before attacking armed vessels. Also interdiction after the fact seems ineffective. It may cost but the cost of operating Naval Vessels is also extremely high.

[Joe_NY_15]

by mike450-400 August 27, 2009 10:24 AM EDT

Weak peacenick libs in blue helmets ? I prefer not, we need real force

[tkephart1]

"did not return fire"
how I yearn for the Regan years

[tostentwo]

You mean when he pulled the marines after the barracks were bombed or where he arrived for a photo shoot at the Berlin wall and demanded forgone conclusions to brace his image. Or possibly you are referring to the time that he bargained with the Iranian regime with Iran Contra.

[12358]

Reagan sent 250 troops to Lebanon with orders not to return fire. They are now all dead. I personally like Reagan. I voted for him, he was a decent man and overall a good president at that time in our history, but he is not the demigod that conservatives make him out to be. This is also the president that negotiated with terrorists and even gave them weapons. He also let Oliver North run illegal covert operations, including assisting the contras to smuggle Cocaine into the US. Reagan's only military success was the invasion of Grenada. One could only imagine the outrage the conservatives would have if a Democratic president had done the same things.

[jsd330]

12358
No Reagen sent 250 Marines to Lebanon, without the support elements they needed for that mission.

[Cubbyzfan]

Hey MattieBlaylock, when did President Obama institute a "Cut and Run" policy? Oh that's right....He hasn't. You're an idiot. The military has Rules Of Engagement. They can not just return fire. There are guidelines that must be adhered to. This is 2009 not 1909. It's not the Wild West. Although I'm sure you would prefer that our military be allowed to fire at will anytime it pleases, consequences be damned. Here's a suggestion, find a substantial cause to get fired up about and use your energy for that. Hating a Democratically elected President because he's an African American or because he's a Democrat is geting really old. BTW, I'm acive duty Army. Joined at the age of 42. I'm doing my part. How about you?

[Danno2009]

Mattie:
Any chance you could find your brain before you type? Cut & run? Didn't some snipers take out some of these same idiots? They cut them down, and their blood did run - is that what you meant?

No sense in letting facts get in the way of babble.

[omded]

Mattie,
Remember, in the case of the Mearsk Alabama, the captain was still their hostage. The Iranians had 50 U.S. citizens as hostages when they took our embassy. When you undertake a mission to free a hostage, you have to make sure you're ready to do it right. You also need to make sure you give it enough time to see if a less risky option becomes available, such as a negotiated release. Once the captors kill their hostage(s), the hostage is dead, and he's not coming back. You can kill the captors in the most brutal way, but it won't bring the dead hostage back. It will only give uninvolved people like you and me a sense of satisfaction. Meanwhile, the next of kin will mourn the loss of their loved one.
Likewise, we need to always give ourselves a little time before we make any kind of violent response to any situation. The ramifications of violence can be big. In Lebanon, President Reagan couldn't just order the Marines to go out and shoot somebody. He needed to be patient and figure out who to shoot, and how to shoot them without shooting the innocent people standing nearby. He needed to make sure the actions of the Marines would actually help bring about the resolution we were looking for, and not make matters worse.

We need patient, cool heads in charge. I know it's hard to be patient sometimes, but, patience is a virtue we all (including myself) must strive to attain.