Pirates Shoot at U.S. Navy Helicopter

(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.