Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them

Saturday 21st November, 05:15 AM JST

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9 Comments

adaydream at 01:12 AM JST - 22nd November

Ship owners are just plain cheap. They'd rather insurance pay the ransom and allow crews to suffer the pirating then paying the money to protect their vessels.

We just saw the Maersk Alabama keep pirates from capturing their ship the other day, because they finally put private security personnel and planned against pirate attacks.

As long as the owners refuse to put that money and effort forward, the pirates will continue to take on ships. < :-)
WilliB at 05:59 PM JST - 22nd November

In this case, the kidnapped couple are the shipowners, daydream.

I am sure they would cough up the millions demanded by the kidnappers, if they had them.

In the event, eventually the UK taxpayers will cough up, and not some kind of shipping company.

The jihad really is working splendidly.
Madverts at 06:12 PM JST - 22nd November

Jihad my ass. They're money grubbers for pete's sake willi, with only a small, shrill minority hiding from Islam under their bed's at night could see it any other way.

And besides, no ransom should be paid for this couple. Other than the fact that payment will encourage further hostage taking, sorry.....heh, "jihad" - these people are clearly idiots - who in there right mind would knowingly sail into the most pirate infested waters on the palnet an not expect to be kidnapped?
victimcrat at 06:22 PM JST - 22nd November

"An Islamic militia commander and a local elder in the central Somali village of Bahdo told the Associated Press previously that rival pirates and militia groups had fought for control of the British couple."

No, no, no jihad there. The Islamic militia simply beat the Christian and Buddhist militias to their prey.

Ya win some, ya lose some...
WilliB at 07:54 PM JST - 22nd November

victimcrat:

" No, no, no jihad there. The Islamic militia simply beat the Christian and Buddhist militias to their prey. "

Well, people like mad and daydream seriously see the world that way...
Sarge at 07:59 PM JST - 22nd November

"We ask the government, and the people of Britain... to buy back our lives"

So, fork over the $7 million already!
Madverts at 06:29 PM JST - 23rd November

"No, no, no jihad there. The Islamic militia simply beat the Christian and Buddhist militias to their prey."

With few exceptions, Somalis are entirely Muslims.

Heh, but forgive me for allowing that to get in the way of any further paranoid islamophobia between you and willi, old friend. You guys are no different from Holocaust Deniers.
nandakandamanda at 07:03 PM JST - 23rd November

Quote victimcrat: "rival pirates and militia groups had fought for control of the British couple"

From this quote it looks like there are pirates in Somalia, and then there are various militia groups.

The various militia groups are Islamic groups fighting for control of Somalia. The most violent, extreme and to date most successful of these is Al Shabab.

And then there are the pirates, many of whom just happen to have been brought up to varying degrees as mostly benign 'friendly' Muslims.

The Chandlers have become temporarily valuable bargaining chips.

Does this sum up the background?
Soochi at 11:00 PM JST - 23rd November

In the event, eventually the UK taxpayers will cough up, and not some kind of shipping company.

Unlikely Brown will go Spanish on the electorate. Brits with far greater political significance have been sacrificed on the altar of non-concession than these two unfortunates.