Shooting at a Guided missile frigate and destroyer.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...archived=False

CalifBill wrote:
Shooting at a Guided missile frigate and destroyer.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...archived=False

Don't forget the Cole.

Yes, there is a ridiculous mismatch in firepower but if you can get
close enough to one of the missle frigates or destroyers, (and you're
willing to martyr yourself for whatever cause)....................

wrote in message

........if you can get
close enough to one of the missle frigates or destroyers, (and you're
willing to martyr yourself for whatever cause)....................

.....or, if your objective is to attract international attention and make the
US Navy look like the bullying oppressor, the broadcast whores will be happy
to assist you.

John Gaquin wrote:
wrote in message

........if you can get
close enough to one of the missle frigates or destroyers, (and you're
willing to martyr yourself for whatever cause)....................

....or, if your objective is to attract international attention and make the
US Navy look like the bullying oppressor, the broadcast whores will be happy
to assist you.

Do you believe that incidents like this should be deliberately
suppressed?

It wouldn't be ridiculous to conclude that the original source of this
story to the wire services was probably the Navy itself, (who else was
out there?), and in that case the Navy must have evaluated the pros and
cons of publicly releasing this information.

The accounts I have seen all state that the suicidal maniacs in the
small boats fired first. Not a smart move. If you fire at a warship,
it's hard to characterize the crew as bullying opperssors when your
boat gets vaporized in return.

wrote in message
oups.com...

John Gaquin wrote:
wrote in message

........if you can get
close enough to one of the missle frigates or destroyers, (and you're
willing to martyr yourself for whatever cause)....................

....or, if your objective is to attract international attention and make
the
US Navy look like the bullying oppressor, the broadcast whores will be
happy
to assist you.

Do you believe that incidents like this should be deliberately
suppressed?

It wouldn't be ridiculous to conclude that the original source of this
story to the wire services was probably the Navy itself, (who else was
out there?), and in that case the Navy must have evaluated the pros and
cons of publicly releasing this information.

The accounts I have seen all state that the suicidal maniacs in the
small boats fired first. Not a smart move. If you fire at a warship,
it's hard to characterize the crew as bullying opperssors when your
boat gets vaporized in return.


There was a time, not too long ago, when the US military had to operate with
kid gloves on in fear of starting an international incident or for concerns
of the world's reactions. The standing orders of today are appropriate. If
fired upon, destroy them.

RCE

it's hard to characterize the crew as bullying opperssors

And yet the press will certainly do it.

wrote in message

Do you believe that incidents like this should be deliberately
suppressed?

No, probably not in most circumstances -- they can't be, unless members of
the opposite force are killed. But the nature of the press is such that it
is impossible for the Navy to issue a simple two line statement, which is
all something like this deserves. The press will make a large event of it,
whether warranted or not.


It wouldn't be ridiculous to conclude that the original source of this
story to the wire services was probably the Navy itself, (who else was
out there?), and in that case the Navy must have evaluated the pros and
cons of publicly releasing this information.

The Navy would *have* to release the story, for if they did not, the
pirates' cohorts certainly would, and then the Navy would have the
additional PR problem of appearing to be trying to suppress.

The accounts I have seen all state that the suicidal maniacs in the
small boats fired first. Not a smart move. If you fire at a warship,
it's hard to characterize the crew as bullying opperssors when your
boat gets vaporized in return.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa....ap/index.html
Somalis say U.S. fired first in high-seas gunbattle

Sunday, March 19, 2006; Posted: 1:50 p.m. EST (18:50 GMT)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Somali militiamen who skirmished with U.S. Navy
vessels claimed Sunday they did not fire the first shot and that they had
been patrolling Somali waters to stop illegal fishing vessels.


Of course, this tactic is expected, and for the Navy it is a no-win
situation among those whose first presumption is that the US is in the
wrong.

"John Gaquin" wrote in message

-- they can't be, unless *all* members of the opposite force are killed.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Somali militiamen who skirmished with U.S. Navy
vessels claimed Sunday they did not fire the first shot and that they had
been patrolling Somali waters to stop illegal fishing vessels.


Note CNN's use of the word "militiamen", instead of "Pirates, Gunmen", etc.
.... They "skirmished", instead of "attacked".

Just like when Palestinian homicide bombers are called "fighters,
Jihadists", etc. It's just as noteworthy to realize what the media does NOT
say, as what they do say.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Somali militiamen who skirmished with U.S. Navy
vessels claimed Sunday they did not fire the first shot and that they had
been patrolling Somali waters to stop illegal fishing vessels.



Stanley Barthfarkle wrote:
Note CNN's use of the word "militiamen", instead of "Pirates, Gunmen", etc.
... They "skirmished", instead of "attacked".

Just like when Palestinian homicide bombers are called "fighters,
Jihadists", etc. It's just as noteworthy to realize what the media does NOT
say, as what they do say.



It's just as well to have a little bit of background
knowledge when reading the news. Makes it much easier to see
what is really going on.

Somalia has no current recognized government. It's an area
in a state of anarchy. Therefor it has no recognized
military. A member of the "Somalian militia" is by
definition the equivalent of an armed robber on land, a
pirate at sea.

A "skirmish" is by definition a minor or inconclusive
military action. I guess since even one of the pirates
survived, it could be called a "skirmish" but OTOH the pics
of the burning boat made it look to me like the Somalians
came out a distant second-best in this contest. If the Navy
wanted to simply oppress & torment the poor locals, they
need not have opened fire at all. They could have simply run
them down.

Apply a little knowledge (if you have any) and common sense
when reading the news, makes it much more clear what is
going on.

DSK