Somalia pirate mission creep
Discussion
Somalia pirates: EU approves attacks on land bases
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17487767
Poor things.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17487767
Beeb said:
The European Union has agreed to expand its mission against Somali pirates, by allowing military forces to attack land targets as well as those at sea.
In a two year-extension of its mission, EU defence ministers agreed warships could target boats and fuel dumps.
The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner says the move is a significant step-up in operations, but one that also risks escalation.
Several EU naval ships are currently on patrol off the Horn of Africa.
They police shipping routes and protect humanitarian aid.
The EU says the main tasks of the mission are the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced people in Somalia, and the fight against piracy off the Somali coast.
In a statement, the EU's foreign policy head Catherine Ashton said fighting piracy was a priority of the mission in the Horn of Africa.
"Today's important decision extends [Operation] Atalanta's mandate for two more years and allows it to take more robust action on the Somali coast," she said.
The EU said "a budget of 14.9m euros (£12.4m; $197m) is provided for the common costs of the prolonged mandate".
Not only do the skinnies have to contend with hairy-arsed ex-RMs pointing SLRs at them, but now they'll be shelled from ship to shore. In a two year-extension of its mission, EU defence ministers agreed warships could target boats and fuel dumps.
The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner says the move is a significant step-up in operations, but one that also risks escalation.
Several EU naval ships are currently on patrol off the Horn of Africa.
They police shipping routes and protect humanitarian aid.
The EU says the main tasks of the mission are the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced people in Somalia, and the fight against piracy off the Somali coast.
In a statement, the EU's foreign policy head Catherine Ashton said fighting piracy was a priority of the mission in the Horn of Africa.
"Today's important decision extends [Operation] Atalanta's mandate for two more years and allows it to take more robust action on the Somali coast," she said.
The EU said "a budget of 14.9m euros (£12.4m; $197m) is provided for the common costs of the prolonged mandate".
Poor things.
i'm surprised they haven't recreated the old Q ship regime. A hitherto ordinary looking vessel bristling with enough firepower to make these awful little people simply go away.
Are the navy entitled to 'fire at will' or are there reams of method statements and H+S forms to fill out before telling them firmly to stop taking people hostage?
Are the navy entitled to 'fire at will' or are there reams of method statements and H+S forms to fill out before telling them firmly to stop taking people hostage?
F i F said:
I'm surprised some enterprising cruise line hasn't set up a tour, armed to the teeth with ex Foreign legion and the like. I'm sure certain passengers would be interested to see these scrotes get their come uppance.
That's quite an interesting idea. Bit like hunting in Africa but not for lions and wildebeest. Not sure having Captain Pugwash's head mounted on the wall of my study is a good idea or not, though.Hoofy said:
F i F said:
I'm surprised some enterprising cruise line hasn't set up a tour, armed to the teeth with ex Foreign legion and the like. I'm sure certain passengers would be interested to see these scrotes get their come uppance.
That's quite an interesting idea. Bit like hunting in Africa but not for lions and wildebeest. Not sure having Captain Pugwash's head mounted on the wall of my study is a good idea or not, though.Digga said:
Hoofy said:
F i F said:
I'm surprised some enterprising cruise line hasn't set up a tour, armed to the teeth with ex Foreign legion and the like. I'm sure certain passengers would be interested to see these scrotes get their come uppance.
That's quite an interesting idea. Bit like hunting in Africa but not for lions and wildebeest. Not sure having Captain Pugwash's head mounted on the wall of my study is a good idea or not, though.I'm sure I'm not imagining this, and believe that the passengers could hire different levels of weapons (from AK74s through to RPGs) depending upon their 'budget'.
TTwiggy said:
Wasn't there a Russian company offering this already? Seem to recall that their plan was to sail back and forth off the shore of Somalia, getting closer and slower until they attracted some attention, at which point they would let rip with enough firepower to stage a mid-size military coup.
I'm sure I'm not imagining this, and believe that the passengers could hire different levels of weapons (from AK74s through to RPGs) depending upon their 'budget'.
Think it was a jokeI'm sure I'm not imagining this, and believe that the passengers could hire different levels of weapons (from AK74s through to RPGs) depending upon their 'budget'.
Excellent. I do like a good pirate thread. (and we got told off for calling them seapikeeeees).
We have to face facts. Despite the fact they look like what you'd get if Paul Teutel Jnr bred with a hamster, they are actually pretty damn good at pirating. We used to get quite excited about there being a pirate mothership and their ancient and huge walkie talkies but now (per the BBC) there is a pirate community and a pirate spokesman. We should sign them up for something.
Ridding the Planet of Cable & Balls?
Refinancing Greece?
Next archbishop?
Massa's replacement?
Getting rid of the Occupy Wherever crusties?
We have to face facts. Despite the fact they look like what you'd get if Paul Teutel Jnr bred with a hamster, they are actually pretty damn good at pirating. We used to get quite excited about there being a pirate mothership and their ancient and huge walkie talkies but now (per the BBC) there is a pirate community and a pirate spokesman. We should sign them up for something.
Ridding the Planet of Cable & Balls?
Refinancing Greece?
Next archbishop?
Massa's replacement?
Getting rid of the Occupy Wherever crusties?
blindswelledrat said:
andy_s said:
Not only do the skinnies have to contend with hairy-arsed ex-RMs pointing SLRs at them,
Approximately half of the collections of letters in that sentence have no meaning to a normal human
contend - Verb; 1.Struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger). 2.Engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve something).
HTH
('skinnies' = pirates, Somalian. RMs - Royal Marines. SLR - self loading rifle pre-1980's, akin to Chuck Norris in its awesome devastation capabilities)
blindswelledrat said:
andy_s said:
Not only do the skinnies have to contend with hairy-arsed ex-RMs pointing SLRs at them,
Approximately half of the collections of letters in that sentence have no meaning to a normal humanOr probably not
MonkeyHanger said:
blindswelledrat said:
andy_s said:
Not only do the skinnies have to contend with hairy-arsed ex-RMs pointing SLRs at them,
Approximately half of the collections of letters in that sentence have no meaning to a normal humanOr probably not
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L1A1_Self-Loading_Rif...
The US marine pictured in the article still thinks he's holding an M16!
Edited by Mojocvh on Friday 23 March 18:08
andy_s said:
contend - Verb; 1.Struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger). 2.Engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve something).
HTH
('skinnies' = pirates, Somalian. RMs - Royal Marines. SLR - self loading rifle pre-1980's, akin to Chuck Norris in its awesome devastation capabilities)
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