Fred'

I'll make you a deal. If you can get Big Mo over there, can I come along to represent Maggie's interest. I wear bi-focals, but I'm a hell of a loader.

Hoist my 8" onboard and I can hit a 55gal barrel from 13 miles, course that's after two fire for effects.

Clinton says they are working on an "international response". I guess the Obama administration is going to cry to the U.N. again like they did after N.Korea fired a missile? What a joke...:rolleyes:

Perry........
 

...we'll use those 8"s as marker-rounds for the 16"s which will be "coming right along", as we uster say......what you blow up, we'll blow AWAY!!!!!!

At the very least, we ought to construct some WW II Sumner/Gearing-class replicas....6-gun 5"x45 main battery in twin mounts, six torpedoes in triple mounts, four (count'em FOUR!) Bofors quad-40 mounts, a sordid 20 mm mounts here and there, full racks of 635-lb torpex-loaded depth charges, etc. etc. etc.----PLUS, they looked like warships should. 415 feet of malice in a slick, lethal-looking greyhound of the sea. No more of these compootah-run, pointy-bowed sissy-cans with PAVE-paws, menopause, "all-missile" armaments and the like. Screw dat! Betcha I could still round up some of my old crew-----wait, maybe that isn't such a good idea----naw, we'll go with it!

Gimme that old-time religion! Haze-gray and under way!!!! Yippa daing!

To the shores of Tripoli......

On a lonely knoll in a Frankfurt, Kentucky cemetery stands a simple stone marking the grave of the "Hero of Derne". It is among the final resting places of vice-presidents, senators, governors, artists, and scores of local patriots who fell in action against the wilderness and foreign aggressors.

The story of Lieutenant Presley Neville O'Bannon begins in 1805. For several years American ships plying the waters along the coast of North Africa had been endangered by bands of Barbary pirates who grabbed what loot they wanted, killed many of the seamen or shackled them to lives of slavery. Annual payments in tribute to the area's many rulers were demanded for "protection" of American lives and shipping.

Although the U.S. was tired of a Naval war which had dragged on for several years, it decided to carry the fight to Derne, the inland stronghold of the enemy and chief fortress at Tripoli. To do this, General William Eaton, U.S. Navy agent in charge of the region, asked for 100 Marines from a nearby U.S. squadron. In answer to his request, a young Virginian, Lieutenant Presley Neville O'Bannon and seven enlisted Marines were placed at Eaton's disposal.

O'Bannon was given an odd assortment of men to form a task force formidable enough to seek the surrender of Jussup - the reigning Bey of Tripoli. His handful of Marines, a few Greek mercenaries, and a motley crew of cut-throats and sheiks loyal to Hamet Karamanli, the disgruntled brother of the Tripolitan ruler, started from Egypt on the 600-mile trek across the desert of Barca.

Along the way, every obstacle known to the East beset Eaton and O'Bannon. Instead of the usual two weeks, the trip covered 45 days. O'Bannon was called upon to prevent the Moslem's plundering of the Christians. It was he who brought the numerous revolts of the camel drivers to a halt. He constantly prodded the Arab chiefs who repeatedly refused to proceed. And all these delays prolonged the journey, stretched food rations, and at times, exhausted water supplies.

On the 25th day of April, the forces under Eaton and O'Bannon reached Derne and terms of surrender were offered to the enemy. The flag of truce was immediately returned. "My head or yours," came the reply from the Government's stronghold.

O'Bannon then swung into action. With the support of naval gunfire from American ships in the harbor and accompanied by his seven Marines, he spearheaded a bayonet charge which resulted in the capture of the fort on 27 April, 1805. O'Bannon personally lowered the Tripolitian flag and hoisted the Stars and Stripes for the first time on foreign soil, securing the War with Tripoli.

Hamet Karamanli promptly took as ruler of Tripoli and presented the Marine lieutenant with his personal jeweled sword, the same type used by his Mameluke tribesmen. Today, Marine officers still carry this type of sword, commemorating the Corps' service during the Tripolitian War, 1801 - 05.

Appropriately, the actions of O'Bannon and his small group of Marines are commemorated in the second line of the Marines' Hymn with the words, "To the Shores of Tripoli". These same words were also inscribed across the top of the Marine Corps' first standard, adopted around 1800.

Upon his return to this country O'Bannon was given a welcome by the people of Philadelphia and was acclaimed "The Hero of Derne." After his separation from service, O'Bannon went to Kentucky, where his brother, Major John O'Bannon, a Revolutionary War figure, was living. Shortly after his arrival he was elected by the people of Logan County to represent them in the state legislature. He served from 1812 through 1820.

Presley O'Bannon died on September 12, 1850, and was buried in Henry County, Kentucky. In 1919, through the efforts of the Susannah Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, O'Bannon's body was moved to the Frankfort Cemetery. Today, many people still stop by to pay their respects to the man who, by his gallant actions, helped to "set the best traditions of the Corps".

If you are ever in Frankfort, Kentucky, stop by and visit Lieutenant Presley Neville O'Bannon, "The Hero of Derne."

Thanks to the Marine Corps Historical Center, HQMC.

Either one of these new weapons will disable them 'immediately'.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myWxwNQfo-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-SI...eature=related

More U.S. warships as well as pirate reinforcements rushed toward the scene off Somalia.

Uh Oh!, this will be interesting...........

HUGE opportunity missed
 

The hostage managed to make a break for it and jump into the water. The pirates soon went into the water and recaptured him, bringing him back to the lifeboat. Granted, it all happened too fast for a boat to get to him for a conventional rescue, but if light weaponry - snipers or automatic rifles - were constantly trained on the target, one would think they could have opened fire the instant the hostage was clear of the pirates, even if only for a few seconds. Quite likely that is exactly what Richard Philips was hoping would happen, much like a hostage held by a single gunman suddenly ducking to the ground to allow police shooters a quick, clear shot at the perp.

Now, the situation escalates to an even stronger bargaining position for the pirates as more of them converge on the scene with a larger group of hostages taken in prior attacks. More Navy vessles are under way as well, but what can they accomplish that a single destroyer - already a massively overwhelming disparity in force - could not?

It says a lot when a motley crew of ragtag bums in beat-up little boats feel powerful and confident enough to head out and confront a fleet of floating Naval weaponry instead of crapping their pants and fleeing in the other direction. I still hold out some hope though, that they will find a way to save the hostage(s) and round up and/or destroy every last one of the scumbags.

BUZZ, I wonder what the freakin' (US) Navy is becoming....
 

.......a) when they can't/won't board the pirates' (life)boat, b) when they have to talk to the freakin' FBI about what to do and c) when they can't devise a method whereby the "new" pirate vessels converging on the scene can't be given a "Stand Off" warning----enforced by the proverbial shot across the bows.

This reminds me of that scurrilous Johnson administration do-nothing reaction and cover-up of the attacks on the USS Liberty and the USS Pueblo. 'Bout time they recommissioned some ipe-like thugs for weapons officers-----even CO's! I think of one guy who fills the bill.....oooops wait, the only uny-form seems a little tight.......

Start the pre-fire check on that Bofors 40mm and make me a rum-and-coke, STAT!!!!

If something happens and the American skipper is harmed, successfully taken ashore or even killed, the President is not going to look too cool. Biden called it.

Chow,

Unless the skipper is handed over unharmed there should be a clearly communicated promise of a swift and devastating military operation against the pirates, their port, property and anyone stupid enough to stick around once the bombardment and subsequent amphibious assault commences. If they comply, they will be allowed a short time to free any hostages and run for their lives before their boats, weapons and ill-gotten properties are confiscated and destroyed. That's the only deal I would offer, being that I'm in such a nice mood today.

Whatever happened to zero tolerance and no negotiating with terrorists?

FOX....The negotiator said he has spoken with a pirate leader on the ground in Somalia who is coordinating action on the lifeboat adrift in the Indian Ocean. He says the plan is to get the hostage to shore to negotiate from a better position.

BS, the navy better hold them where they are!!!........

Buzz..........
 

....for Admiral!!!!

Well this is just too easy, send out divers in the night attach a suction cup devise to the bottom of the life boat, and real them in over night, when they wake up, take them into custody.

This is embarrassing. :o

4 pirates with 4 guns (probably without bullets) are holding off the US Navy. Come on - give me a efing break. How is it that the leadership of the Navy turned it into such a bunch of pansy-assed wusses that this happens? The rest of the world has just got to be laughing their asses off at the US's ahhh ummmm "show of strength."

From CNN "Meanwhile, two U.S. warships were on their way Friday to help the crew of the Bainbridge secure Phillips' release."

So now there will be three warships against 4 pirates with 4 guns. If 1 warship can't do it against an out of gas lifeboat what difference will 3 make? This is turning into a farce. Maybe we should send in a carrier fleet ?

The Capt. even escaped and the pirates were allowed to recapture him. Good God just what in the hell is the Navy doing? The SEALs in the water should have secured him and shot or captured the pirates while they were paddling around. It appears that this was too difficult for the US Navy to figure that out.

"The U.S. Navy, which is in charge of the hostage situation, requested help from the FBI to resolve the standoff." Excuse me ? In charge of what ? The crew of the hijacked ship took it back all by themselves - without the Navy or the FBI - and now we have this situation ...... I guess it's being done this way so we don't hurt the feelings of the poor little pirates. They should have stopped breathing several days ago.

sigh

FOX.......




So far, the reaction by modern Democrats has been less than inspiring. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry has threatened to hold hearings! That should strike fear into the hearts of the pirates..........


What will the Obama administration do if the pirates are captured alive? He won’t sent them to Gitmo, which he is closing down. Will they get ACLU lawyers? Will there be testimony from a “pirates rights” group? Will they be released on a technicality after a trial in U.S. courts? If there is not as forceful a response as there was during the Jefferson administration, it will invite more of these incidents. The world’s tyrants are watching to see how President Obama reacts. The message they get will determine how they respond to America and whether we will be in greater peril.

Well with all of these pirates converging on one location, perhaps there might be enough Navy seals on our three ships to sneak onto the pirate ships and the hostage ships tonight and eliminate the problem... But would Obama allow that?

The Navy has eyeballs on the scene, BUT the leftist enablers in DC are in charge. When the Cap. went in the water, the Navy was probably under strict ROE and had to contact Wishington Demo Crazyland.

NAVY,
"We can take out the Pirates NOW!" The Captain is in the water and they are firing at him!" We need weapons release! NOW!":eek:

WISHINGTON DC,
"We will convene an EMERGENCY:confused: meeting, within the next few months!":mad:


Dan

Dan, your most likely on the money!, 'O'NO' is following instructions from his instructors and not upset the 'pirates sensibilities'. It's sickening to think the 2 mil. will be paid, and the navy's gun barrels will sail away 'cold'.

From the pirates article on yahoo:

In a separate incident off the Somali coast, one hostage and two pirates were killed Friday when French naval forces stormed a sailboat and freed four other hostages, including a child. Three pirates were taken into custody.

I hope Obama doesn't make us look like wimps compared to the French!

It's just about the same as giving money to a panhandler "so he can go buy a hamburger". Yeah right. I insist you take this money and go buy drugs and alcohol.

In Somalia they say they need the money to buy food from the crooks that steal it. Bolderdash. They're buying guns.