Warships. Pirate reinforcements. Captives. Ransom. There is about to be a serious smackdown in the Indian Ocean.
The pirates, who usually release hostages unharmed, are hoping for ransom money. The United States, with a longstanding policy against negotiating with terrorists, says this is the first time they've needed to negotiate with pirates. And, of course, nothing says "we're ready to negotiate" like a war ship.
The pirates apparently fear being shot or arrested if they hand over Capt. Richard Phillips - captured in a failed effort to seize the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday - and hope to link up with their colleagues who are using Russian, German, Filipino and other hostages captured in recent days as human shields.Mohamed Samaw, a Somali resident of the pirate stronghold in central Eyl town, who claims to have a "share" in a British-owned ship hijacked Monday, said four foreign ships previously captured by pirates are heading toward the lifeboat. A total of 54 hostages are on two of the ships, citizens of China, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Tuvalu, Indonesia and Taiwan.
Read the rest of this Charlotte Observer article here.