American Authorities to Somali Pirates: 'We Want to Talk -

- but we're not stupid'

An FBI negotiator is talking with pirates who are holding the Captain of the Maersk Alabama hostage in a lifeboat.

The American navy's destroyer Bainbridge¹ is near the lifeboat, too: as well as a naval surveillance plane and a drone. (UPI)

We Want to Talk: But We're Not Stupid

Some people are born negotiators: willing to reach the best possible outcome for all parties concerned; through discussion of the matters at hand. Not all people are like that. My guess, though, is that the pirates will be much more open to the call of sweet reason, with a airborne robot, an aircraft with a human at the controls, and a destroyer nearby.

'Eeuw! How Militaristic!'

Then, there are people who don't like weapons. I've discussed hoplophobia before. My opinion is that it's an endemic condition in America's upper crust: and isn't recognized because the 'experts' in the psychological fields are among those affected. The self-described better sort in America have a similar attitude toward those big, rough soldiers.

By the way, this little piracy thing is "over-hyped and confused with terrorism:" according to a retired officer, whose wisdom is shared in an National Public Radio article. (NPR)

The Maersk Alabama's cargo: Food and Supplies for Kenya

A few news articles mentioned that the Maersk Alabama was carrying food bound for Kenya. A smaller number mentioned the United Nation's World Food Program shipment that was on board. One gave a rather more thorough summary.

The Maersk Alabama was carrying roughly 4,100 metric tons of corn-soya blend plus 990 metric tons of vegetable oil. Brought to refugees in Kenya, courtesy the United Nations World Food Program. Oh, yeah: a couple of Christian charities had some stuff on the ship, too:

• WorldVision
• Catholic Relief Services
  (CNN)

The Maersk Alabama is an "American flagged," or "U.S.-flagged" as the news articles insist on putting it. The Associated Press acknowledged that all 20 of the Maersk Alabama's crew are Americans. (AP)

No Wonder Americans are Hated: We Play Too Rough

It's hard to say, at this point, whether the Somali pirates realized that they were hijacking a ship with 20 Americans on board, when they boarded the Maersk Alabama. They must have known that they were dealing with 'those people,' though, when the unarmed American crew took the ship back.

This incident may give insight into why America is hated so much: Americans play too rough. Look what they did to those poor, armed, pirates.

Related posts:

• "Somali Pirates Take American Ship: Crew Takes it Back "
  (April 8, 2009)
• " 'America Sucks' - Binghamton, New York, Bullies, and 'Little Eichmanns' "
  (April 4, 2009)
• "Sounds of Silence: 2009"
  (March 31, 2009)
• "The West and Today's Somali President: The Enemy of Your Enemy is Your Friend?"
  (March 19, 2009)
• "Al Shabaab May Be Running Somalia Now: Just What We Need"
  (January 26, 2009)
• "America to Unilaterally Attack Somalia!"
  (January 8, 2009)
• "Guinea, Military Rule, and Terrorism: Beware Hasty Judgment"
  (December 29, 2008)
• " 'A World Without War...' and What Would Happen to It"
  (November 6, 2008)
• "Global Patriot Reporting: Anti-American Bias? Could Be"
  (March 25, 2008)
• "U.S. Warship Kills Innocent Egyptian!! No Wonder Everybody Hates America!!!"
  (March 24, 2008)

News and views:

• "FBI involved in talks to free U.S. captain"
  United Press International (April 9, 2009)
• "Hostage captain fun-loving, courageous, family says"
  CNN (April 9, 2009)
• "Owners debate arming ships against Somali pirates"
  The Associated Press (April 9, 2009)
• "Is the US doing enough to stop piracy?"
  guardian.co.uk (April 9, 2009)
• "(Somali pirates find US ship _ and a fight"
  The Associated Press (April 8, 2009)
• "Retired Officer: Piracy Threat 'Overstated'"
  Talk of the Nation, National Public Radio (April 9, 2009)

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¹ DDG 96, in service since 2002, not the one commissioned in 1902, of course.