Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 04/08/09
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Hi bloggers, Anderson and Erika–
I don't understand why we still sell AK47s in the U.S.
Young money! In these tough times, pirates of the somalis are richin up!
@ForresrBradford: We can only hope that the common sense, and common decency shown by the citizens of your state, Massachusetts, can be duplicated elsewhere. It take time; but it is time well spent. Brao!
I can't understand how anyone can get the courage to do any killing or penitration of the skin like stabbing and such. Apparently you can learn a lot from someone by how they killed a person.
pirate attacks due to hunger? the millions of dollars being stolen are certainly not going to feed the people.
It's definitely Entourage because the characters are based on real people and the main character's agent, Ari Gold (who is the best part of the show in my opinion), is based on Ari Emanuel, Rahm Emanuel's brother!
I pray for the captain too @Megan it's must be such an ordeal for hm right now.
@Erica... He's not watchin CNN, that honestly surprises me, because he's smart and CNN, especialy AC360 absolutely ROCKS...!!!!!!
@ Forrest Bradford
I suspect the level of education in Mass is pretty high! That is most likely why its a non issue
Isabel Yes, glad to hear that hostages are treated well, and that ransom is the main reason for holding hostages, but as you say it is absurd and also painful for the hostages to be at the mercy of the hijackers for their fate.
Erica, yes there is more of a connection.
Guys...It is possible to set up a perimeter that confronts pirates before they attack?
@ Maren in Oregon
It has always been this way. We just have good news media like CNN
I don't think that the "terrorists" are profiting now....but since they will now see how well these pirates are doing financially, they probably will get into the act.
However, i do not think that their captives will survive! (Especaily Americans!)
I wonder what will the negotiation end. What will the Somalian receive at the end money etc.
@ Erica-WHAT?! No!!! It's gotta be some sort of government cover-up!!!
@ David, Indiana
This is an old problem. When something serious happens, as happened this time, the nations send several ships to the region to escort commercial ships and try to prevent acts of piracy. A constant control must be done.
Why should States legislate on marriage at all. Shouldn't everything be a "civil union" in the eyes of our government. I feel like marriage is a religious institution and I'm a big believer in the extraction of church from state.
Oh, great! The US (Bush Administration) got rid of the overnment that was restrainig Somalia? I wonder why? Oh, I know, they never listened, did they – just bulled ahead. Wha goes around, comes around it seems.
@Erica- I think they are not telling the truth, they just don't want the country thinking that he has his favorite with the news business....
hey anderson i am from somali and the piarate attacks is because of hunger
It's 2009. Yes on gay marriage. God knows we need more jobs and surely some gays will divorce and need wills too – keep those lawyers employed.
The english are getting terroizied and it's really scary Obama's first days have been met with such button pushing form these groups
I'm very pleased that 360 is covering fundamentalist forces in Somalia. This is an interesting story (international, too!), and Bergen and Robertson are top talent.
Why are these ships carrying some basic arms for protection?
Oh, great! Talk therapy for pirates and terrorists. Oh, please! Let's show some force and let these terrorists know who kicks butt!
I am worried about captain on lifeboat...... I am so scared for him....... I am praying for him.
Somalia piracy reminds me of Mediterrranean piracy off the cost of Libya over a decade back. That was solved because Libya stopped it. Perhaps Somalia has to be handled politically. So long as Somalia remains chaotic, the problem will continue – who can guard the entire ocean?
@Esma, sadly, he apparently does not watch us - or any 24hr news channel (at least we're not the only ones!) 🙂 Valerie Jarett tells Politico they brief him on coverage.
Will CNN be sticking with the pirate story
through out the night? Daylight is approaching.
Here in Massachusetts gay marriage has become a non-issue. We all live in peace. In the past years, not a single gay marriage has caused a heterosexual marriage to end in divorce. Once the antigay people leave the states where they make the question of gay marriage a divisive topic through fear and cruel propaganda, most of the citizens in the state live in peace..
Jessica.. Sherry is correct and the person in command on the ship, his father was interviewed. earlier
“Happy” that this happened! coz they didn’t get attention until this time, Now that Americans are involved, there will definitely be a long lasting solution for these “little tiny” pirates. But seriously, look at them. They look like they could be easily taken by (not strong) wind.
Anderson asked if we know Pres Obama's favorite TV show. I'm going with The West Wing. I have heard the president quote dialogue from the show many times (I have the complete gift set of all 7 seasons), including the phrase "there is nothing false about hope." I guess the president and I have something in common.
Thanks.
@Minou, there is no one to 'war' on. This is not the result of an act by an organized state. Piracy is and always has been an international crime. Any ship has the right to defend itself, and the world's navies are responsible to stop piracy wherever they find it. The typical liberal 'talk tough but do nothing' response won't work with these people.
We have a LOT of those kind of people who are so "Dedicated" to their idea of marriage that no one else can have one.
They're pretty extreme. Besides the usual homophobia, they're against people of different religions marrying, too. They partake in all the usual fallacies about gender. It's very disheartening to listen to their hate.
I say, when the bigoted fringe are upset? You're doing something right.
Hi Anderson
Regardin the pirates, are not all very large ships equiped with those high pressured water hoses? Hire a few more crew do stand at those water hoses in shifts, and fight off any pirates that may come. That will also give the crew enough time to call for help?
The pirates hijacked the Maerk Alabama.
I hope they rescue the captain soon and what is happening now they need to wait until sunrise to heave ho the pirates it's dangerous waters .
Susan I have been hearing those same rumors.
In fact the are some who say the Maersk Alabama
hulls military cargo.It is based in the same city as
the world's largest naval base.
aw the POTUS likes Entourage..I've never seen it but i heard Rahm Emmanuel's brother is the storyline
Minou, New York City, No, we are just saying that they might be testing Obama since this is the first time an American ship has been attacked. I think it is more than just a coincidence and I am sure that it won't be the last time.
These two sotries -Somali pirates and the rdical islamic terrorists in the UK are really chilling. Basically, we have a lot of very radical, violent, well armed relatively primitive persons who can apparently act wth virtual impunity to damage the much more sophisticated structures upon which the "civilized" world is dependent. Not a fair fight is it ... and we're the ones on the losing end!
@David they should string razor wire? I find that funny in a really gruesome way. That might not be the best thing having to float around on a ship after a dozen or so pirates were sliced in half. 😉
@Josh..no offense, but it is quite a heartless comment of yours. How many lifes will be lost before the pirates stop doing that? And the merchant ship is still in their hands. I do not think stop giving them money will solve the problems.
an "army" of marriage activists? how neoconservative.
@Jessica, According to Dobbs show earlier, they have training centers. Teaching these men in handling and using guns. About time.
Isabel, I think NATO is already doing some patroling of the area where the pirates hijack ships.
One thing that could be done is that countries and navies could come to agreements to maintain a constant presence to assure security, a standing presence, be there for the commercial ships who need protection.
The pirates in all the footage shown look to be starving. How much of the proceeds from the ransom monies actually go to the people that carry out the act of piracy?
A vast me hearty's Those pirates need to walk the plank. I would think they would have arms and guns to fight them away not nice pirates .
I've been in small boats near freighters – the freighter looks like a mountain in the ocean – these row boats with outboard motors should have no way of taking such a freighter – how do they even get on board? I must be missing something.