# Navy Seals rescue Cap't Phillips **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880 "2009-04-12T20:12:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/41 "2009-04-13T03:40:16Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I guess Obama won’t be able to count on the pirate vote next election. There’s always a downside. Ahrrr, shiver me timbers you scurvy dog. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/42 "2009-04-13T04:03:10Z")
[Here’s another article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/12/AR2009041202645.html?hpid=topnews) with even more information. The SEALS “ **parachuted from an aircraft into the scene near dark Saturday, landing in the ocean**. The SEALs were part of a group of Special Operations forces involved in the effort, according to military officials.” Wow, this is going to make a helluva movie! About the one who was onboard the USS Bainbridge: > [@](#): > > Meanwhile, one of the pirates, estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old, asked to come aboard the Bainbridge to make a phone call. He had been stabbed in the hand during an altercation with the crew of the Maersk Alabama and needed medical care. “He effectively gave himself up,” a senior military official said. The Navy then allowed that pirate to speak with the others in hopes that he could persuade them to give up. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/43 "2009-04-13T04:17:55Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I saw somewhere that the lifeboat was “floundering” and that they agreed that the USS Bainbridge be allowed to tow them with a rope/cable/whatever it was with 35 foot of slack. I wonder if the SEALs had anything to do with the “floundering?” 😉 I read a couple of days ago that the boat had run out of gas and was adrift. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/44 "2009-04-13T04:28:17Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I guess Obama won’t be able to count on the pirate vote next election. Yeah, but this will shore up his base by getting out the ninja vote. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/45 "2009-04-13T11:08:16Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The USS Bainbridge was towing the lifeboat. The good guys saw **all three bad guys at once** , one of the bad guys aimed a gun at the Captain, and the good guys blew their brains out from 25m away. > > 🙂 bolding mine I wonder how long the sniper or snipers had to wait for just the right time to take the shots ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/46 "2009-04-13T12:38:57Z")
In the other thread I posted that the crew had seemingly violated company procedures by fighting back, the statement from company officials gave a little hint of their maybe not being extremely happy about the outcome. With more information coming (something nobody had at the time) it seems as if it is entirely possible that the captain offered himself so his crew could be spared. Company policies aside the guy might well be a real hero. As the wife of a navigator trading not far from there I can imagine what his wife is thinking: a lot of a pride with a serving of “what the hell were you thinking?!”. His family was in my thoughts at all times. We sacrifice enough, the death of our loved ones should not make our sacrifices bigger. Kudos to the US Navy. Magnificent job. And don’t forget the 20+ sailors still in captivity. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/47 "2009-04-13T13:34:51Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > And don’t forget the 20+ sailors still in captivity. Sadly, I think the total number of sailors being held is something like 260. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/48 "2009-04-13T14:30:28Z")
Looks like they forgot April 12th is [International Duck Like a Pirate Day](http://www.talklikeapirate.com/). Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/49 "2009-04-13T16:47:13Z")
How do you shoot with such accuracy when you are on a moving ship aiming at a target on a moving boat? Just amazing, and well done. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/50 "2009-04-13T16:57:09Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > The word is “[founder](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/founder)”. When a ship is filling with water and in danger of sinking it is said to be foundering, not floundering. Sorry, this is one of my pet peeves right up there with “Begs the question”. Thanks. Ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/51 "2009-04-13T16:59:43Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > How do you shoot with such accuracy when you are on a moving ship aiming at a target on a moving boat? Just amazing, and well done. Practice practice practice. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/52 "2009-04-13T17:20:56Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Looks like they forgot April 12th is [International Duck Like a Pirate Day](http://www.talklikeapirate.com/). Quaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrck? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/53 "2009-04-13T17:51:11Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Quaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrck? Eeeeeecccchhhhhhhhhhoooooooooo?? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/54 "2009-04-13T18:17:25Z")
Since this thread’s already been politicized, I thought this was worth a post. [PR disaster for the GOP: Republicans bet against the United States and lose](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/4/12/719369/-PR-disaster-for-the-GOP:-Republicans-bet-against-the-United-States-and-lose) - It’s a damning look at how they (including Limpballs, Gingrich, and others) just **Would Not Shut Up** over the past few days regarding Obama’s “inevitable” screwing up of this situation, practically drooling with anticipation, talking points burning a hole in their pockets. I hadn’t been paying attention to the creeps, so this article shocked the hell out of me. Once again the iconic photo of Obama to which someone added the caption “Everyone chill the fuck out, I got this!” is suitable. To plagiarize a comment from someone elsewhere, “Apparently the Republicans didn’t pay much attention during the campaign, because if they did they would have known not to let Obama’s calm demeanor fool them into making idiotic statements.” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/55 "2009-04-13T19:22:09Z")
Mental note: if you’re ever caught and held by pirates, stand really, really still. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/56 "2009-04-13T19:53:13Z")
How pleasing that they not only rescued the Captain, but killed three pirates. Hopefully this is the beginning of a trend. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/57 "2009-04-13T20:10:00Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Since this thread’s already been politicized, I thought this was worth a post. > > [PR disaster for the GOP: Republicans bet against the United States and lose](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/4/12/719369/-PR-disaster-for-the-GOP:-Republicans-bet-against-the-United-States-and-lose) - It’s a damning look at how they (including Limpballs, Gingrich, and others) just **Would Not Shut Up** over the past few days regarding Obama’s “inevitable” screwing up of this situation, practically drooling with anticipation, talking points burning a hole in their pockets. I hadn’t been paying attention to the creeps, so this article shocked the hell out of me. > > Once again the iconic photo of Obama to which someone added the caption “Everyone chill the fuck out, I got this!” is suitable. To plagiarize a comment from someone elsewhere, “Apparently the Republicans didn’t pay much attention during the campaign, because if they did they would have known not to let Obama’s calm demeanor fool them into making idiotic statements.” Out of curiosity, does anyone know what Limbaugh, _et al_ have been saying today? I don’t expect that they would admit they were wrong or give Obama any credit, but how are they trying to spin it? I turned it briefly to Fox News last night, and they were going with an “Easter Miracle” narrative. I thought the SEALs deserved the credit, but apparently Goddidit. I could only stomach a minute or two of it before I had to change the channel. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/58 "2009-04-13T20:16:15Z")
I haven’t heard yet, though I did see someone mention that the blonde airhead Mika on Mornin’ Joe said it was “luck” that the snipers got all three pirates. Oh yeah, all that training and the waiting and watching and listening for just the right moment had nothing to do with it. And the freepers are all sad because people are including President Obama in the credits given. They _wanted_ it all to fail! I swear, right wingers are infrickinsane! They’re fun to make fun of, but at the same time they’re such disgusting creatures. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/59 "2009-04-13T20:19:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Jamac Habeb, a 30-year-old self-proclaimed pirate, told The Associated Press from one of Somalia’s piracy hubs, Eyl, that, “our friends should have done more to kill the captain before they were killed. This will be a good lesson for us.” > > “From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them (the hostages),” he said. France and India have both taken deadly military action against pirates in recent months and seen no significant retaliation, however. Jamac, things are simpler if we don’t have to fly in a SEAL sniper team. Our Navy is very accomplished at blowing the bejeesus out of things from long distances. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880/60 "2009-04-13T20:22:47Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > How do you shoot with such accuracy when you are on a moving ship aiming at a target on a moving boat? Just amazing, and well done. You do it thousands of times in practice because some day you might have to do it one time in the real world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-seals-rescue-capt-phillips/492880.md?page=4)