Landing the Big One

Landing the Big One

Monday, May 04, 2009

Somali Pirates: Mistakes Happen


My younger son is amused by pirate failings as evidenced by the apparent mistaken attack on a French warship, as set out here:
The French Navy said they seized 11 pirates Sunday after they apparently mistook a French military vessel for a commercial ship and made a run at it.
A French navy sailor speaks to one of 11 pirates on board the French warship the Nivose after their capture.

Two pirate assault boats approached the Nivose "at great speed," Capt. Christophe Prazuck said, but a French helicopter intervened before the attackers had time to fire at the French navy ship.

The helicopter fired warning shots, he said.

The pirates, who had a mother ship as well as the two assault boats, are being held for questioning on the Nivose, Prazuck said. The vessels were carrying AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, but the pirates did not fire, he said.

The incident took place about 1,000 km (620 miles) east of Mombasa, Kenya, at 8:30 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) he added.
I tried to explain to him that from the eye level of the pirates and from certain angles, the Nivose may have looked inviting... and stuff happens. I mean, look at the stern view:


With all due respect to the French, you might want to put a gun back there. Or a sign:
"Not a merchant!" "Non marchand!"

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