Pirates seize Saudi tanker off Kenya

Boy are these guys getting Brave , what is going to be the last straw before someone just shoots these nimrods out of the water or sinks a ship they seize?
A bunch of tanks and ammo did not do it , about 200 Captive crew members from various ships have not done it , so what is it going to take?And when it does happen , what kind of a response are we going to see?

International Herald Tribune

JIDDA, Saudi Arabia: Pirates captured a Saudi-owned supertanker loaded with more than $100 million worth of crude oil off the coast of Kenya, seizing the largest ship ever hijacked, United States Navy officials said Monday.

The hijacking follows a string of increasingly brazen attacks by Somali pirates in recent months, but this appears to be the first time that pirates have seized a full oil tanker.

"This is unprecedented," Lieutenant Nathan Christensen, a spokesman for the Fifth Fleet, told Reuters. "It's the largest ship that we've seen pirated. It's three times the size of an aircraft carrier."

....

The attack took place despite an increased multinational naval presence off the Somali coast, where most of the recent hijackings have taken place. The pirates are generally heavily armed, and travel in speedboats equipped with satellite phones and GPS equipment.

Piracy has increased sharply this year, with more than 80 ships attacked so far off the Somali coast, 36 of them successfully hijacked, according to the International Maritime Bureau, a piracy watchdog agency based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Among those hijacked, 14 ships with a total of more than 200 crew members are still being held.

The supertanker, the Sirius Star, was hijacked more than 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa, Kenya, Navy officials said. That is far to the south of most recent attacks, suggesting that the pirates may be expanding their range in an effort to avoid the multinational naval patrols now plying the Gulf of Aden and the Sea.

"I'm stunned by the range of it," said Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a news conference in Washington. The ship's distance from the coast was "the longest distance I've seen for any of these incidents," he said.

The 1,080-foot ship was carrying two million barrels of oil, according to its owner, Vela International, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabia-based oil giant Saudi Aramco. Its 25-member crew includes citizens of Croatia, Britain, the Philippines, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, the United States Navy said.

Few details were available about how and when the attack took place. But Vela released a statement saying the crew appeared to be safe.

Piracy gained a new level of international attention in September, when a Ukrainian freighter packed with tanks, antiaircraft guns and other heavy weapons was captured. That freighter is still under pirate control.

Warships from the United States, Russia, NATO, India and the European Union soon began steaming toward Somalia's waters. Aircraft now crisscross the skies on reconnaissance missions. They appear to have had some success: the percentage of successful pirate attacks dropped to 31 percent in October from 53 percent in August, according to the United States Navy.

But the pirates have proved resilient. There have been several attacks in the past week alone. On Tuesday, several people were killed when British sailors battled pirates to thwart an attack on a Danish shipping vessel, United States Navy officials said.

The pirates have several advantages. Their hunting grounds, from the Gulf of Aden to the Kenyan coast, comprise more than a million square miles. To be safe, merchant ships must stay in a narrow corridor identified by naval authorities. Out of 15 recent pirate attacks, 10 took place outside those corridors, naval officials said.

Most ships do not have heavy security, while the pirates are fast and well armed. The ransom payments have been rising. Only a few years ago the average ransom was in the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2008 they have mostly ranged from $500,000 to $2 million.

The pirates' profits are set to reach a record $50 million in 2008, Somali officials say. Shipping firms are usually prepared to pay, because the sums are still low compared with the value of the ships.

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HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman to Open DIFC Week

Dubai, 20 November 2008: HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank will open DIFC Week, DIFC’s prestigious annual programme of conferences featuring some of the world’s foremost financial and economic leaders, on 23 November, 2008.

Under the theme Sustaining our Oasis of Prosperity in a Turbulent World, DIFC Week 2008, is devoted to discussing regional growth prospects in the light of current global developments.

H.E. Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman said: “DIFC Week provides a platform for thought leaders from the region and across the world to engage in a discussion on the critical issues determining our region’s future. As developed markets go through a period of financial stress, DIFC Week gives us a chance to discuss strategies for sustaining regional growth. It also gives us a platform for sharing insights and ideas on how we can convert the challenges that the crisis brings into opportunities.”

Apart from HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, those due to speak at DIFC Week include:

• Dr. Josef Ackermann, Chairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
• H.E. Mohamed Alabbar, Member, Dubai Executive Council and Chairman, Emaar Properties
• HRH Prince Mohammed K A Al Faisal, President and CEO of the Al Faisaliah Group Holding
• Nasser Al Sheikh, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Finance
• Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Nasser bin Khaled & Sons and founder of AMWAL
• HRH Nazrin Shah, Crown Prince of Perak State Malaysia;
• Sameer Al Ansari, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive of Dubai International Capital LLC
• Peter Oppenheimer, Partner and Global Strategist at Goldman Sachs
• Professor K.C. Chan, Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
• Raja Sidawi, Chairman, Energy Intelligence
• Dr. Kevin W. Lu, Director and Chief Financial Officer, Multilateral Investment Agency, The World Bank Group
• Maria Bartiromo, Anchor, CNBC

DIFC Week opens on 23 November, 2008 with a one-day Summit on family businesses. Key decision makers from leading regional and global family businesses will gather to discuss the issues currently on their minds. What strategies are critical for growth and prosperity during the current economic downturn? What are the internal and external challenges facing family businesses now?

Also part of DIFC Week is the DIFC Forum, to be held from 24 to 25 November. H.E. Mohamed Alabbar will kick off the Forum in his first major public address as the head of the high-level committee set up to help manage the impact of the global financial turmoil on Dubai. In addition, highly interactive sessions will look at critical issues like the economic outlook for the world and the GCC region, the next generation of Islamic Finance, emerging markets in and after the financial crisis, and energy geopolitics in an era of structural change. One of the highlights of the Forum is a session titled “Get the Confidence Back’ moderated by Maria Bartiromo, Anchor, CNBC.

Immediately following the Forum, DIFC Week will feature a conference on 26 November titled: 'The Inside Track on Dubai’. A series of workshops at the conference will discuss the practicalities of establishing operations in Dubai covering legal and regulatory issues, raising capital and understanding the cultural aspects of living and working in the Emirate.

Participation in the Summit is by invitation only to ensure a high-quality environment for business networking. Professional moderators and interactive sessions are expected to facilitate highly productive discussions and debates.

About the DIFC:

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. In just four years, over 750 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards. (www.difc.ae)

DIFC Week is sponsored by Tharawat, the Arab family business network, Deutsche Bank and Abraaj Capital.

About Deutsche Bank:

Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a strong and profitable private clients franchise. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is continuously growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With 78,275 employees in 76 countries, Deutsche Bank offers unparalleled financial services throughout the world. The bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients creating exceptional value for its shareholders and people. Deutsche Bank’s commitment in the MENA region is more than a century old, beginning with the Bank’s financing of the construction of the Baghdad railway. Deutsche Bank opened its first office in Cairo in 1959, followed in the early seventies by an office in Bahrain. In 1999, Deutsche Bank embarked on a regional expansion drive across the GCC which began with the opening of an office in the UAE’s Capital Abu Dhabi in 1999, followed by two offices in Dubai: a representative office inaugurated in 2001 and a branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in 2005. In April of 2006, Deutsche Bank opened a branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the capital Riyadh. Most recently in November of 2007, Deutsche Bank opened its branch in the Qatar Financial Centre in Doha. Deutsche Bank AG in the MENA region offers the full range of investment banking, asset management; private wealth management; and global transaction banking services. Deutsche Bank’s AG is well recognized for its leading role on some of the most prestigious regional transactions. The Bank is the recipient of several awards for its activities in Islamic Finance; and was proclaimed in 2007 as the Best M&A Bank in Middle East & North Africa by Global Finance World. For more information please visit www.db.com.

About Abraaj Capital:

Based in Dubai, Abraaj Capital is the premier investment firm specialising in private equity investment in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. The management team has brought together some of the most compelling and successful transactions in the history of leveraged acquisitions across the region. With US$5 billion of assets currently under management, Abraaj has pioneered institutionalizing private equity practice in the region and is setting trends and benchmarks for others to follow. Winner of industry awards including 'Middle Eastern Private Equity Firm of the Year’ from Private Equity International (2005, 2006 & 2007), the Banker Middle East Award for 'Best Private Equity House’ in 2006 and for 'Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services’ in 2007 and 'Best Private Equity House’ at the World Private Equity Awards, MENA in 2007 Business recognized Abraaj among the 50 Most Admired Companies in the GCC in 2007. Abraaj is also the first pure private equity firm to be registered by the Dubai Financial Services Authority to operate out of the Dubai International Financial Centre. Apart from managing its five private equity funds, Abraaj Capital Holdings Limited (ACHL) itself is extremely well capitalized, with an issued share capital of US$1 billion. Its 135 professionals come from 27 nationalities and achieve a coverage that spans the MENASA region. For more information please visit www.abraaj.com

About Tharawat Family Business Forum:

The Tharawat Family Business Forum is a network of family-owned enterprises in the Arab World. The organisation provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences on business and management issues related to family businesses in the Arab world. Tharawat’s vision is to become the first-choice networking and mutual-assistance forum for family businesses in the Arab world. Through its network of members, Tharawat aims to encourage collaboration and alliances among family-owned and controlled firms in the region. It provides its members specialised education and helps them leverage business opportunities in the region and beyond. The forum seeks to bring a new focus on the business, social and cultural challenges facing family firms in the region. It promotes and sponsors research that helps advance the sustainable development of family businesses. It also works to raise public awareness of new developments within the family business sector. The Tharawat Family Business Forum has a governance structure designed to guarantee the transparency of its activities and its receptivity to high-quality inputs from both members and external experts. The members of Tharawat constitute an innovative and committed community of family-owned businesses, working together to improve collaboration, business growth, and prosperity.

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Kylie Minogue headlines Dubai mega-hotel opening bash

FINAL preparations have been made for what is being dubbed "the most expensive party ever".

More than 2,000 guests - a bewildering mix of royalty and celebrities - have jetted in for the £40m bash, held to launch the luxury Atlantis hotel in Dubai.

Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, will be joined by a who's who of stars including Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Charlize Theron, Lindsay Lohan, Janet Jackson and Lily Allen, plus Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell and Agyness Deyn.

They will all stay in the Atlantis suites, the most lavish of which is the £16,000-a-night Bridge Suite, for tonight's party, which is also launching the Palm Jumeirah island - a man-made piece of land shaped like a giant palm.

Pop princess Kylie Minogue flew in last night and is set to perform a 10-song, hour-long set for which she is getting paid a reported £1.5m.

The guests will be treated to a champagne reception before sitting down to an -inspired feast.

Five hundred chefs and 1,000 service staff will prepare and serve more than 4,000 oysters, 300kg of smoked salmon, and 1.7 metric tonnes of lobster to the guests.

A source close to the organisers said: "It will be like nothing that has gone before. No expense - and I mean no expense - has been spared to make sure this party is the most spectacular ever."

The bash will close with the biggest fireworks show in history, which organisers say will be visible from space.

-Luke Blackall in Dubai

Source

Qaeda stung by U.S. pressure in Pakistan: CIA chief

Under pressure ! Good , I hope they keep that pressure up until the last one of these nimrods is either dead or comes out with a white flag !
Worried about Pakistani protest's ? not me , they did not like us before all this started , if it were to stop today they still would not like us !

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. pressure on al Qaeda near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan has put the group "off balance," but the region remains the biggest terrorism threat to the United States, the CIA's chief said on Thursday.

Agency Director Michael Hayden also told a Washington think tank he and the head of Pakistan's intelligence service, Lt.-Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, shared in a meeting last month common views on how to contain the militant threat.

This was despite heated Pakistani protests over U.S. military strikes inside Pakistan aimed at stopping al Qaeda and Taliban cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.

....

"There's a lot more commonality on how the threat should be dealt with than many people seem to assume," Hayden told the Atlantic Council of the United States.
There may be Taliban elements the United States could talk to, he said, to fracture its alliance with al Qaeda -- a view also expressed by advisers to President-elect Barack Obama.

The United States in recent months has stepped up drone-carried missile strikes against militants inside Pakistan, and in September launched a commando ground attack across the border.

Washington has shrugged off protests from Pakistan, but some experts fear the raid may have undermined Pakistan's fragile democracy and cooperation with the United States.

Hayden, without acknowledging the strikes or the U.S. role in them, said several veteran al Qaeda fighters and commanders had died over the past year, "by violence or natural causes."

'FEELING SOME HEAT'

This has shaken al Qaeda's sense of security, he said. "When we and our allies take terrorists like this off the battlefield ... those that remain are feeling some heat," Hayden said.

"We force them to spend more time and resources on self-preservation. And that distracts them ... from laying the groundwork for the next attack. We keep al Qaeda off balance."

Still, he said, the border region remained the base of al Qaeda's leadership, which had developed a more durable structure and a deep reserve of skilled operatives.

"Al Qaeda operating from its safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas remains the most clear and present danger to the safety of the United States," Hayden said.

The hunt for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden "is very much at the top of CIA's priority list," Hayden said.

"Because of his iconic stature, his death or capture clearly would have a significant impact on the confidence of his followers," he said.Hayden said it was unclear whether al Qaeda will remain united after losing bin Laden, who now appears isolated from the group's day-to-day operations and is spending significant energy on his own security.

The United States has been frustrated by Pakistan's inability to eliminate the militants, but Hayden said it deserved credit for a fierce campaign against them in the border area's Bajaur region.

As the war with al Qaeda continued, veteran enemy fighters were leaving Iraq, where the group is "on the verge of strategic defeat," and heading for Afghanistan, Lebanon, the Peninsula and North Africa. Others have attempted to plot against the United States.

Al Qaeda has gained strength in North Africa, Somalia and Yemen while suffering deep setbacks in Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia as well as Iraq, Hayden said.

Source

Buccaneers In Somali Waters - But They're Not Somalis

So far this year, at least two dozen vessels have been boarded and seized by armed men off the coast of Somalia, the latest a Saudi supertanker capable of carrying two million barrels of oil. I'm avoiding using the term "pirates" because there is lots of piracy going on in Somali waters, most of it committed, not by Somalis, but by foreigners from around the globe.

The northeast African nation, with 2,000 miles of coastline, once boasted some of the richest fisheries in the world, swarming with tuna, lobster, shark, shrimp and whitefish. But there has been no effective government in Somalia since 1991 and, therefore, no Somali coast guard to protect the fishing grounds from marauding foreign vessels. How much damage has been done by over fishing is unknown - foreigners sail into the fisheries as if they own them, and take what they wish.

Webster's Dictionary defines piracy as "robbery on the high seas." By that definition, Somalia is the victim of pirates from all over the world. According to the United Nations, these foreign "fish pirates" plunder Somali waters from about 700 vessels - an armada of commercial buccaneers.

Before Somalia descended into chaos, 30,000 fishermen made their livings from the sea. But they can't compete with the modern, foreign vessels, and there is no one to keep the commercial fish pirates out.

Some foreign fishing interests make their own deals, purchasing fishing "licenses" from warlords purporting to represent authority on behalf of Somalia. That's very much like the "diplomacy" practiced by white settlers in the colonial and early United States, when they made "treaties" with bogus Indian "chiefs" who signed away Native American land for trinkets and liquor.

Local and clan militias have replaced national authority in Somalia, which is partially occupied by the Ethiopian military. The Ethiopian invasion and occupation, instigated by the United States in late 2006, has displaced millions, many of whom face starvation. The coastal fishermen are also members of militias. Western media call them pirates, but as one armed sailor told the New York Times: "Think of us like a coast guard."

Somebody needs to guard Somali's water resources, but it certainly isn't the Americans. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, of the U.S. Navy's Central Command, patrols the Red Sea, the Sea and the Indian Ocean - Somalia's neighborhood. It also bombs Somalis that resist the Ethiopian occupation and targets people the U.S. claims have ties to Al Qaida. But the American fleet does little to interfere with the illegal dumping of radioactive waste in Somali waters or any other crimes against the environment and Somalia's national treasure and sovereignty.

When it comes to piracy, Somalis are on balance the victims rather than the perpetrators. It is estimated that foreigners poach $300 million from Somali fisheries each year. Somalia's armed sailors extort about one-third that amount - $100 million - from the owners of captured ships. So, who are the real pirates?

The United States helped Ethiopia hijack the entire Somali nation: an international crime against peace. Uncle Sam is the biggest pirate of them all.

Black Agenda Report

Click the flash player below to hear this Black Agenda Radio commentary

pirates booty...3 times a charm

morning news..






this is like the 10th time in the past 4 months that 3rd world pirates seized cargo ships on the high seas! it's hard to read these articles without laughing because the pirate stories we're familiar with are the classic ones from the 1400's which involved bearded swashbuckler's looking for buried treasure, canon battles against other pirate ships, having duels with swords and single shot hand guns, stories of kids finding a treasure map in their attic to a boat belonging to "one eyed willie" then finding his boat, raiding it for jewels and then try to escape from the fertellis, stories where pirates wore beards, had wooden legs, wore rags, had severe drinking problems, ate with knives, drank from skulls and made traitors walk the plank. we're not familiar with modern day somalian pirate stories yet, with pirates wearing donated salvation army clothing from the late 90's, shooting ak-47's and missiles, demanding millions of dollars (cash not gold) for ransom and riding in shitty cruise ship rescue boats or little dinger fishing boats that even the guy from "the old man and the sea" would laugh at. can they at least change the name from "pirate" to "african sea bandits" so we don't get confused? and can the modern day pirates at least attempt to look like the classic pirates? do you think disney will hop on this current issue and put out an african version of "pirates of the Caribbean?" which would include a ride in their theme park? could lil' wayne play the role of black beard? all i can say is note to self: never go sailing in the arabian sea or indian ocean...the last thing i need to add to my "hero" resume is rescuing a bunch of people from a seized vessel by using a sword to battle against 3rd world machete wielding pirates in second hand cross color overalls, kid & play t shirts and X hats.

i didn't even know they had boats in somalia. You'd think that in a country where 400 years the people were captured and actually forced againt their own will to ride in crowded slave ships across the ocean to america that boats would be the LAST thing people in that country would ride in. i thought the only thing that came from there were bummer infomercials at 2 am with bug eyed hungry kids covered in flies, chewing rocks, wandering around in a daze of confusion, drinking and bathing in cattle urine and surrounded by a big fat white person trying to get american money so they can eat for a penny a day. is it even possible to eat for a penny a day? man, those commericals bum me out. they're about as depressing as the those ones for abused/neglected pets which are about to get youthenized with natalie imbruglia playing in the background. ever notice how those "a penny a day" commercials always come on when your in the middle of eating a burrito midnight snack and those abused animal commericals come on when you're trying to host an illegal dog fight in your basement? buzzkill.

i mean, c'mon. i've gone on a fishing boat trip in a paddle boat with a bunch of yuppie white people and we looked more intimidating than these dudes:


ship wreck:

then you get a liiittle bit closer and notice that these dudes are the real deal. i shat in my pants looking at these pics. i want to join this crew!!!

holy shit! the taliban doesnt even have guns like this! look at those bullets! straight outta that show "future weapons"


hahah i can't believe i never thought of this! the blind sheik as a pirate!












african bluetooth:


at least they're using the money from the raids to improve their lives...now can they come to america and raid the federal reserve to help us out?


i'm sick of getting emails from the king of africa!!
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Facing up to Pirates

Saudi Arabia has decided that it needs to play its fair role in confronting international piracy, particularly after the hijacking of Sirius Star, the Saudi-owned supertanker seized over the weekend. The tanker, which holds 1/4 of one day’s production of Saudi oil is being held off the coast of Somalia.

While Saudi Arabia’s Navy is small, it does have ‘blue water’ capabilities. It can take part in anti-piracy patrols and is sufficiently armed to sink any pirate vessel, from attack boats to ‘mother ships’ from which they descend. The Saudi Navy is probably not large enough to do port-to-port escort duty, even for only the super-est of tankers, but might manage shorter escorts, through particularly dangerous waters. It might also be used in the Gulf of Aden, where most (but not this) hijackings occur, if only to release other vessels to do longer ranged patrols.

The Saudi Coast Guard is really not competent to take on these kinds of duties. Its role is different, largely protecting the coasts, ensuring boat safety in Saudi waters, and limited anti-smuggling activities.

The new Saudi assertiveness (which surprises and dismays commenter Chucho to some extent) is pretty hot. Arab News, in an editorial, does call for attacks on the port cities of Somalia that are hosting the pirate fleets. And yes, ‘collateral damage’ is always a possibility when military action is taken. I don’t see any way to get around that. But perhaps if Arab armed forces were required to face up to that reality, it might change some of the overblown rhetoric about other unintended casualties in other wars.

After Hijacking, Saudi Foreign Minister Says Nation
Will Join Anti-Piracy Efforts
Faiza Saleh Ambah

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 18 — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Tuesday condemned the hijacking of a Saudi supertanker carrying $100 million in crude oil, calling piracy “a disease that has to be eradicated.”

The 1,080-foot Sirius Star was seized by Somali pirates Saturday off East Africa. Its owner, Vela International, said the tanker is thought to be anchored off the coast of Somalia.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said his country would join international efforts to battle piracy, which has surged to levels unseen in modern times.
…

The Indian Navy is claiming success in sinking a pirate ‘mother ship’ in the Gulf of Aden. According to this Associated Press report (I’ve seen it datelined as coming from both Nairobi and New Delhi), the frigate INS Tabar engaged a pirate ship after it refused to halt for boarding and inspection (a permitted demand under the new UN resolution) and started firing upon the Indian Navy’s ship. The frigate returned fire, sinking the ship and chasing off two smaller attack boats.

Indian navy sinks suspected pirate “mother” ship

(NAIROBI, Kenya) An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate “mother ship” in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night, officials said Wednesday, yet more violence in the lawless seas where brigands are becoming bolder and more violent.

Separate bands of pirates also seized a Thai ship with 16 crew members and an Iranian cargo vessel with a crew of 25 in the Gulf of Aden, where Somalia-based pirates appear to be attacking ships at will, said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting center in Malaysia.

“It’s getting out of control,” Choong said.

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