Somali pirates attack another U.S. cargo ship – the second attack on Americans in a week.
Hello I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.
“…100 miles off the coast of Somalia a bunch of pirates shooting RPGs as well as automatic weapons and the crew again acted bravely and courageously they locked themselves in a room, some were in the cabin, and performed evasive tactics. They never got on board, luckily, and who shows up but the U.S. Navy…” (FOX News)
The UK’s Times Online interviewed one Somali pirate who explains the reason for the second attack:
“The aim of this attack was totally different. We were not after a ransom. We also assigned a team with special equipment to chase and destroy any ship flying the American flag in retaliation for the brutal killing of our friends." (Times Online)
CNN says the U.S. is hesitant to get involved in combat with the pirates, and for good reason:
“…everybody remembers Black Hawk Down during the Clinton years when we lost two helicopters, 18 Americans were killed, and everybody knows the area. And they’re just very reluctant to start going down that path again particularly when we’re already fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” (CNN)
France 24 says the pirates are constantly adapting their tactics…
“Last night, for example, they attacked a boat just before dawn. This is the first time they attack at night. It seems that while there is a huge international deployment in the area the pirates are improving their methods and techniques to attack the boats at night." (France 24)
The Punch, a Nigerian newspaper disagrees, saying the pirates have already lost status and power:
“…after their first encounter with an American vessel, it was not going to be business as usual any more.” (The Punch)
Newsy.com will continue to follow developments off the coast of Somalia.