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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

A Christmas 2008 Appeal To The President of of The U.S. From The M/V Faina Families

Go Directly To The Feature -- Somali Pirate Operations For Sept. To Dec, 2008

Go Directly to Special Features - Day By Day For The Fate of MV Faina.& MT Sirius Star

Updated -- Visit Daily - DAILY INDEX IS BELOW: - Go Directly To The Event

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

A Timeline of Piracy In The Gulf of Aden

Contributors -- Readers Contributing To This Feature

ALSO SEE

"The Taking of MT Biscaglia" - Jan. 2009

Increddible Photos of The Battle!

"The Attack On M/V Zen Hua 4" - Dec. 2008

Increddible Photos of The Battle!

Daily Index To This Crisis: - Go Direct To Current Report By Date -- Scroll To The Date Below --

Sept. 28 2008 - One Crew Dead? - the Capt.?

Current Video

Sept. 29 2008 - Deadly Cargo Was Bound For Genocide In Sudan, Not Kenya

Oct. 1 2008 - Three Pirates Shot Dead - By Each Other

Oct. 2 2008 - Both Sides Talk Tough - Stand Off ?

Oct. 3 2008 - Somalia Pirates -"We Only Need The Money - We Have Nothing To Do With Terrorists"

Oct. 4 2008 - It Appears That Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy May Have Arrived In The Area? But Where Is She?

Oct. 5 2008 - Warlords Demand A Cut - May Have Al Qaeda Links - Record Set As Pirate Attacks Become Daily

Oct. 6 2008 - M/V Faina Crew & Pirates Pose For Class Photo -- LIst of Attacks -- Pirates Out of Conrol - Is The World Taking This Seriously?

Oct. 7 2008 - Ransom Demand Lowered?

Oct. 8 2008 - We Now Have The M/V Faina Cargo Manifest -- Points To Sudan As The Consignee -- Settlement Deal With Pirates Near?

BREAKING NEWS: The United Nations Has Authorized Force To Free The Hijacked MV Faina.

Oct. 10 2008 -- Resolution Deal? -- Indented Attack? -- All Is Quiet

Oct. 11 2008 -- All Talks Ended -- Three Day Deadline For Blowing Up The Ship

Oct. 12 2008 - Gun Battle To Free MV Awail - 3 Dead

Oct. 13 2008 -- Vessel Destruction Deadline For M/V Faina Passes As Cowardly Pirates Take No Action - They Only Want $$

Oct. 14 2008 PM - New Gun Battle - M/V Awai Is Free

Oct. 15 2008 PM - Pirates Won't Destoroy M/V Faina

Oct. 16 2008 PM - Pirates Take Another Ship - International Fleets Approach - New Pirate Map

Oct. 18 2008 - M/V Bright Ruby Is Free - International Fleets Approach - What Degree of Political Correctness Will Control The Effort To Relieve MV Faina?

Oct. 19 2008 - NATO Fleet Arrives - Thai Vessel Freed

Oct. 20 2008 - New M/V Faina Crew Photo -- Russia May Revive Area Naval Base

Oct. 22 2008 -Situation Said Critical - Supplies Gone -Death threat Issued

Oct. 23 2008 - Pirate Death Deadline Arrives - Somalia Pirates Are Silent

Oct. 24 2008 - Pirates Resume Negotiation - Pirates Mock Ransom Offer -- World Navies Resume Battle Plan

Oct. 25 2008 - Desperate Pirates Vs. Heavy Naval Forces - Burning Fuse

Oct. 26-27 2008 - Western Press Again Silent - M/V Faina Reamins In Serious Risk - M/V Faina Held Now For One Month

Oct. 28 2008 - New Death Threat If Ransom Not Paid - Hours Tick On The Clock

Oct. 29 -30 2008 - What A Difference A Day Makes -- As Death Threats Replaced By Word of Negotiation Progress -- EU Gets Cold Feet?

Oct. 31 2008 - 7 More Ships Attacked - One Is Hijacked - Spanish Military "Bombs" Pirates - Is This Really The 21st Century?

Nov. 1 2008 - Ransom Demand Falls To US$5M -- Now Another 48 Hour Demand -- Tragedy Become Circus

Nov. 2 2008 - Next 48 Hour Deadline Passes Once Again -- Talks Continue?

Nov. 4 2008 - MV Faina Still Hostage- Attacks Worsen - Russia Exploits

Nov. 5 2008 - Fresh Supplies {spaghetti} To The Hostages & Pirates - Exactly Who Is Looking Foolish Here?

Nov. 6-7-8 2008 - Another Day To What End? - Russian Supply Ship Arrives

Nov. 9 2008 - Somali Pirates Take New Ship -- MV Faina Quiet - It Took French Commandos Two Weeks

Nov. 11 2008 - Somali Pirates Take Philippine Chemical Tanker -- Indian Marines Fight Back

Nov. 12 2008 - M/T Stolt Strength Is Now Confirmed TakenBy Somali Pirates -- M/V Faina Out of Food? - Embarrassment Sets in

Nov. 13 2008 - Shoot Out To Protect Danish Frieghter -- Pirates Dead -- But FV Faina Remains On Day 50

Nov. 15 2008 - Two New Ship Attacks -- One Vessel Taken -- MV Faina.Sits

Nov. 16 2008 - M/T Stolt Valor Is Freed -- But Another Vessel Is Taken

READER NOTE: This Feature Was Dark From Nov. 16 To Nov. 19 Due To Travel Obligations.

Nov. 20 2008 - MV Faina Resupplied Today -- Saudi VLCC Supertanker M/T Sirius Star Taken Nov. 15 - Pirates Emboldened -- Expand Terror Zone - Stakes Raised

Nov. 21 2008 - Negotiating For M/T Sirius Star Begin -- Meanwhile Western Navies Are Renderded Usless By Politics

Nov. 23 2008 - Two Hijacked Ships Released -- MV Faina Booby-trapped -- Russian Area Presence Will Grow -- 60 Hijackings Through Oct. 2008

Nov. 25 2008 - Pirates Declare A "Blue Light Special" For MT Sirius Star -- On Land Pirate Frenzy Ensues

Nov. 26 2008 - Indian Navy Sank The Wrong Ship? -- M/V Erina Is Taken -- Ransom Price For MV Faina Become a "Blue Light Special"

Nov. 27 2008 - Journalists Replace Ships As Next Pirate Ransom Target -- Mystery Woman Takes Center Stage For Somali Pirate Negotiations

Nov. 28 2008 - Who Saved M/V Andinet From Somali Pirate Attack?-- Lloyd's of London Chairman Says Ransom Will be Paid For M/T Sirius Star

Nov. 28 2008 - The Next Wave - - Piracy In West Afica -- Get Ready -- This Appears To Be The Next Act

Nov. 29 2008 - French Frigate Battles Pirates - Greek MV Centauri Released - List of Vessels Being Held on Nov. 28, 2008

Nov. 30 2008 - Nov. 30 Ransom Deadline Looms For MT Sirius Star - M/V Faina To Be Freed As Deal Is Reached !

Dec. 1 2008 - Hope That M/V Faina Will Be Released in "The Coming Week"

Dec. 3 & 4 2008 - MV Faina Closer To Release - Pirates Say A Day Or So - 30,000-ton luxury cruise M/V Nautica, Taken Under Puny Weapons Fire - M/V Adina Freed

Dec. 5 2008 - More Talk About "Hope" The Deal Has Ben Made For MV Faina -- We Will Celebrate When The Vessel Is Released.

Dec. 6 2008 - Ransom Money Enroute To MV Faina -- The End Is Near -- When Will The Love Boat Arrive?

Dec. 8 & 9 2008 - Trouble In Paradise -- Again -- The Ransom of MV Faina Has Gone As We Expected -- It has Led To Chaos Off Somalia

Dec. 10 & 11 2008 - Dutch Vessel Attack Target Revealed -- MV Faina Crew Mutiny Story Disproved -- Possible U.S. Action, A Long Last -- Indication of Inetention?

Dec. 12 2008 - Today We Reach An All time Low In Terrorism Protection

Dec. 14 2008 - Indian Navy Foils Attack, Captures 12 Pirates

Dec. 14 2008 - MV Faina -- Talks Successfully Completed (Again) -- Ukranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - More Vessels Taken

Dec. 16 2008 - M/T Sirius Star May Be Released With 72 Hours --Really?

Dec. 17 2008 -Three More Ships Taken By Somali Pirates

Dec. 18 2008 - More of The Same -- Talk, Talk With Thug Pirates -- Where Is The Navy? -- Not A Proud Record of Hostage Rescue - Al-Qa'idah On The Scene?

Dec. 19 2008 - Current List of Shipe Being Held -- More "Talks" For M/V Faina

Dec. 20 2008 - Russian Destroyer Gets Convoy Through -- No Word For M/V Faina -- Hoax Reports We Will Not Print

Dec. 22 2008 - Tough Talk From Western Navies Continues -- Local Somali Fighters Attack Pirates

Dec. 23 2008 - M/V Zhenhua 4 Was Attacked - 5 Hour Stand-Off - Battling With Beer Bottles & Molotov Cocktails -- Pirates Out of Control -- Photos Under Fire

Dec. 24 2008 - On Christmas Eve -- A Letter To The President of The U.S. From M/V Faina Families: Exclusive From Moscow Correspondent of The Cargo Letter

Dec. 25 2008 "The Attack On M/V Zhen Hua 4" - Dec. 2008

Dec. 30 2008 - Blogs, Rumors & Conspiracy Theories -- But It Has Been Pretty Damn Quiet

Jan. 1 2009 - Both MV Faina & M/T Sirius Star May See Release Soon -- Money Remains The Question

Jan. 6 2009 - NO WORD - The Silence Is Defining

Jan. 8 2009 - M/V Yasa Neslihan Released & More To Come? Agreemment To Release Super-Tanker M/T Sirius Star Said Made.

Jan. 9 2009 - Air Mail Delivery of US$3M Ranson Frees M/T Sirius Star -- IT'S OVER!!!! Dramatic Photos -- M/V Faina Still Held

Jan. 10 2009 - M/T Sirius Star Confirmed On Her Way & All Crew Well -- But Crime Does Not Pay As Pirates Drown

Jan. 11 2009 - Pirate Wahes Up With Ranson -- These Pirates Are All Wshed Up!

Jan. 12 2009 - Crew In Poor Condition Says MV Faina Capt. In 1st Interview -- Owner Refuses To Negotiate -- Crew Photo Demanded

Jan. 15 2009 - Crew Letter From Nov. 11 2008? -- Kenya Will Not Pay Ransom -- Middlemen Sacked? -- Other New Vessel ReleaseS & Current List of Vessels Held

Jan. 18 2009 - Medical Problems Hit Captive Crew

Jan. 22 2009 - Ransom Offer Increased?

Jan. 23 2009 - Release Deal Made? Ship To Be Finally Freed?

Jan. 27 2009 - Crew Phones Home - Cargo Law Correspondent Says Crew Not Ill & Eager For Release

Jan. 31 2009 - Silence From M/V Faina -- German Taker Taken As Pace of Pirate Raids Drops

Feb. 2 2009 - Para-Drop of US$3.2M Ransom To Deck of M/V Faina -- We Hold Our Breath! Happy Ending?

Feb. 5 2009 - MV Faina Released? -- Largest Ransom In HIstory At US$3.5M-- Information Is Restricted

Feb. 6 2009 - MV Faina Is Free -- But Boud For? -- The Issue of 32 Russian-made T-72 Tanks Remains

Feb. 7 2009 - U.S. Navy Gets MV Faina Underway -- Military Cargo Is Intact

Feb. 8 2009 - MV Faina Estimated To Call At Mombasa Feb. 10

Feb. 12 2009 - MV Faina Nears Port -- U.S. Navy Saves M/V Polaris

Feb. 13 2009 - MV Faina Docks At Mombassa -- Now What? -- Who Owns The Tanks?

Feb. 16 2009 - All The T-72 Main Battle Tanks Are Offloaded

Feb. 24 2009 - Russian Ambassador Blames Mafia For MV Faina Hijacking- No Justice For The Death of Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov

Feb. 26 2009 - MV Faina Crew Honored

Feb. 27 2009 - MV Faina - The Saga Ends?

Special Information For The MV Faina Photo Feature

See "The Taking of M/T Biscaglia" -- Dramatic Battle Photos

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	"Tank You, From The Somali Pirates" "Thanks, But No Tanks" On The Scene At The Port of Hobyo, Somalia

Arrows On Map show Locations Where Pirates Are Taking Captured Ships -

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 1 2008 - Three Pirates Shot Dead - By Each Other

Disagreements between Somali pirates holding M/V Faina laden with tanks and heavy weapons escalated into a shootout and three pirates are believed dead, a U.S. defense official said Sept. 30. The pirates denied the report.

The ship's crew of 21 now consists of Ukrainians, Russians and Latvians but the ship's captain died of an "illness on board', according to Russian media.

U.S. destroyer USS Howard and several other American ships continue surrounding the Ukrainian cargo ship, which is now anchored off the lawless coast of Somalia. The pirates have demanded a ransom of US$20M and the U.S. Navy cordon aims to prevent them from taking any of the weapons ashore.

The official in Washington who reported the shootout spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. He refused to elaborate and said he had no way of confirming the deaths.

But the pirate spokesman insisted the report was not true, that his colleagues were just celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr despite being surrounded by American warships and helicopters.

"We didn't dispute over a single thing, let alone have a shootout," pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told The Associated Press by satellite telephone Sept. 30.

"We are happy on the ship and we are celebrating Eid," Ali said. "Nothing has changed."

The Islamic feast marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier Sept. 30, Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program cited an unconfirmed report saying three Somali pirates were killed Sept. 29 night in a dispute over whether to surrender. Mwangura said, however, he had not spoken to any witnesses.

"The moderates want to give in but the radicals don't want this to happen. The U.S. naval ships are very close and there is panic among the pirates," said Mwangura.

The U.S. Navy claimed that the cargo of 33 Soviet-type T-72 tanks and other military supplies was ultimately destined for Khartoum.

"We have a report indicating that the cargo and the shipment was headed to Sudan," said Nathan Christensen, spokesman for the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Both Kiev and Nairobi have denied Washington's claim, as did a Sudanese army spokesman.

"The Kenyan and Ukrainian governments have all the documents to prove that this cargo belongs to the Kenyan government and not some unknown buyers in Sudan," Kenyan defence ministry spokesman Bogita Ongeri told AFP.

"I really doubt whether the U.S. has the right information. And I don't think that the U.S. Navy has the jurisdiction to talk about this issue," he added.

The U.S. fears the armaments may end up with al-Qaida-linked Islamic militants who have been fighting an insurgency against the shaky, U.N.-backed Somali transitional government since late 2006, when the Islamists were driven out after 6 months in power. More than 9,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the Iraq-style insurgency.

Elsewhere in Somalia, pirates freed Malaysian palm oil tanker M/T Bunga Melati 2 Sept. 30 after a ransom was paid.

The blue-and-white Ukrainian M/V Faina has been buzzed by U.S. Navy helicopters since Sept. 28.

VIEDO REGARDING THE PIRATE SHOOT-OUT

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

What Is The Pirate Booty?

The pirates currently hold US$30M worth of Russian military equipment, including tanks, ammunition and other heavy weapons, including rocket launchers & an extra number of armored personnel carriers.

The prize pirate botty consists of 33 T-72 Main Battle Tanks

The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1971. It is a further development of the T-62[4] with some features of the T-64A (to which it was a parallel design) and has been further developed as the T-90. Chronologically, and in design terms, it belongs to the same generation of tanks as the U.S. M60 Patton, German Leopard 1, and British Chieftain tank. More recently, the T-72's reputation has suffered following poor combat performance against modern Western tanks such as the M1 Abrams and Challenger 1 during the first and second Persian Gulf wars, although poor tank crew training must be taken into account.

This deadly cargo cannot be allowed to reach the Sudan, or other Islamist terrorists. We have already seen the result of such weapons in Darfur.

Editor Note - Oct. 1 2008 AM - So Many Mysteries

Tonight the many mysteries deepen. We put little stock into current versions offered up by the pirates, nor should you.

To where was the deadly cargo boud -- Kenya -- or for genocide in Sudan?

What or who really killed Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov of M/V Faina?

Were three pirates shot over the issue of surrender?

Will unloading of M/V Faina begin -- and what will USS Howard do? What have the Russians authorized Combined Task Force 150 to do in order to prevent the T-72 Main Battle Tanks from falling into terrorist hands ashore?

What will the Russians do? Are there Russian Spetsnaz Troops in the area?

There is no event in memory which combines so many potentially explosive ingredients or real-time news questions.

All we know for sure is that San Diego Based USS Howard DDG 83 remains on guard in visual range -- with a half-dozen U.S. warships & other vessels of Combined Task Force 150 in the area.

Meanwhile, the Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy has now cleared Gibraltar and contiues beating at high speed toward the scene. What will she do on arrival, or is she a cover for other Russian intentions?

So many questions. Clearly there is a movie script here.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up,

Michael S. McDaniel

Some of The Vessels of Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) Join To Support M/V Faina With USS Howard DDG 83

USS Howard DDG 83 And Her U.S.Marines Can Properly Address This Incident Upon Order of The U.S. 5th Fleet. What is The Delay?

 Combined Task Force One Five Zero -- Diverted For M/V Faina

Ships assigned to Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) assemble (above) in a formation for a photo exercise. The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) was established to monitor, inspect, board, and stop suspect shipping to pursue the war on terrorism and includes operations currently taking place in the North Arabia Sea to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Countries contributing to CTF-150 currently include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.

Good Luck Somali pirates. We think your dead pals who wanted surrender -- were right.

VIEDO REGARDING THE PIRATE SHOOT-OUT

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

Return of The Pirates -- A History Channel Special - featuring Michael S. McDaniel

McD

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 2 2008 - U.S. Gets Serious About Pirates - Finally

Today the United States opened/esablished the U.S African Command (AFRICOM) which potentially moves ooperational control of forces such as Task Force 150 away from the U.S. 5th Fleet which is located way over in the Arabian Sea at Bahrain.

The command, known as Africom was carved out of three other commands previously responsible for Africa, but it will remain for now based in Stuttgart, using facilities previously occupied by the European headquarters.

President Bush first announced plans for the command, including a base in Africa, in February 2007 but since then officials have backpedalled following hostile African reaction, including from regional heavyweights South Africa and Nigeria.

Washington is now at pains to deny plans for new bases and reject widespread suspicion that the real motive is to counter growing Chinese influence and control oil supplies from the Gulf of Guinea, expected to supply 25% of U.S. needs by 2015.

The only major U.S. base on the continent is in Djibouti, where a force of between 1,500 and 1,800 is based in the strategic and unstable Horn of Africa.

But the Americans have for years also trained African forces in the vast and remote Sahel region where myriad armed groups operate including nomadic Tuareg rebels and al Qaeda's North African wing, which has staged a growing number of attacks from Mauritania to Algeria since 2006.

The creation of Africom is a recognition by the U.S. that Africa and security issues on the continent are now a priority.

It reflects concerns about tackling Islamist extremism, securing oil supplies, and countering Chinese influence in Africa.

It is Africom, the U.S. 5th Fleet & Task Force 150 that will now continue to monitor USS Howard DDG 83 and the M/V Faina.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 2 2008 - Somalia Authorizes Deadly Force -- But Pirates Say "Destrioy The Cargo"

Somalia says it will will now allow foreign powers to use force if necessary against the pirates who are holding M/V Faina loaded with tanks for US$20M ransom, raising the stakes for bandits who are facing off against the United States and soon Moscow on the high seas.

Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) reains on scene -- while USS Howard DDG 83 and her helicopters keep M/V Faina in full view.

So when eight European Union countries want to join an international operation to protect shipping from pirates off Somali, according to France's Defense Minister on Oct. 1 -- the situation becomes a "Me Too." This said, we must all welcome new partners to the war against terrorism

All this EU talk aside -- Somali Islamist militants on Oct. 1 urged pirates holding M/V Faina carrying tanks and military hardware to destroy the cargo and the vessel if they are not paid ransom.

The U.S. Navy has vowed to prevent the pirates from offloading the arms, but the Shabab Movement said it would not mind getting hold of the cargo of arms in a bid to boost its campaign against soldiers from Somalia, Ethiopia and the African Union.

"If they do not get the money they are demanding, we call on them to either burn down the ship and its arms or sink it," Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, a spokesman for the Shabab Movement, told AFP in an interview.

"The Ukrainian ship is loaded with military hardware that is very important for our holy war against the enemy of Allah and it would have changed the war in Somalia if that military shipment falls in our hands," he said.

The number of pirates  currently operating off the coast of Somalia, with backing concentrated in the northern breakaway state of Puntland, is believed to be upward of 1,000. Most of them are former coastguards.

For these gys -- it's your money or your life --

McD

Editor Note - Oct. 2 2008 AM - So Many Mysteries Continue

In the past 24 hours -- all nations involved have commented. None of the mysteries have been solved.

The Russian Navy said Oct. 1, that no force would be used against pirates who seized M/V Faina -- a Russian Navy spokesman said. Perhaps, but this is the same organization that said it had no interest in controlling East Europe.

We have no late word on Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy which continues racing to the scene.

HOWEVER -- earlier Oct. 1, Somali Ambassador to Russia Mohamed Handule said his country's President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had authorized Russia's military to fight pirates off Somalia's coast and on land.

The makings of an international incident continue to gather. Given the size of this international stand-off, it is expected that some money deal may avoid a shoot-out solution. This we expect.It now appears the arms were destined for the Christian Government Of South Sudan which fights The Al-Qaeda Promoted Northern Sudan Forces

Michael S. McDaniel

Hungarian T-72 Main Battle Tanks Maneuver During A Military Drill In Veszprem, Hungary.

The Pirate Booty of M/V Faina -- There Has Never Before Been Such A Prize,

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 3 2008 - Somalia Pirates -"We Only Need The Money - We Have Nothing To Do With Terrorists"

The Somali pirates holding the cargo ship M/V Faina are now engaged in direct bilateral negotiations with the owners of the ship.

An international armada is preparing to head towards the Somali coast as the stand-off with pirates holding Ukrainian ship M/V Faina to ransom threatened to escalate.

Amid warnings that an effective blockade by the pirates could spark a famine in the Horn of Africa, European Union defence ministers meeting in Paris agreed to set up a naval taskforce to tackle the threat.

Two Royal Navy frigates, HMS Chatham and HMS Lancaster, are already in the region and could join the proposed fleet.

Somali pirates on M/V Faina holding battle tanks & hostages said Oct. 2 that they were ready to battle any commando-style rescue attempt.

The warning came a day after the Somali government gave foreign powers a blank check for using force against the pirates, while U.S. warships continued to circle nearby and a Russian frigate headed toward the standoff.

"Anyone who tries to attack us or deceive us will face bad repercussions," the pirates' spokesman, Sugule Ali, told The Associated Press by satellite telephone from M/V Faina.

Ali sounded calm and relaxed despite being surrounded by a half dozen Navy vessels and buzzed by American helicopters.

Navy officials decline to comment on the possible use of force, but they warn the pirates against harming the 20 crew members or trying to unload the ship's cargo of 33 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks and other weapons. They make clear they won't allow the arms to fall into the hands of an al-Qaida-linked Islamic movement that is battling Somalia's government.

Ali said the pirates planned to release the ship with crew and cargo intact after receiving the US$20M ransom they have demanded.

"We have nothing to do with insurgents or terrorist organizations. We only need money," he said. "We would never reduce the ransom." -- the pirates said.

Any credibility to be attached to the pirate statements -- only places them diretly between a rock and a very hard place as forces of the entire free world approach.

McD

Aboard Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy Which Continues Racing To The Scene.

The Most Modern Frigate In The Russian Baltic Fleet

Will This Vessel Take Action? -- Neustrashimy Is Now Only Days Away.

2003 Photo Aboard The Vessel

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 4 2008 - Somalia Pirates -- About The Money -- Who Wiill Pay? -- Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy Has Arrived?

On Oct. 3, it seemed that discord among all the various players involved &emdash; the shipping company, the ship owner, the insurance companies, government officials and relatives of the captured crew, let alone the pirates &emdash; was slowing down negotiations over how to free an arms-laden M/V Faina that Somali pirates hijacked last week.

The pirates want US$20M, though people close to the negotiations have said they have been bartered down and would probably settle for US$5M. Still, it doesn't seem like anyone is rushing to pay up.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksandr Kupchishin discussed the settlement of the situation surrounding the M/V Faina, hijacked off the coast of Somalia, in a telephone conversation on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia on Oct. 3 called for joint international action to tackle the increasing instances of piracy off the coast of Somalia and said that it will work with the U.S. and the European Union to fight piracy in the waters of the Horn of Africa.

"Russia aims to stop the outrageous actions of Somali pirates," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. He said that Russia will participate in the international efforts to tackle the piracy problem off Somali's coast and called for a UN resolution to tackle the issue.

Meanwhile, the Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy should be closing on the area. Although we had expected published reports that she has entered the Suez Canal, reports tonight from the "Telgraph" in the UK are that Neustrashimy is "just a few miles from the captured MV Faina." Such a report would be in keeping with expected progress of Neustrashimy to the scene, but again we have seen no such independent reports.

Also on Oct. 3, Russian media reported that the Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy is to commence patrols in the Gulf of Aden on 6 November. This date is out of order from our traking of the vessel & press reports. Where would Neustrashimy be for the next 30 days? Then again, the Cold War taught us all that actual Russian intentions are usually experienced, not anticipated.

So -- now -- we hold our breath. The questions of risk & International law could fill a book.

Daily Vessel Casualties: Visit this website to keep up to date on all the serious events at sea each day, including the continuing crisi of the Somali pirates. Or Visit The Cargo Law Ship's Store To Learn That "Ship Happens!"

A Timeline of Piracy In The Gulf of Aden

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 4 2008

There have been four failed pirate attacks in the last 24 hours off the Somali coast despite the presence of six American warships guarding hijacked MV Faina., a U.S. navy spokeswoman said Oct. 4.

The 5th Fleet in Bahrain, says three attacks were averted because crew members escaped at high speed. Another attack was foiled because the pirates were badly prepared: The ladder they had brought to climb onto the ship was too short. The Navy says that three of the attacks were in the heavily patrolled corridor within the Gulf of Aden. The location of another was not precisely known but was somewhere off the Somali coas

Eight European countries have offered to help form an anti-piracy force. On Oct. 3, Russia called for greater efforts to protect the Gulf of Aden waters, one of the world's most important shipping lanes. There have been nearly 70 pirate attacks this year already and some 26 ships successfully hijacked.

Reports claim that pirates of Somalia have netted US$18M to US$30M so far in 2008 in similar open-water jackings, according to a report, Piracy in Somalia, by Chantam House (London).

Tools of The Somali Pirate Trade

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 5 2008 - Warlords Demand A Cut - Have Al Qaeda Links - Record Set As Pirate Attacks Become Daily

Russian news agency Interfax reported Oct. 4 that the Russian Baltic Fleet's Missile Frigate Neustrashimy is on its way to the region to provide future security to Russian commercial ships passing near the Somali coast. The report only stated vessel has passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea, Russian Navy spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.

Islamist insurgents have demanded to be given some of the weapons aboard M/V Faina, but the pirates holding it have refused, a local official said Oct. 5. "Al Shabaab wanted some weapons from the Ukrainian ship but the pirates rejected their demands," said a local official who asked not to be named. "Al Shabaab went away after they were rejected by the residents and the pirates. I am sure the group is not far from the area," he said.

One resident and a relative of the pirates holding the Ukrainian vessel said the Al Shaabab men received a 5% share of the last ransom paid but had been demanding more.

"Al Shabaab demanded more money from pirates and they disagreed," resident Hussein Ali told Reuters. "They met the pirates near Hobyo and asked for more money...but the pirates refused."

The U.S. has linked Al Shabaab as a terrorist organisation to Al Qaeda. The waters between Somalia and Yemen are a major artery used by nearly 20,000 vessels a year heading to and from the Suez Canal.

Meanwhile, the Keynan Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations called a crisis meeting today to address the question of whether the arms aborad M/V Faina were destined for the Keynan military -- or for Sudan. The destination remains a subject of controversy, there apparently being no record of such an arms order in Kenya.

Friday, Oct. 3 2008 Somalia pirates hit a daily attack record, the International Maritime Bureau ssid.

One of the assaulted vessels was an Italian tanker.

The Bureau urged sailors to be vigilant because pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden offshore Somalia had become daily.

On Oct. 3 pirates attacked a dry cargo vessel of the United Arab Emirates that had a crew of 28 and was moving from Europe to Asia through the Suez Canal. The crew managed to escape captivity with wise maneuvering and aerial support of a strike helicopter of the international coalition.

Less than an hour later the pirates armed with machineguns and grenade launchers tried to seize a Philippine vessel carrying chemicals. A coalition warship forced them to depart.

The Italian tanker was the third target; also an abortive one.

A Taiwanese container vessel came next. The crew washed the pirates off the deck from fire hoses.

U.S. Fifth Fleet Released Oct. 3 Photos of MV Faina Crew & Pirates Standing On Deck Following U.S. Navy Demand To Verify Their Health & Welfare.

At Least 10 Armed Priates Join The M/V Faina Class Photo

Keep The M/V Faina Crew Safe

At The Time of The Sept. 25 Hijacking, This Crew Consisted of 17 Ukrainians, 3 Russians & 1 Latvian, including a 14-year-old boy -- Oct. 3 Photo.

Keep The M/V Faina Crew Safe

The Pirates Granted A request By The U.S. Navy To Have The M/V Faina Crew Step Out Onto The Deck.

On Sept. 25, 1st Mate Viktor Nikolsky Said That Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov Had Died From A Hypertension-Related Stroke -- But Did He?

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 6 2008 - F/V Faina Crew & Pirates Pose For Class Photo -- LIst of Attacks -- Out of Conrol

Daily Upadte: Bridge to bridge communications continue -- with pirate demand for US$20M -- or else -- is continuing. The Pirates Granted A request By The U.S. Navy To Have The M/V Faina Crew Step Out Onto The Deck.

During the month of September 2008, a total of 374 people of all nationalities were held by pirates off Somalia and the highest held at any one time was 339, estimates Danish security firm Risk Intelligence of Vedbaek. Here With some Somali pirates said driving new cars and flaunting cash money -- here is a sample of the current activity:

September 16 - French commandos from the Commando Hubert unit, operating from the frigate Courbet freed a French pair of yachtsmen from highjacked yacht Carre d'as IV, somewhere in mountains far from the shore. One pirate was killed and 6 captured, the yacht rumored to be still in use as a mother ship to carry out high-sea attacks. Pirates were asking not only US$2M ransom for the pair, but also the release of six of their compatriots now in trial in Paris, captured also by French commandos this spring.

September 15 - around 13.00 LT Somalia pirates highjacked chemical tanker M/T STOLT VALOR (dwt 25269, built 2004, HK flagged), 38 miles off Yemeni coast. Crew 22 &endash; 18 Indians, two Philippine, one Bangladesh and one Russian.

September 11 - M/V BBC Trinidad and M/T Irene freed after three weeks of capture, talks and delivering ransom, for M/V BBC Trinidad ransom was about US$1.4M.

September 10, 07.00 UTC - pirates highjacked Korean bulker M/V Bright Ruby, en-route Europe. Several hours before a Greek supramax bulker was attacked and fired upon, close-by navy ship sent helicopter and steamed to assist, pirates warded off. Bulker M/V Bright Ruby &endash; grt 15872, built 1987, flag Korea, crew 21, nine of them Koreans, others unknown.

September 4 - Venezuela-registered, French-owned, 24 m and 2-mast luxury sailing yacht S/V Carre D'as IV, an Amel Super Maramu, was on her transfer from Australia to France, when she was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. Reports directly from Somalia indicate that the hostages (the couple Jean-Yves and his wife Bernadette Delanne of French Nationality) were dropped at the Somalia coast near Alula, the yacht is now used to hunt for further prey.

September 3 - 09.30 LT &endash; M/V Al Mansourah was attacked and captured in 14:27N - 049:40E, 13 miles off Yemeni coast, en-route Bin Quasim to Jibouti with cement cargo. Crew 25, grt 9549, built 1980, Panama flagged, owner Egyptian RED SEA NAVIGATION CO.

August 29 - chemical tanker M/T BUNGA MELATI 5 was hijacked 13:11N 046:38E at around 14:00 hrs approximately 14 Nautical Miles off the Coast of Yemen. This location is in the central Gulf of Aden approximately 135 Nautical Miles farther to the west from previous hijack locations indicating an increased operating area for piracy in the Gulf of Aden. M/T BUNGA MELATI 5 &endash; grt 22116, built 1999, flag Malaysia, owner MISC BHD. This is the second tanker of MISC BHD, captured by Somalia pirates.

August 21 &endash; early in the morning pirates highjacked two vessels, in less than one hour.

Iranian bulker M/V IRAN DEYANAT was fired upon, boarded and highjacked. M/V IRAN DEYANAT &endash; grt 44468, built 1983, Iran flagged, owner IRISL, crew 29, cargo ore, en-route to Europe. Rumors are, there were some arms as cargo on board.

Soon after was highjacked another vessel, tanker M/T Irene &endash; 7373 grt, built 2000, flag Panama, manager KOYO KAIUN CO LTD-TOKYO Japan. En-route France &endash; Kandla, India. Crew 19, master & chief engineer were Russians, one Croatia citizen, 15 Philippine citizens.

Later that day, around 20.00 LT, another vessel highjacked, this time general cargo vessel M/V BBC Trinidad, dwt 9775, built 2006, flag Antigua, crew 13 &endash; master Slovenia citizen, chief engineer, 2-nd engineer and 2-nd officer Russian citizen, nine Philippine citizens.

August 19 - pirates highjacked chemical tanker M/T Bunga Melati Dua, dwt 22254, built 1997, flag Malaysia, owner MISC BHD. Cargo palm oil, en-route Indonesia-Yemen, crew 20 plus, all Malaysia citizen.

August 10 - pirates highjacked Thai general cargo M/V Thor Star, 10572 grt, built 1985, flag Thailand, manager THORESEN & CO BANGKOK LTD. With logs load, vessel was en route SEA &endash; Europe, crew 28, all Thailand citizens.

August 10 - pirates highjacked tug M/V Yenaoga Ocean, owner SL Integrated Services, en-route Dubai &endash; Mogadishu, no data on the vessel or crew.

July 20 - pirates highjacked bulker M/V Stella Maris dwt 52454, built 2007, flag Panama, manager MMS CO LTD Japan, cargo lead-zinc ore, crew 20, Philippines.

After reviewing the above reoports, one would think the World War II had not yet ended! While these are just samples of recent "Life On The Somalia Coast" -- there are two points.

First, this situation is now -- well out of control and must be considered more than just a curiosity by the media; and

Second, YOU must read our Daily Vessel Casualty & Pirate Reports from The Cargo Letter. Most of our reporting does not appear in your daily press.

Since the days of sails on the Spanish Main -- we have not seen the likes of this. Meanwhile, we are all diverted from all the many pirate attacks in the rest of the world.

With all the combined might of Task Force 150, the European Union and the United States -- how long will this perversion be allowed to continue?

Despite he complexity of the East Africa-related issues, Russian missile frigate Neustrashim does still appear to be enroute, carrying marines and special forces.

VIDEO OF APPROACHING NATO FORCES

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

Return of The Pirates -- A History Channel Special - featuring Michael S. McDaniel

McD

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 7 2008 - Ransom Demand Lowered?

A Somali pirate on a M/V Faina reduced the ransom Oct. 7to US$8M (euro5.87 million), but it was unclear if he was speaking officially for the bandits holding the Ukrainian vessel.

A man who identified himself as Jama Aden and spoke by satellite phone is not the usual spokesman for the pirates. He answered the telephone of the spokesman, Sugule Ali, and said Ali was not immediately available.

"There are high hopes we will release the ship within hours if they pay us US$8M," Aden said. "The negotiations with the ship owners are going on well."

Aden said a small boat was resupplying the vessel with food and qat, a narcotic leaf popular in Somalia. "The crew is doing well," he added.

Current Cargo Manifest of The M/V Faina

M/V Faina Freight Manifest (above) Appears To Show Contracts For The "Hardware" Were Made By The Kenyan Ministry of Defence On Behalf of South Sudan's Government.

This Document Directly Contradicts Repeated Statements By Kenya That The Weapons Aboard MV Faina Are For Its Army.

The initials GOSS, Military Sources Say Is A Reference To The Government Of South Sudan.

The Christian Government Of South Sudan Fights The Al-Qaeda Promoted Northern Sudan Forces

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 8 2008 - We Have The M/V Faina Cargo Manifest -- Points To Sudan As The Consignee -- Settlement Deal With Pirates Near?

The Kenya Government found itself deep in diplomatic embarrassment today after it emerged that the freight manifest for the hijacked M/V Faina carrying tanks & military weapons shows that the consignment was actually headed for Southern Sudan, as recently contended by the U.S Navy.

A copy of the freight manifest shows that the Kenya Defence Ministry made contracts for the hardware on behalf of South Sudan.

The manifest seems to confirm that the contract was issued on behalf of South Sudan, although the consignee is DoD. This puts the Kenya Government in an awkward position. Kenya mediated the peace pact between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

The latest development could be proof that Kenya has been sucked into the Sudan arms race pitting North & South Sudan, which are arming ahead of the 2011 referendum on the South's self-governance.

Contract numbers for the 33 T-72 tanks, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns bear the initials GOSS, a reference to the Government Of South Sudan.

Seizure Status -- An onshore associate of Somali pirates holding M/V Faina said on Oct. 7 an US$8M ransom deal was in the offing under which the boat would be freed in the next few days.

"A boat will carry the money from Djibouti and pirates are expected to release the ship in the coming two nights," a business partner of the pirates, who identified himself only as Farah, told Reuters.

Maritime officials in the region could not confirm that a deal has been made. Who would pay this large amount of money in exchange for what guarantees?

We want the crew safe, but prefer no settlement. After any $$$ settlement of this crisis -- where do we go next for the 20,000 vessels which transit yearly out of the Suez Canal -- South toward the Horn of Africa & Somalia? With the whole world watching -- payment to the current pirates says -- "if you catch our ships -- the slot machine will pay off." This particular payment will be bad lesson we will have to live with. Vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden remain vulnerable to interception by lawless pirates, which poses a serious threat to international maritime security.

USS Howard DDG 83 and her escorts remain on station. Russian missile frigate Neustrashim does still appear to be enroute. What is needed is a combined U.S.& EU edffort to cover the Somali Coast -- to stop the hijackings.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 8 2008

A naval task force from Russia's Northern Fleet, led by the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, will visit the Libyan capital October 11-13, an aide to the Navy commander said Oct. 8.

Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said the Neustrashimy missile frigate from Russia's Baltic Fleet would call at Tripoli at the same time to replenish supplies.

He added that the frigate would then continue its tour of duty via the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean.

"The Neutrashimy will go to Somalia where it will ensure the safety of Russian vessels passing through this area against pirate attacks," he said.

On Oct. 1, Somali Ambassador to Russia Mohamed Handule said his country's President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had authorized Russia's military to fight pirates off Somalia's coast and on land.

 Russian Nuclear Powered Heavy Missle Battlecruiser Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) -- Now With Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashim

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 8 2008 PM -

BREAKING NEWS: The United Nations Has Authorized Force To Free The Hijacked MV Faina.

The UN Security Council resolved that states with warships and planes in the area should attack the ship "on the high seas and airspace off the coast of Somalia".

Military experts believed the most likely option was a commando style raid to overpower the pirates on board, rather than a direct attack on the ship.

Shelling the vessel could cause a catastrophic explosion and kill the hostages as well as losing the entire cargo, they said.

The UN Security Council resolution was described by the UN as necessary to repress piracy, consistent with the 1982 UN Convention on the law of the Sea.

The vote to attack the pirates holding MV Faina that has been moored off Somalia since Sept. 26 came as the Kenya Government through Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula backed the use of force to repossess the ship.

Over & over the U.S. & UK have applied to the UN Security Council for action to take down terrorism some part of the world -- only to experience a constant VETO from Russia and/or China which are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Today Russia applies for UN Security Council for relief -- GRANTED. The UK & U.S. did not block, because action is the right move. Too bad the system does not work both ways.

ABOVE: This morning we reported that the Russian the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky is now in the Mediteranian along with the Russian missile frigate Neustrashim. Coincidence? Perhaps, but the circumstances seem set for these ships -- both said to carrying troops -- to within days of addressing MV Faina. on some direct basis.

MEANWHILE: An onshore associate of Somali pirates holding MV Faina said on Oct. 8 an US$8M ransom deal was in the offing which may enable the boat to be freed within days. "A boat will carry the money from Djibouti and pirates are expected to release the ship in the coming two nights," a business partner of the pirates, who identified himself only as Farah, told Reuters.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 9 2008 PM - Pirates Free M/T Irene In Exchange For Ransom

Somali pirates freed a Japanese chemical tanker and its crew on Oct. 9 after a US$1.6M ransom was paid, a regional government official said.

The M/T Irene was seized by gunmen on Aug. 21 as it travelled to India from France through the Gulf of Aden.

Editor Note - Oct. 9 2008 AM - So Many Mysteries Continue - Is The End In Sight?

We are left with almost as many mysteries as when we began.

The World press is reporting that a resolution deal is at hand to deliver a US$8M ransom by boat from Djibouti to end this crisis. Yes, but reports to us tonight are that the pirates also demand a more difficult prize of safe passage -- deep into the interior of Africa. We hear that a debate rages.

Meanwhile, Russia goes to the great trouble of a UN Security Council Resolution authorizing a commando style raid to overpower the pirates on board. This, just as we report sigificant Russian naval acticity in the area. What do you make of this?

There are a variety of interesting resports to The Cargo Letter tonight. We are not comfortable in publishing additional information at this time.

What is needed is a combined U.S.& EU edffort to cover the Somali Coast -- to stop the hijackings.

Michael McDaniel

U.S. Navy Sailors of Task Force 150 Surveil MV Faina -- Pirates In The Gun Sights

USS Howard DDG 83 And Her U.S.Marines Can Properly Address This Incident Upon Order of The U.S. 5th Fleet. What is The Delay?

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 9 2008

According to reports in Jane's Defence Weekly and others, another 100 T-72 and T-55 tanks may have been shipped to south Sudan through the Kenyan port of Mombasa in the past year. That raises further questions. Have all suspicious arms shipments reached south Sudan or have some been stockpiled in Kenya? Who paid for them? Kenya's vice-president, Kalonzo Musyoka, has said the tanks on M/V Faina are Kenya's property, since the Kenyan taxpayer paid for them. If true, and the tanks still go through to south Sudan, that would turn Kenya from being the midwife of the peace agreement in Sudan in 2005 into the would-be midwife of an independent and heavily-armed south Sudan, ready to go back to war with Sudan's Islamist government in Khartoum, should it try to stop the south's secession after a promised referendum in 2011. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which monitors arms sales in the region, says the shipment undermines Kenya's position as a sponsor of an arms-trade treaty for Sudan.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 10 2008 -- Resolution Deal? -- Intended Attack? -- All Is Quiet

MV Faina remains safe at anchor. Over the last 24 hours there have been so many contradictory reports -- that reporting here is useless.

Is there a deal to free MV Faina in exchange of ransom? Are the pirates safe in their escape demands into the interior of Africa? Is there a gathering military movement to re-take MV Faina?

That was all yesterday.

During the last two weeks since MV Faina was captured -- we have not seen such a quiet period as in the last 24 hours.

McD

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 10 2008

On board MV Faina were six Tultiple-launch rocket systems with ammunition, in addition to 33 T-72 tanks, Interfax reports, citing members of a Ukrainian Supreme Rada Temporary Commission On Illegal Arms trade.

RIA Novosti quotes commission head Valery Konovalyuk as saying that there were portable ballistic missile launchers on M/V Faina. Konovalyuk expressed concern that the weapons would be obtained by terrorists from the pirates.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 11 2008 -- All Talks Ended -- Three Day Deadline For Blowing Up The Ship

Today the pirates of Crapistan (the failed state of Somalia) have cut off all negotiations and given a Three Day Deadlline For Either Payment of the US$20M Ransom -- Or The Pirtates Will Blow Up MV Faina, The Cargo, The Crew & Themselves. All negotiations have broken off.

In very somber news, about 100 migrants from Somalia are missing and feared drowned in the treacherous waters off the coast of Yemen after smuggler/pirates forced them overboard, Yemeni officials and the UN refugee agency said on Oct. 10.

So far, 30 bodies have been found washed up on the shore of the Gulf of Aden on Oct. 10 and were buried immediately, a Yemeni security official said. Enough is enough.

All this carnage has just gone too far.

Revised figures estimate that Somali Pirates have extracted US$18M to US$30M in ransom payments this year, according to Chatham House, a British think tank. They could haul in US$50M by the end of December 2008. This year alone, bandits based on the Somali coast have attacked some 60 ships & more than than a dozen vessels and 300 seamen are still being held hostage. Enough is enough.

This big-time moneymaker off the Somali coast may soon experience a corporate downturn

It is amaing that such a small band of tribal pirates could hold the entire world at bay for two weeks -- with only one vessel held hostage -- this posture will shortly be altered. The dynamics of this incident may change.

We pray for the crew of MV Faina and for the Somalia poor who have no connection with this incident.

Today the tribal Somali pirates have captured MV Awail (Wael) carrying cement from Oman through the Red Sea in the Horn of Africa. On Oct. 9 On, the tribal Somali pirates attempted to board a World Food Program (WFP) chartered freighter, MV Al Salaam, after she had offloaded food aid in the Somali capital Mogadishu, but it escaped.

Meanwhile, the pirates seem to be having a fine time.

Abdi Garad, who describes himself as the commander of one of the first groups of pirates who started marauding Somalia's much-frequented waters, has no qualms about listing the personal advantages derived from piracy.

"We enjoy life with the money we get as a ransom,'' he told AFP News from an undisclosed location in the semi-autonomous breakaway region of Puntland.

Abdi Garad boasts a large flat in one of Puntland's main towns, owns two fully-equipped SUV's, three mobiles, a satellite phone and a laptop.

Last on his list, but maybe not least, he says he recently married two more wives to add to the lone spouse he had before launching his career in piracy.

Residents have also reported a boom in lavish wedding parties in the Puntland town of Garowe since the hijacking of mainly merchant vessels off Somalia's lawless coastline became a weekly occurrence last year.

According to experts, the surge in piracy has raked in up to US$30M in ransom money since the start of the year alone, causing jitters in world trade and attracting unprecedented attention to a forgotten country.

Pirates Leave Merchant Vessel MV Faina For The Somali Shore, While Under Observation By A U.S. Navy Ship.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 11 20082

The Oct. 10 threat was very unusual. Pirates operating off Somalia rarely harm their hostages, instead holding out for a ransom that often exceeds US$1M. But international pressure was mounting regarding the MV Faina hijacking, with NATO forces planning to deploy.

"We held a consultative meeting for more than three hours today and decided to blow up the ship and its cargo &emdash; us included &emdash; if the ship owners did not meet our ransom demand," Sugule Ali said when a reporter called the satellite telephone on board the ship. He gave the ship owners until Oct. 13 night to pay. Ali had said on Oct. 9 he was willing to negotiate the ransom demand of US$20M, after nearly two weeks of insisting they would never lower the price.

"Either we achieve our goal and get the ransom or perish along with the ship, its crew and cargo," Ali said.

Today Ali said several fighter jets and a drone were hovering over the ship.

"It appears that they are readying for an operation," he said.

"Helicopters, fighter jets and an unmanned drone are constantly flying over us all day long ... It is around-the-clock surveillance," he said.

Slow Boat To Somalia: The Russian frigate Neustrashimy appears to be the slow boat to Somali. She left her Baltic sea base on Sept. 24 (a day before M/V Faina was taken) for anti-piracy duty off Somalia. Neustrashimy and called at Tripoli, Libya today, for a two day visit (and replenish its fuel and food supplies). It now appears that the Neustrashimy won't show up off Somalia until mid October, at the earliest. Neustrashimy is being accompanied to Libya by the nuclear powered battle cruiser Peter the Great (which will head for Venezuela after the Libya visit). So much for the earlier concept of Russian ships "racing" to the recue of M/V Faina.

The U.S. Navy deserves a lot of credit here. If this is the event at sea happening in the world today, off a small coastal town of Somalia, then consider for a moment the advantage of a forward deployed naval force. While unconfirmed, it is believed the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Monterey (CG 61) are making their way up the east coast of Africa, while the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS San Antonio (LPD 17), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Ramage (DDG 61), and USS Howard (DDG 83) are all thought to be in the area. Whilr this is the most powerful air, land, and sea combination anywhere in Africa, it is the submarine the pirates can't see that should have them worried. The USS Florida (SSGN 728) is thought to be in that region, among other submarines usually deployed.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 12 2008 - - Gun Battle To Free MV Awail

Somali forces have tried, but failed, to take back aboard MV Awail held by pirates off Somalia's coast. A spokesman for a semiautonomous region called Puntland says two pirates and one soldier died in the fighting.Somali forces are chasing the ship. Pirates hijacked the carg MV Awail (Wael) on Oct. 9.  The ship, which is carrying cement, is believed to have Syrian and Somali crew onboard.

Somali pirates have hijacked more than 30 ships in all this year, freeing them for ransoms that sometimes exceed US$1M.  The country has not had a functioning government since 1991.

Meanwhile, other pirates still hold MV Faina. Local reports say pirates have rejected a local mediator, delaying start-up of new talks. "The talks between pirates and ship owners stopped after the pirates insisted Somali brokers be removed from the process," an elder in Harardhare, Ahmed Hasan, said. The hijackers are reported to have agreed to accept a US$10M (Sh700 million) ransom.

It is also reported that the body of Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov remains aboard MV Faina. He is said to have died of hypertension when the vessel was taken on Setp. 25.

What is needed is a combined U.S. & EU edffort to cover the Somali Coast -- to stop the hijackings.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 12 2008

Russia's Baltic Fleet missile frigate Neustrashimy finally left Tripoli this morning, for Somalia.

"Either we receive our money by tomorrow, or never,'' Sugule Ali, a spokesman for the pirates, said by satellite phone. He ``gave it to be understood'' that MV Faina could be sunk tonight or tomorrow

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 13 2008 PM -- Vessel Destruction Deadline Passes As Cowardly Pirates Take No Action

The deadlin for blowing up MV Faina has passed. There was no action when the ransom was not paid. Did we expect less from these cowardly bandits?

Leaders in Kenya make clear today that no ransom will neither be paid nor considered. Kenya say say negotiations are done.

"Kenya has stated and will continue to insist that it will not pay the ransom since doing that will only encourage a continuation of such acts," Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula said in Nairobi.

 "We are appealing to those with naval ships deployed on the waters such as France, the United States and Britain to assist us. We should work together so that we can combat the pirates that are lowering the level of business along the Indian Ocean coast," he said.

Meanwhile, Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur said the transitional government negotiators had not been able to re-establish contact with the pirates since Oct. 11.

"We know that (Somali) elders have been speaking with them and telling them to come to their senses but up to now we have not had any good outcome," Nur stated. He also expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved peacefully, adding that the piracy crisis had led to a rise in the price of basic goods in the country. 

"Food prices in Somalia have really skyrocketed. Ships that used to go to Somalia such as those carrying humanitarian aid cannot do so. Even those that do have increased their insurance premiums and that it is affecting the Somali people," Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula said. 

The pirates have said they will destroy the MV Faina on Oct. 13 night or early Oct. 14 unless a ransom is paid. But the pirates have said they may extend the deadline following requests from the ship's owner and other unidentified people, pirate spokesman Sugule Ali said. This extension -- if a real statement -- has not been widely circulatled in he press. Either way, what does this matter?

This scum MV Faina holding give pirates a bad name. The stand-off continues.

The question now is when the Western Navies will finally take some action with the ample forces at hand. We pray for the crew of MV Faina -- but the world can only be held hostage for so long.

After two weeks of bravado -- these pirates just proved to be punks.

Daily Vessel Casualties: Visit this website to keep up to date on all the serious events at sea each day, including the continuing crisi of the Somali pirates. Or Visit The Cargo Law Ship's Store To Learn That "Ship Happens!"

A Timeline of Piracy In The Gulf of Aden

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

Return of The Pirates -- A History Channel Special - featuring Michael S. McDaniel

Commanding Officer of U.S. Navy Guided Missile Cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) Monitors Pirated M/V Faina While One of His Helicopters Provides Surveillance

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 14 2008 PM - New Gun Battle - M/V Awai Is Free

Take Two Is Successful: Officials in the semi-autonomous Puntland region say security forces in northern Somalia have stormed Panamanian-registered cargo M/V Awai that was seized by pirates last week, rescuing the crew unharmed. Local forces boarded the vessel after a gunfight in which two soldiers were wounded. Ten gunmen on board surrendered after running out of ammunition.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 15 2008 - Pirates Won't Destoroy M/V Faina

The pirates have announced a decision not to blow up MV Faina. There's a shock.

"We have withdrawn [the threat]," spokesman Sugule Ali told The Associated Press on Oct. 15 by satellite phone from the ship. Negotiations will resume.

Seven NATO warships sailed into the Suez Canal on Oct. 15 headed for Somalia to protect shipping after last week's decision by defense ministers to provide protection against pirates who have seized almost 30 ships this year.

NATO ships will escort U.N. World Food Program (WFP) vessels carrying food aid to Somalia and run patrols to deter pirate attacks on other vessels. NATO will work closely with the European Union, which is expected to take over the mission in December 2008. Destroyers from Italy and the United States, frigates from Germany, Greece, Turkey and Britain and a German auxiliary vessel make up the NATO naval group.

The EU announced that its mission -- to involve ships from Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and possibly Britain -- would be run from the British armed forces headquarters at Northwood, north of London.

Over 20 naval vessels to deal with 50 pirates? ANSWER: This effort os not just about MV Faina. These vessels will spread along the coast of Somalia to defend the 22,000 vessels which transit the Suez Canal to help end this threat to international shipping. We need all the help we can get.

Daily Vessel Casualties: Visit this website to keep up to date on all the serious events at sea each day, including the continuing crisi of the Somali pirates. Or Visit The Cargo Law Ship's Store To Learn That "Ship Happens!"

This NATO Map Reports The Oct. 15 Situation

The Most Recent Unclassified Piracy Map Released by NATO, Indicates MV African Sanderling, A 32,379 gt Bulker Was Hijacked Oct. 15.

The International Maritime Bureau Reports The Total Hijacking In African Waters Is 73 & That A Total of 29 Ships Have Been Hijacked

Of These Hijacked Vessels -- 11 Remain In The Hands of Pirates Along With More Than 200 Crew.. NATO Gives The Total of Ships Currently Held By Pirates As 9.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 16 2008 PM - Pirates Take Another Ship - International Fleets Approach

The latest vessel hijacked is Oct. 15 -- a bulk carrier with 21 crew - 2008- built M/V African Sanderling, a 32,379 gt bulker -- hijacked Oct. 15 in the Gulf of Aden sailing from the Middle East to Asia when it was seized Oct. 15. The Somali pirates have another victim.

This coast needs protective coverage -- and it is to be supplied by the combined fleets of the EU & NATO which are currently steaming to the scene to support the United States & Task Force One Five Zero.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 18 2008 - M/V Bright Ruby Is Free - International Fleets Approach

South Korean shipping companyJ&J Trust paid a ransom to Somali pirates to free its 22 sailors, an official said Oct. 17.

The crew members -- 8 South Koreans & 14 citizens of Myanmar -- were released Oct. 16 along with their cargo M/V Bright Ruby after more than a month of captivity following the hijacking off the coast of Somalia on Sept. 10.

The sailors "were released after the ransom was paid to the Somali pirates," the official with J&J Trust, which owns the ship, told The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the issue. He said the ransom was delivered in cash through an agency serving as a middleman. He refused to identify the agency and the amount of ransom.

A South Korean Foreign Ministry official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the payment.

The sailors -- who were all safe -- were heading toward a Sri Lankan port and planned to return to South Korea later this month, the ministry said late Oct. 16.

The latest incident prompted the South Korean government to consider dispatching naval vessels to waters off Somalia to counter any possible hijackings of South Korean ships.

As the NATO & EU vessel groups and the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy -- all approach -- the issue is pressed. There will be a sea change shortly. The area in question is the Gulf of Aden, a 920- by 300-mile basin separating the Arabian coast from the Horn of Africa. It is used by about 250 ships a day

The Rise of Piracy of A Diiferet Type

Editor Note - Oct. 18 2008 - Modern High Seas Piracy - The Game Has Changed

Our year 2000 study of Modern High Seas Piracy set a standard for a menace which had not been seen since the 17th Century.

The graph above displays progress made since 2004 to control the threat & loss.

While all geographic areas of piracy have declined -- history now gives to us another, new "game" for the pirates -- the failed state.

In 1991 Somalia failed as a nation state.

Italian Somaliland gained its independence from Italy on 1 July 1960. On the same day, it united with British Somaliland, which gained independence on 26 June 1960, to form the Somali Republic. The Somali state currently exists largely in a de jure capacity; Somalia has a weak but largely recognized central government authority, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), but this is only the latest in a string of ineffectual, externally-recognized governing authorities. Even this government collapsed.

The lack of a government in Somali has given rise to circumstances which promote the "free enterprise" of war lords of the sort well described in movies such as "Black Hawk Down."

There would come a time -- about 2003 -- when the war lords would figure out that some slight effort on their part would enable armed bands to seize ships off the coast -- and hold them for ransom. The Somali pirates were born. Now they are to the point of operating "mother ships" to extend the operational threat.

The Somali pirate game has now developed into a local Somali cottage industry which has generated at least US$35M so far this year in ransom profits.

The only real change to our year 2000 study Modern High Seas Piracy is that now we have an entire "country" which practices piracy. Because of this we now have additional political considerations. How do you treat a "counrty" that is not a "counrty?"

With Task Force One Five Zero, the NATO Group, the EU Group and the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy -- all about to be on scene -- the two questions become 1.) safety for the MV Faina crew; and 2.) what degree of political correctness will control the effort to relieve MV Faina?

It may have dawned upon the military commanders that these present circumstances have many similarities to the 17th Century. There is only one proper way to deal with this threat.

Michael S. McDaniel

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 19 2008 - NATO Fleet Arrives - Thai Vessel Freed

The 7 vessels of NATO's Standing Maritime Group 2 (SMG2) ended its transit through the Suez Canal and has arrived of Somali to carry out anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf region.

Relatives of 17 Ukrainians on MV Faina have collected money for the ransom, media reports said on Oct. 18. "The negotiations are ongoing. We still haven't handed over the money but it's all leading up to that," Olga Girzheva, the mother of one of the hostages, told Ukrainian media, without giving a final figure for the ransom. Relatives told reporters that most of the ransom money had come from leading politicians including Viktor Yanukovych, a former prime minister who leads Ukraine's main opposition party, the pro-Russian Regions Party.

Thoresen Thai Agencies Plc, Thailand's biggest shipping company, has confirmed the release of its MV Thor Star, which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia on Aug 12. No details were given about the level of ransom which has been paid.

Pirates Line Up MV Faina For U.S. Navy Camera On Oct. 19 2008 -- We Pray For This Crew

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 20 2008 - New M/V Faina Crerw Photo

U.S. Navy spokesman Lt. Nathan Christensen said the crew of MV Faina looked healthy. The pirates who seized the ship 3 weeks ago allowed the mostly Ukrainian crew to line up on the deck on Oct. 19 so U.S. sailors on nearby vessels could see and photograph them.

The German non-governmental organization Ecoterra International -- the last international environmental organization still working in Somalia. -- said negotiations between the hijackers and the ship's owners Kaalbye Shipping, Ukraine have been stepped up with both sides striving to find a way to safely release the crew and vessel upon payment of millions of dollars in ransom.

Ecoterra said 1 ton of fuel could be provided to the hijackers, but noted that food and freshwater supplies for the crew have not yet been allowed on board.

At least 25 vessels remain hijacked off anarchic Somalia including MV Faina and M/V Stolt Valor with her 18 Indian sailors.

Russia May Revive Area Naval Base: It was revealed Oct. 16 by the speaker of the Upper House of the Russian parliament, Segei Mironov, an influential politician close to the Kremlin, that Russia might resume its Soviet-era naval presence in Yemen. Interestingly, Mironov made the announcement while on a visit to Sana, Yemen. He said Yemen sought Russia's help to fight piracy and possible terrorist threats and that a decision would be taken in Moscow to respond in accordance with the "new direction" of Russia's foreign and defense policies.

"It is possible that the aspects of using Yemen ports not only for visits by Russia warships but also for more strategic goals will be considered," Mironov said.

Significantly, Mironov explained that Yemen had threat perception regarding groups affiliated to al-Qaeda, which might be hiding in the Somalia region. (The Soviet Union had a major naval base in the former South Yemen, which merged with North Yemen in 1990 to form the present-day Yemen.) 

Meanwhile Russia's missile frigate Neustrashimy (Intrepid) - continues transpit and her role as the "slow boat to Somalia."

Pirates Stand Guard Aboard MV Faina

Editor Note:

Many say that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin wishes for the former Soviet Union to re-unite in a new Russia -- by all accounts -- and after the invasion of Gerorgia in 2008.

The reestablishment of a Russian naval base in Yemen would be a next step toward the Putin plan.

Yemen says that the request for Russian military support is to block al-Qaeda. Such a move would take a next step for Putin.

Yemen says it welcomes Russia as a protection from al-Qaeda. If so, this move would seem to put Russia in position contrary to China on some recent votes of the UN Security Counsel.

McD

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 21 2008 - Neustrashimy Reaches Indian Ocean

The guided missile frigate Neustrashimy (Intrepid) is now finally is passing through the Suez Canal. The ship's armament includes SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship missiles, SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM, a 100-mm gun, torpedoes and depth charges. The frigate also carries a Ka-27 ASW helicopter.

Modern Day Piracy -- Presentation By Michael S. McDaniel, Esq. of Modern High Seas Piracy

Return of The Pirates -- A History Channel Special - featuring Michael S. McDaniel

Do These Tribal Somali Pirates Intend To Bring A Final Deadline? If So, We Have Reached A Decision Point

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 22 2008 - Situation Said Critical - Crew To Be Killed

According to reports, the situation on MV Faina is critical, as reserves of water, food and fuel, including diesel fuel for the ship's generators, will last less than 30 hours.

The pirates have threatened to kill the crew tomorrow, Ukraine's Segodnya newspaper said on Oct. 22.

The newspaper said that it had spoken on the phone to one of the pirates, who said that there was no food or water left and that "the crew would probably die tomorrow."

A spokesman for the ship owners said that the crew ran out of food and water a week ago and the pirates had been feeding the sailors up to Oct. 21 with supplies brought from the mainland.

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 23 2008 - Pirate Death Deadline Arrives - Somalia Is Silent

As the deadline approached for action by the tribal Somali pirates to end this stand-off by murdering the crew of MV Faina -- the news wires have fallen silent.

These tribal Somali pirtates have no discipline, no training, no real ideology -- and no courage. When the kidnap & ransom plan fails -- the outcome will be chaotic. There has or will become a time when Western forces must move to protect/save the crew of MV Faina. These are the decisions which are made with that vast amount of tactical information not available to us. Still, we hope the proper decisions are made. Task Force 150 remains on station, surrounding MV Faina. Then again, what level of credibility do these tribal pirates have. Not much.

Good luck to the crew of MV Faina and to Commander Curtis Goodnight of Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Howard DDG 83.

As the entire world now considers the Somali pirate situation -- current fleets from the te U.S., NATO, the EU & Russia in the area -- South Korea will send a team of military officers to Somalia next week to determine whether Seoul should dispatch naval vessels to the African nation for anti-piracy efforts

RUSSIA UPDATE; Capt. Igor Dygalo, aide to th chief commander for the Russian Navy confirms the Russian destroyer Neustrashimy has set course of the Bay of Aden to guarantee the safety of Russian craft in the area where Somali pirates are active.

Capt. Igor Dygalo said the ship "has already practically begun its mission to guarantee the safety of Russian maritime craft." He added that the Neustrashimy will coordinate her activities with foreign vessels in the area that are observing the Ukrainian MV Faina, which is controlled by pirates. In addition, it will "complete a number of tasks in various sectors of the sea off the Horn of Africa with U.S., French and other foreign naval vessels," Dygalo said.

Daily Vessel Casualties: Visit this website to keep up to date on all the serious events at sea each day, including the continuing crisi of the Somali pirates. Or Visit The Cargo Law Ship's Store To Learn That "Ship Happens!"

Return of The Pirates -- A History Channel Special - featuring Michael S. McDaniel

Russian Guided Missile Destroyer Neustrashimy Clears Te Suez Canal -- Oct. 21

The "Slow Boat" Is In The Indian Ocean -- But Days Away From MV Faina

From The Cargo Letter - Oct. 24 2008 - Pirates Resume Negotiation - Pirates Mock Ransom Offer -- World Navies Resume Battle Plan

After hours of silence -- the pirates aboard MV Faina are now talking, threatening & negotiating once again. For the momemt this is good news for the crew of MV Faina .

Somali tribal pirate spokesman Sugule Ali is back again. Once again on the satellite phone he told the Associated Press that if the destroyers of NATO attacked then the crew would be killed.

Speaking by satellite phone, he said: "Either we get the money or hold onto the ship. And if attacked, we will fight back to the bitter end."

"The important thing, though, is if we die they will die too."

Mr. Ali again said supplies were running out but said the pirates would share what remained with the crew.

"We Somalis don't eat in front of a hungry person," he said. "We will share our food with them."

He also mocked comments by Tomex Team, the firm operating the MV Faina cargo ship, which said it has accumulated only £616,000 toward the £12.3m ransom initially demanded by the pirates.

"That is worthless," he said. "It would only pay for several nights' stay in a hotel!"

While Sugule Ali & I definitely stay in different hotels, the good news is that the dialogue continues and the crew remains "safe" for now.. Otherwise, we should imagine that £616,000 would not rent a room, but buy an entire hotel in this part of the world. Sugule Ali is getting his 15 minutes. The US$8M ransom demand apparently continues.

McD

RUSSIA UPDATE: Russia has formally asked the Somali government for permission to conduct anti-piracy operations in the country's pirate-infested territorial waters, said the country's foreign ministry in a statement released Oct. 23.

"To ensure freedom of actions to fight piracy directly in Somalia's territorial waters, the Foreign Ministry of Russia has requested the agreement of the Interim Federal Government of the Somali Republic to grant the Russian Federation 'cooperating state' status," the ministry said in the statement. Whether this diplomatic speak suggests a move to relieve MV Faina is anyones guess.Russian Guided Missile Destroyer Neustrashimy will arrive on station shortly.

The Ministry also ruled out the participation of the Ukrainian government officials in the negotiation processes with the pirates adding elsewhere that, in the event of a hijacking, only "ship owners or managing companies could talk to the pirates." On a different level, we find it interesting that the Russian Foreign Ministry seems to be speaking for the Ukrainian government.

Russian Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 23 that the pirates will not allow the body of Capt. Kolobkov to be returned from MV Faina "Unfortunately, the attempt to receive the body of Captain Vladimir Kolobkov with the assistance of the International Committee of Red Cross and U.S. colleagues has been abortive because of unacceptable demands of the pirates," the ministry said.

FRANCE UPDATE: The France Navy frigate Courbet has arrested 9 pirates and handed them over to authorities in the breakaway Somali region of Puntland. French marines in the Gulf of Aden arrested the men when their patrol intercepted two boats on Oct. 22 in international waters about 100 nautical miles (185 kilometres) off the Somali coast, Paris and local Puntland officials each said.

They found small arms and anti-tank weapons and equipment used to board ships on the vessels. This was another Western move to blunt the tribal Somali pirates before they could strike again. BRAVO ZULU!

MERCENARY RESPONSE: "Billions of dollars of goods move through the Gulf of Aden each year," said Blackwater Worldwide, in a press release today. "We have been contacted by ship owners who say they need our help in making sure those goods get to their destination safely. The M/V McArthur can help us accomplish that." M/V McArthur is a 183ft. vessel reconfigured and modified in 2006 and is now a Blackwater Worldwide Maritime Security Support Craft. M/V McArthur is a multi-purpose maritime vessel designed to support military and law enforcement training, peacekeeping, and stability operations worldwide. It is fully equipped with a helo deck and can store 4,100 gallons of helo fuel. Blackwater's aviation affiliate can provide the helicopters, pilots, and maintenance required to support escort missions in the Gulf of Aden.

The mercenary outfit--founded by former U.S. Navy SEALs in 1997 and heavily involved in U.S. military efforts in Iraq--has tentative plans to build a small fleet of two or three anti-piracy vessels, each able to carry several dozen armed security personnel, according to reports in Lloyds List Maritime. Although the Blackwater vessels will not be armed, the crew will be. Unlike official military personnel, they may have fewer qualms about using those arms against pirates.

The International Maritime Bureau estimates that more than 70 ships have been attacked off Somalia since January. As of Oct. 15, 2008, 11 ships and 200 crew members were still being held for ransom.

SUMMARY: The tribal Somali pirates continue to communicate as supplies aboard MV Faina dwindle. Pirate spokesman Sugule Ali mocks a ransom offer that is a fraction of the demand. MV Faina remains surrounded by USS Howard DDG 83 and Task Force 150 as well as -- now -- the NATO Group. Meanwhile, the Russian Guided Missile Destroyer Neustrashimy closely appraoches after Russia has requested permission to attack the pirates.

In a new world of political correctness -- anything is possible -- but every "courtesy" having been extented to the pirates -- it does seem reasonable that some end to the rule of these armed bandits must be forced. What we do not know is the extent to which the highly political T-72 Main Battle Tank cargo might be guiding the discussion & outcome.

McD