[PUP] 30 French Crew On 228' Sailing Vessel Held For Ransom In Somalia

[Ron Rogers]

I want to be humourous about this so I'll say that the freeing of the 
hostages was very French (although no French personnel surrendered) in logic 
and planning. I am sure that this story will have more twists and turns as 
time goes by.

Basically, ze French government did NOT pay ransom. "Unknow to the French 
government" the shipping company paid a ransom in big garbage bags. Once the 
hostages were released (yes, "without firing a shot") the French commandoes 
descended from a helicopter and captured the 6 pirates who remained on the 
ship and some bags of "what they thought might be valuable items." At this 
point, the story gets muddy. Either a French helicopter descended upon an 
auto carrying the remaining pirates and blew the engine away or they killed 
everybody in the auto - pick one.

So this was the French interpretation of the carrot and the hammer. Now, if 
the French or a joint task force proceed to wipe-out the rest of the "Somali 
Marines" - then they are talking action that John Paul Jones (see Tripoli 
pirates) would be proud of.

Or reservoir,
Ron Rogers

Ron Rogers