U.S. navy eyeballs Somali pirates in hostage standoff 

MOGADISHU, April 11 (Reuters) - Somali elders sought to mediate on Saturday between the U.S. navy and pirates holding an American hostage in a high-seas standoff that presents President Barack Obama with a nasty new dilemma.

Four pirates adrift in a lifeboat far out in the Indian Ocean with Richard Phillips, the 53-year-old American captain of a cargo ship they tried to seize on Wednesday, have demanded $2 million for his release and a guarantee of their own safety.

While Obama dithers and wrings his hands over whether or not to use the might of the US Navy to deal with four pirates and a hostage in a lifeboat, the French take the lead and set an example for all.

French special forces stormed a yacht held by pirates elsewhere in the lawless stretch of the Indian Ocean on Friday in an assault that killed one hostage, but freed four.

Two pirates were killed and three captured.

(…)

In France, the government stood by its raid to free the yacht, which was hijacked en route to Zanzibar last weekend with two couples and a 3-year-old child aboard.

“During the operation, a hostage sadly died,” said French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office. But it said the president “confirms France’s determination not to give in to blackmail and to defeat the pirates.”

(Emphasis mine)

Nicolas Sarkozy did exactly the right thing in ordering the rescue. Sometimes hostages die. But the greater example is set. The pirates may not be deterred from targeting French interests on the seas, but they’ll damn sure think twice about it before going after a French owned or flagged vessel next time. It’s amazing to see the French channeling Thomas Jefferson. Quite appropriate, as well.

And in the meantime?

Pirates seize 10 Italians in U.S.-owned tugboat 

NAIROBI, April 11 (Reuters) - Pirates captured a U.S.-owned and Italian-flagged tugboat with 16 crew including 10 Italians on Saturday in the latest hijacking in the busy Gulf of Aden.

Gee. I wonder what made them think they could get away with it?

(Note to DP editors: I’ve added the category of “Piracy.”)

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