30 Main Battle Tanks pirated. Crane wanted.

[Helium Three]

Them Somali pirates have really done it this time. Does anyone have a spare heavy lift crane? Cash on the nail. C2 not required. Safe pass optional.

Running for the shore

Somalia’s notorious pirates have staged perhaps their most brazen attack yet, seizing a Ukrainian ship in the Indian Ocean full of arms bound for Kenya’s military, including dozens of battle tanks, maritime and diplomatic officials said Friday.

Somalia’s 1,880-mile coastline is infested with pirates, and they have been striking with increasing impunity, grabbing everything from private sailing yachts to oil tankers. They then usually demand millions of dollars in ransom for the ships and their crews.

But this time the pirates may have gotten more than they bargained for. Unloading the tanks is likely to be well beyond the capacity of the pirates, experts said. Meanwhile, an American naval vessel was Friday in hot pursuit to intercept the ship and the Russian Navy said it was not far behind.

[Drico]

Pretty mad alright.

[Helium Three]

Now here is a reporter who knows the importance of trying to get both sides of the story -

Somali officials say the pirates are growing in numbers, with more than 1,000 gunmen at their disposal, and they have evolved into a sophisticated organized crime ring with their headquarters along the rocky shores of northern Somalia. There is even a pirate spokesman (who could not be reached on Friday).

[Vega1447]

What in the name of JZUS does Kenya want 30 "main battle tanks" for?
They cannot even feed their own people.

Oh, just answered my own question...

Kenya is recipient of loads of overseas aid (though not Irish state aid)
WTF are they doing buying tanks that can and will only be used against their own people?

Damn. Answered my own question again...

[Harpo]

I'd probably prefer the pirates to have the tanks than the Kenyan government to be honest.

[Twin Towers]

You would wonder where the cargo was ultimately bound for and why the Ukranians didn't seek an escort from the US, French, British or Russian navies patrolling these waters. Did they want to keep their trade secret and why?

[Harpo]

You would wonder where the cargo was ultimately bound for and why the Ukranians didn't seek an escort from the US, French, British or Russian navies patrolling these waters. Did they want to keep their trade secret and why?

The US, French, British and Russians all sell arms to 3rd world countries so I doubt the Ukrainians had anything to be secretive about.

[Twin Towers]

You would wonder where the cargo was ultimately bound for and why the Ukranians didn't seek an escort from the US, French, British or Russian navies patrolling these waters. Did they want to keep their trade secret and why?

The US, French, British and Russians all sell arms to 3rd world countries so I doubt the Ukrainians had anything to be secretive about.

There is an international arms embargo on Somalia and the Ukranians may of had an idea that's where this stuff would end up. Looks like it's ended up there anyway. Deliberately, who knows?

[bormotello]

Ukrainian government always sells their tanks, where their bosses from Washington will say.
Last time it was Georgia, which was "fighting" with “rebels” in South Ossetia.
This time it is Kenya, which is fighting against rebels in Mount Elgon region.
So, question is only who will play role of good guys (Russia in SO, Turkey on Cyprus) this time.
We have following neighbors – Somali, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
My bet will be on Sudan

[Harpo]

[quote=Twin Towers]

You would wonder where the cargo was ultimately bound for and why the Ukranians didn't seek an escort from the US, French, British or Russian navies patrolling these waters. Did they want to keep their trade secret and why?

The US, French, British and Russians all sell arms to 3rd world countries so I doubt the Ukrainians had anything to be secretive about.

There is an international arms embargo on Somalia and the Ukranians may of had an idea that's where this stuff would end up. Looks like it's ended up there anyway. Deliberately, who knows?[/quote:1hj453vi]

You could make a case for conspiracies and may even be right but at the end of the day it's still just another industrialised country unethically selling arms to the 3rd world. I doubt the west gives a damn where the tanks end up as long as they get paid.