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U.S. Captain’s dramatic rescue raises stakes

Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips.

KUALA LUMPUR: The killing of three Somali pirates in the dramatic U.S. Navy rescue of a cargo ship captain has sparked concern for other hostages and fears that the stakes have been raised for future hijackings in the busy Indian Ocean shipping lane.

Sunday’s rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips followed a shootout at sea on Friday by French navy commandos, who stormed a pirate-held sailboat, killed two pirates and freed four French hostages. The French owner of the vessel was also killed in the assault.

The two operations may have been a setback for the pirates, but they are unlikely to quell the brigands, who have vowed to avenge the deaths of their comrades.

It “could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it,” said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. Families of the 228 foreign nationals aboard 13 ships still held by pirates, the fear is revenge on their loved ones.

So far, Somali pirates have never harmed captive foreign crews except for a Taiwanese crew member who was killed under unclear circumstances. In fact, many former hostages say they were treated well and given sumptuous food.

But the game changed last week when the pirates boarded the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. Capt. Phillips offered himself as hostage in return for the safety of his crew.

The pirates transferred Capt. Phillips (53) to a lifeboat. But the pirates had not counted on the U.S. military’s resolve. After a five-day standoff during which a small U.S. flotilla tailed the lifeboat, Navy SEAL snipers on a destroyer shot and killed three pirates and plucked an unharmed Phillips to safety. A fourth pirate surrendered.

The comrades of the slain pirates immediately threatened retaliation. Many governments whose ships have been captured are in talks with the pirates and would not comment on the consequences of the American rescue — AP

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