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See the original image at cnn.com —

Pirates lower ransom demand to $5M - CNN.com

cnn.com — Pirates who seized a Ukrainian vessel loaded with tanks and weapons off the African coast have lowered their ransom demand to $5 million.

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  • infinitexx, on 09/27/2008, -0/+105Here is something I've been wondering, they transferred 33 tanks and a variety of explosive small arms on a ship that could be taken by pirates? You would think that something worth defending.
    • oda1, on 09/27/2008, -1/+3I know, eh?
    • d3lta, on 09/27/2008, -1/+31not if its cold war junk that was just taking up room...
      • oda1, on 09/28/2008, -1/+6can that 'cold war junk' still not be used for harm?
    • CVL4317, on 09/28/2008, -2/+13maybe it's a trap..
      • honeybrass, on 09/28/2008, -1/+11You didn't use the meme. Dugg down for not taking opportunities.
    • aelder, on 09/28/2008, -3/+16Apparently they didn't have any ninjas defending the ship, that's the only thing that can slow down pirates you know. Yarr!
      • FurtThePirate, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3One ninja, the more of them there are the less effective in combat ninjas become.
    • Urzeitlich, on 09/28/2008, -1/+6You'd figure they could have, you know, maybe used the tanks or small arms?
      • honeybrass, on 09/28/2008, -0/+21Yes, tanks have won many a naval victory :/
      • TheGuruStud, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3That machine gun on top is mighty powerful.
      • unreg, on 09/28/2008, -2/+3HoneyBrass:

        You'll note that a tank has a large caliber gun. Somewhat akin to the large caliber gun found on your typical warship. Said guns have been know to sink ships.

      • Scheitbag, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1@unreg considering the tanks are most likely in the hold of the ship...you can work out the rest.
    • razorsedge555, on 09/28/2008, -1/+2$500K x 33 T-72s = $16,500,000 ( at 1990 prices )
      Putin must have been having a fire sale.
      • unreg, on 09/28/2008, -0/+4You forgot depreciation. These tanks are probably used and no longer carry factory warranties.

      • Katana314, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2"Yeah, uh, we got into this combat zone with insurgents firing at us, and we just realized that the turret on this thing has a broken cooling mechanism. .....Yeah. It just overheated after the first shot. .....What? We- *BLAM* GUYS! HOLD YOUR FIRE A SECOND! Listen, I'm just looking for standard customer service, RMA, *ratta-tatta* whatever! No-...Listen, can I have your supervisor?"
    • burningmanstan, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3A lot of military hardware is transported by civilian vessels. That's one reason why war is so profitable. Did somebody say no bid contract?
  • Jakerzon, on 09/27/2008, -1/+48FTA: "Those reasons include that the crew is from eastern Europe and not the United States; the weapons the ship carries are secondhand; and there is no way to unload the tanks without coming onto land, he said."

    So, in the pirate industry, Americans are worth more? This is good to know.
    • philz, on 09/28/2008, -1/+13Let's say you're a pirate. And you hold 10 crew members from Austria hostage. Would you fear getting bombed by Austrians?
      • Pixelante, on 09/28/2008, -1/+3No, but I'm sure Austria would enjoy the EU's sympathy - i.e. lack of action coupled with nice words - over the plight of their citizens.
      • svendm, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1Uh.. where the heck are you going to find 10 Austrian sailors?
    • Raian, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2If someone wants to buy stuff on the ship-- they will figure out a way to get the tanks off without coming in to port.
  • thatsgoodkarma, on 09/27/2008, -6/+144Pirate pick up line:

    "Yarrr...I must be a pirate cause I've been starin' at yer chest and diggin' yer booty..."
    • muleskinner, on 09/28/2008, -0/+22This is pure win.
    • KikoCy, on 09/28/2008, -2/+20haha I bet you were just dying to post that somewhere
    • jawagas, on 09/28/2008, -1/+4Nice one, it must be used.
    • TheOther1, on 09/28/2008, -1/+2Top Ten Pirate Pickup lines (blatantly stolen from International Talk Like a Pirate Day
      site http://www.talklikeapirate.com/howto.html#pickup)


      10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?
      9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?
      8. Come on up and see me urchins.
      7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.
      6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.
      5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?
      4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?
      3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.
      2. Well blow me down?
      And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …
      1. Prepare to be boarded.
  • americanpyscho, on 09/27/2008, -11/+5What would Jack Sparrow do here?
  • valleyvideo, on 09/28/2008, -15/+3Man, the unforeseen repercussions of the financial collapse just continue to grow...
    • Crimsoneer, on 09/28/2008, -1/+6Don't push it.
    • candycane4u, on 09/28/2008, -2/+4How are Ukrainians shipping arms to Africa a syptom of housing sector depression in the US????
  • avataros, on 09/28/2008, -0/+152Pretty soon they will be throwing extra incentives like 0% APR, $50K in tank accessories, and free gas for a year. It is very much a tough market out there.
    • blarch, on 09/28/2008, -0/+7No money down, no payments for a year, call within the next 5 minutes for a complimentary set of placental dinnerware. Free shipping!

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SabRvYb0eE
    • WhoDoneIt, on 09/28/2008, -0/+4Let's just hope one of the pirates isn't Billy Mays, he's got the beard and we'd all be in negotiating trouble.
      • PopcornDave, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3But just imagine how shiny those old tanks would be after a dose of OxyClean.
    • eatsushi, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2A+++++
      Will do business again!
      • dengzhi, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2Great communication, product as described, fastest shipping ever!!!!! What a seller, highly recommended, best of the best!! A+++++
  • ltchimpo, on 09/28/2008, -0/+127Wait. $5 million. For a bunch of tanks and artillery. And it's a ransom? That sounds more like a clearance sale.
    • Nidy1, on 09/28/2008, -0/+45That's only about $150k per tank! I'll take one! Where can I contact them?
    • Falldog, on 09/28/2008, -0/+38Anyone got a few bucks to chip in? We could start our own Digg Army.
    • vidar808, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3Its 5 million now because they are now surrounded by 3 warships and have no where to go!
    • ChiaGod, on 09/28/2008, -0/+0They're trying to get rid of the booty before the RIAA and MPAA close in on their position. It is well known what happens to pirates in the US!
  • bongfarmer, on 09/28/2008, -3/+28This would make a sweet movie
    • honeybrass, on 09/28/2008, -2/+1As long as they included ninjas
    • PopcornDave, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1Problem is that Disney would pick it up. Remember Operation Dumbo Drop?
    • gravityPersists, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1with Steven Seagal?
    • TheCheeks, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1Yeah but Hollywood doesn't do originals anymore, only sequels to comic book stories.
  • futureisours, on 09/28/2008, -2/+34Wait until that US or Russian destroyer off the coast starts launching missiles at these stupid hooligans. They'll change their tune real quick.
    • candycane4u, on 09/28/2008, -3/+14Yes, they had better surrender to the US Navy before the Russians get there. They do not screw around with all the touchy feely negotiating - they will blow them out of the water and any survivors will be tortured to death.
      • Pixelante, on 09/28/2008, -1/+2"they will blow them out of the water and any survivors will be tortured to death"

        Russians are not pussies: they will board the ship by simply willing so there and force the pirates to eat themselves and ***** their remains up their own nostrils.
      • truthigator, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1Pixelpuss-

        You are a retard. Too bad you're not on that boat to direct operations.
    • Enasni1212, on 09/28/2008, -0/+12Except that they have hostages. I know that the American military wouldn't take any action that endangers foreign nationals. You'd hope that the Russians would take the same stance. The only exception I see is if the Ukraine asks Russia for help.
      • Ajajadude, on 09/28/2008, -0/+7With Russia these days, I wouldn't count on them not saying "***** the hostages" and just blow the ship out of the water.
      • yosserhughes, on 09/28/2008, -4/+1"I know that the American military wouldn't take any action that endangers foreign nationals."

        Right, tell that to the 10s of 1000s of dead Iraqis an Afghans.
      • Enasni1212, on 09/28/2008, -0/+5I knew someone would say that. In fact, I almost amended the original post, but it didn't seem necessary. But fine: The American military wouldn't take any action that endangers foreign nationals of a country that it hasn't declared war on. Happy?
      • candycane4u, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2The Russians killed 150 out of 300 hostages being held in an elementary school by gassing the entire gymnasium where they were being held. This was only about 5 years ago.
  • SpookyPig, on 09/28/2008, -2/+14YARRRRRRR!
  • spankr, on 09/28/2008, -1/+114So a pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel sticking out of his crotch.

    The bartender asks, "Did you know you have a steering wheel sticking
    out of your crotch?"

    The pirate responds, "Arrr. It's drivin' me nuts."
    • kelmaster1, on 09/28/2008, -7/+1Dugg down because thats the oldest pirate joke.
  • spankr, on 09/28/2008, -4/+16Dugg for pic of Canadian boarding crew! We do quite a bit with little recognition...
  • faraggi, on 09/28/2008, -9/+3Finally!
    Pastafarians in action... so all this talk about global warming IS true!
  • dha07030, on 09/28/2008, -2/+10This got me thinking. What would you call a ninja who illegally commandeers a ship?
    • InfernoX, on 09/28/2008, -0/+9An enemy in disguise!
    • oda1, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3an illegal alien?
    • russ3, on 09/28/2008, -1/+8You would simply change ninja to verb form, as in "You see that dude over there? He totally ninja'ed a ship"

      Of course your friend doesnt see that dude over there cause the dude was a ninja and he already disappeared.
  • readacook, on 09/28/2008, -10/+1Pirates = Russia
  • IAmTheGuy, on 09/28/2008, -2/+8The $5M must be in gold doubloons.
  • RMoore08, on 09/28/2008, -2/+26Do what you want cause a pirate is free!
  • vinceislegend, on 09/28/2008, -0/+86Digg needs more stories about real life pirates.
  • slifty, on 09/28/2008, -1/+24The Zombies, however, have refused to budge on their demands for brains.
  • moolaismyfriend, on 09/28/2008, -6/+4Ohh so Paulson and Bernake have decided they only need 5 million to avoid a global economic meltdown. Cool.
  • Weed86, on 09/28/2008, -7/+0these 'pirates' are poor fishermen,who say their livelihoods have been destroyed due to the regular passage of shipping vessels!
  • paranoiabacon, on 09/28/2008, -2/+6don't let torrentfreak get wind of this.
  • Lunarbunny, on 09/28/2008, -6/+2I've been kidnapped by Kmart!
    • Lunarbunny, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1Apparently none of you have seen Ruthless People.
  • DAC1138, on 09/28/2008, -6/+1More viral marketing?
  • Rhydeble, on 09/28/2008, -2/+10Should've been 5 million Euro's.
  • localzuk, on 09/28/2008, -3/+2Why is there not an internationl alliance patrolling the area? And why aren't the ships avoiding the area?!
    • xerox, on 09/28/2008, -1/+7From the article: "The ship deliberately took a route far from the coast of Somalia, where pirates are known to operate, in an attempt to avoid them, the minister said."
    • whorunbartertwn, on 09/28/2008, -1/+0From the article: "The Pentagon said U.S. naval ships in the area are "monitoring the situation.""
    • localzuk, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1Wow, 2 great responses that simply parrot the article. I can read you know. My point is that 'monitoring the situation' isn't exactly providing regular patrols, capturing pirates etc...

      And 250 miles is not a long way from a coast!!!
      • unreg, on 09/28/2008, -1/+3
        Exactly how far is far, Ahab?

      • localzuk, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1Well, considering there is nearly a thousand miles of water between the Somali coast and the Maldives, 250 miles is not much.
    • amightywind, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2Some enterprising country should float a honey pot into the pirate waters. Fill a remote remote controlled freighter with high explosives. When the pirates come aboard and start snooping around, boom! No more pirate problem.
  • machine82, on 09/28/2008, -4/+4I can see it now, Bush's new global war on pirates.
  • VegasJerryAtrik, on 09/28/2008, -3/+1rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
  • RockSlice, on 09/28/2008, -2/+55RIAA/MPAA/their friends: please note: THIS is the proper use of the term "Pirate"
  • Elliottx, on 09/28/2008, -3/+13Pirates still exist? ...holy *****. Seeya later, gonna go become a pirate. YARRRRR.
  • Adv1s, on 09/28/2008, -1/+8Bargain. If only I had the money I could start my own private army.
  • 64bitllama, on 09/28/2008, -3/+2I thought pirates where called terrorists nowadays?
    • Rhydeble, on 09/28/2008, -0/+4Only if they aren't wearing eyepatches.
  • toetagger, on 09/28/2008, -1/+4They're all dead men.
    • honeybrass, on 09/28/2008, -0/+413 of them, on a chest no doubt, with a bottle of rum, singing yo ho ho.
  • sassyjack, on 09/28/2008, -0/+5Sink it.
  • DAC1138, on 09/28/2008, -13/+2Give me a f***ing break!

    Person X coments and says, "More viral marketing?" and gets 45 diggs.

    Here I come, and comment, saying, "More viral marketing?" and I get negative diggs.

    Digg users are f***ed up with their logic.
    • Spade914, on 09/28/2008, -0/+9"Person X" just is a cooler username than "DAC1138"
    • johnnyfistfight, on 09/28/2008, -1/+2I have a bracelet too!
  • juke1, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2you are a pirate!
  • chubbybubba, on 09/28/2008, -1/+8Ships like these need an RIAA label. That'll scare em off fer sure.
  • flamyngo, on 09/28/2008, -3/+1Pirates? Like as in dudes with one leg and parrots?
  • Spade914, on 09/28/2008, -1/+7Ever wonder why this kind of ***** doesn't happen in Japan?

    Send in the Ninjas.
    • Nossie, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2because according to the article.... they paid the ransom?
  • russ3, on 09/28/2008, -0/+5That is so awesome. I want to help them unload the tanks so we can roll deep and become land pirates!
  • leha, on 09/28/2008, -1/+3This whole situation with pirates in the red sea shows how useless NATO is. Why the hell spend all these money on military if you are unable to fight a few guys in a boat? The pirates attacked 60 ships since the beginning of 2008 (they are still holding 13). So the score is pirates 60 world military 0. If USA or NATO claim the right to police the world why not start by eliminating pirates? (this is a rhetorical question the answer to it is obvious)
    • moxley, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2Oh, you know - because they're using all of their resources into fighting the REAL PIRATES!

      The ones who their corporate benefactors tell them are the MOST DANGEROUS pirates around, matey!

      Ones like you and me who sail on the high seas of the World Wide Web; the most perilous ocean in the world - armed with bittorrent cannons and usenet shields..Surely we will be doom for all corporate buccanneers!

      ***** YAR!
    • whorunbartertwn, on 09/28/2008, -0/+5>So the score is pirates 60 world military 0.<

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic ...
      "April 11 -- Helicopter-borne French troops swooped in on Somali pirates Friday after they freed 30 hostages from a yacht, seizing six of the hijackers and recovering sacks of money -- apparently ransom paid by the ship's owners. "

      http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-09-16-Sark ...
      "Sep 9 (AP) — French troops stormed a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates, killing one, capturing six others and freeing their two French hostages in a raid that France's president said Tuesday was a warning to criminals on the high seas."

      http://www.eaglespeak.us/2006_03_01_archive.html
      "In the latest battle, a group of Somalis operating in a 40-foot dhow and a pair of smaller skiffs, proved no match for the destroyer Gonzalez and cruiser Cape St. George. The brief fight ended with one suspected pirate killed, five wounded, a dozen in custody and the capture of all three pirate boats."

      Let's call it 57-3?
      • jpmvp, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1The USA Today link gives the best info. Good on the French for their admirable attitude to protecting their citizens!

        "The world cannot accept this. Today, these are no longer isolated cases but a genuine industry of crime. This industry casts doubt on a fundamental freedom: that of movement and of international commerce," said Sarkozy.

        Though the photo of Sarkozy in the USA today article looks like he may have been talking about his wife.


      • mysticalone, on 09/28/2008, -3/+2False stories, everyone knows the french wouldn't have the courage.
      • Lavarock, on 09/28/2008, -1/+1Please. It's a destroyer versus some yachts with RPGs on them.
  • kayamm, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1So how do they get this money? western union money transfer, bank accounts, suitcases full of money?
    And why they can't do anything to get them when they give them the money?
    • svendm, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1Well, the Western Union of Somalia _used to be_ Al Barakat. But they were more or less shut down after 9/11 since money to terrorists was going through them. Since the nonexistant government of Somalia also meant nonexistent money-laundering regulations and oversight.

      If I were them, I'd probably want it cash. I doubt they take checks in Somalia.
  • logload, on 09/28/2008, -5/+2Why couldn't the little kid get into the pirate movie?


    IT WAS RATED ARRRRRRR!!
  • greeniemeani, on 09/28/2008, -0/+10Negotiating - your doing it wrong.
  • 1legend, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1Off topic but it would be pretty cool if they made a modern pirate movie or maybe a documentary on modern day pirates.
  • rdebath, on 09/28/2008, -1/+0So how are the RIAA involved?
  • Kabloink, on 09/28/2008, -0/+3They are delusional if they believe they are still going to get any ransom. Their only hope is to agree to abandon the ship before the Russians arrive. Russia, most likely will either board the ship or sink it. Either way, they will be toast.
  • honeybrass, on 09/28/2008, -0/+1I thought it was international speak like a pirate day last Friday? Common guys get with the timetable.
  • kurtwinter, on 09/28/2008, -0/+8They should lower their demands to letting them live. I seriously hope the navies of the US and Russia send a clear, bloody, message to the pirates.
  • Julik, on 09/28/2008, -0/+2Where is Steven Seagal when you need him.
    • riptor666, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1His ***** punching technique could sure come in handy.
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