Posts Tagged ‘Jihad Ahoy!’

The best man for the job.

It must rank as one of the most unusual recruitment adverts ever placed, even by the standards of the European Union: the search is on for a “pirate cultural adviser” to help naval commanders understand the foes they face along the coast of Africa.

The right candidate – who must have knowledge of the “business model and modus operandi” of pirates in the Indian Ocean – will be asked to teach officers of the EU navies protecting shipping in one of the world’s busiest waterways how best to tackle the growing threat.

Some 400 sailors are currently held captive, with pirate gangs earning tens of millions of dollars a year in ransoms. The job is expected to include advising naval commanders on pirates’ religious practices and their habit of chewing qhat, an amphetamine-filled plant which renders users hyperactive.

But swashbuckling Long John Silver types with a knowledge of pirate lore may be disappointed: the post is expected to be filled by an ex-military figure with expertise in shipping, insurance and ransom negotiations. And rather than scouring the taverns of Bristol or Penzance for likely talent, the commanders have contented themselves with placing the advertisement on the website for EU Navfor, the European antipiracy task force based at the Nato HQ in Northwood, London.

“The job title may sound ambiguous, but what we are really looking for here is someone who can help us know the enemy better,” said Commander Harry Harrison, a spokesman for EU Navfor. “The intention is to seek advice on the Somali pirates’ methodology and tactics, which are constantly evolving.”

We have kindly offered our consultancy services to the the EU on their requirement for this project. Mindful of the vast financial waste created by this useless supranational body, we even waived our fee.

See photo at top of page for our carefully structured analysis and recommendation.

Full story at the Telegraph.

Jihad Ahoy! Or not. Anti-Israel activists at a press conference in Athens

The luck of the Irish? Or mini-sub-riding aqua-Jooz? Yes it’s Gaza ‘Aid’ Flotilla season again…

Irish group pulls out of flotilla due to alleged sabotage, for which they are blaming Israel; others are getting ready to receive the call instructing them to start sailing.

With two ships sabotaged – the Irish ship is in no condition to sail and the Swedish-Greek-Norwegian Giuliano is still being repaired – the impulse is to depart from port and wait for the rest at sea, along with the French ship that sailed Saturday. This is also the wish of all those on the Tahrir, the Canadian ship with its 50 passengers.

The backpacks allowed on deck are half-packed, in a state of near readiness. The lists of telephone numbers are ready, in case there’s a need to rush for a quick departure. Read the rest of this entry »

The British Navy demonstrate exactly how to deal with Somali pirates - unfortunately, none were aboard this tubd

Four Americans hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman have been killed by their captors, US defence officials say.

The US military said its forces trailing the vessel had responded to gunfire heard aboard but found all the captives shot when they arrived.

The yacht S/V Quest, hijacked on Friday, was owned and sailed by Scott and Jean Adam of California.

Also killed were two US passengers, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle. Read the rest of this entry »

United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon, with a colleague

And we all now what ‘international credibility’ means:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that a panel set up by Israel to investigate its deadly attack on a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to blockaded Gaza lacked international credibility.

“I took note of this announcement,” he told reporters, referring to the Israeli panel in which two foreigners have been given observer status. “My position is that there should be international credibility of their investigation. I know that there are going to be two international observers. But what I have heard from most of the countries is that it is not sufficient enough to have international credibility.”

To investigate the flotilla, Ban had proposed establishing a four- or five-member independent panel, with one representative each from Israel and Turkey, to be led by Geoffrey Palmer, a former New Zealand prime minister, although officially no names have been mentioned. Read the rest of this entry »

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has released further footage from the IHH Flotilla vessel Mavi Marmara. It clearly shows IHH leader Bülent Yıldırım instructing his followers to throw Israeli military personnel overboard after boarding. Much ‘Allahu Akbar’-ing then ensues.

The speech was made in Turkish and repeated in Arabic by a translator.