The WSJ reports that three of the Somali pirates most closely involved in the murder of yachtsmen in the S/V Quest incident off the coast of Somalia will face death penalty charges:
The three were captured in February shortly after allegedly gunning down the Americans aboard their yacht. Previously, the men had been charged with piracy and kidnapping, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Somalis are accused of killing Scott Adam, Jean Adam, Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle four days after seizing the Americans’ 58-foot sailboat. U.S. Navy forces trailed the hijacked vessel and were negotiating for the sailors’ release when the Americans were killed.
Navy SEALs stormed the boat, the S/V Quest, killed several pirates and captured 14 others. Eleven of the men have already pleaded guilty to piracy charges that carry mandatory life sentences.
Prosecutors said the new charges were meant to highlight the allegation that the three Somalis—Ahmed Muse Salad, Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nuraniu Shiekh Abrar—played a direct role in “summarily executing” the American sailors.
“Today’s charges underscore that we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to attacks on our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride.
No three hots and a cot for you!
Although, meting out summary justice when the sailors were first murdered would have saved a lot of time and taxpayer money.
Muster the hanging party at the port yardarm. Capital murder obviously. Hang ‘em all.
Based on past performance from Holder and his gang of idiots, the DOJ will somehow manage to screw it up to the point where the pirates get off with time served.
Jean and Scott’s website is still here:
http://www.svquest.com/
It includes photos of their boating adventures, travels, and an assortment of logs about their Bible Mission…
Holder brings this to mind: Was it John Wayne who said “You don’t need a license to be a damn fool.”
Pirates have no right to nor do they deserve a fair trial. They have no rights under our constitution. Sharks need to eat too. It’s the “green” thing to do.
“. . . meting out summary justice when the sailors were first murdered would have saved a lot of time and taxpayer money.”
+10 to that, Lex.
That’s exactly what should have happened. That it didn’t happen shows how soft headed the politicians are.
“Today’s charges underscore that we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to attacks on our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride.
Then, sir, why are you still fiddly farting around discussing charges and prosecution after 4-5 months. What part of “piracy” do you not understand? Maybe if they had kidnapped and murdered some wealthy lawyer yachtsmen instead of poor missionary Christians, the Holder Justice Department would have moved a lot faster.
This is a prime example of how “lawfare” solves nothing, and that the on scene commander needs to be given utmost discretion, support, and indeed encouragement, to mete out summary judgment and execution for every single pirate they encounter on the high seas. Send a lawyer along to help if needed— but only to prepare wills for the pirates, no “dfense attorney” nonsense. If you set pirates adrift in a leaky boat with no food, send the lawyer with them, it’s the least we can do to insure their rights are protected.
I’m confused. If they were “arrested,” then piracy must be a criminal act. So why were they arrested by SEALS rather than a town’s SWAT team or marine patrol unit? I didn’t know the Navy was part of local police forces and didn’t know sailors have arrest powers.
If piracy is an act of war, as I believe it is, then as Lex and others have noted, we could have saved a lot of time and money by executing the SOBs on the spot. “Zero tolerance?” Bah, we’re tolerating piracy by letting those we capture continue to breathe.
I’m beginning to suspect I can explain the DOJ’s ardent desire to prosecute our enemies in US Courts in two simple words……
BILLABLE HOURS.
Lawfare, indeed.
Got that right.