TresSugar

Front Page: Pirates Build the Case Against Captured Pirate

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:37 -0700

US prosecutors say Somali pirate Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse was a brazen ringleader, despite his young age and skinny, 5-foot-2 frame. If convicted of piracy, he faces a mandatory life sentence. - AP
More than one billion people are expected to celebrate Earth Day today. - CNN
President Obama is spending Earth Day in Iowa, where he will stress clean energy. - USA Today
The rate of breast cancer deaths has reached a record low. - BBC News
The acting CFO of mortgage giant Freddie Mac was found dead in his home today. Police think it might be a suicide. - LA Times
The IMF says the US economy is shrinking more slowly, but positive growth won't happen until next year. - Reuters
San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom announced his candidacy for California governor yesterday on Twitter and YouTube. - San Francisco Chronicle

Navy Saves Captain From Pirates! Watch Phillips Thank Them

CitizenSugar — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:35:42 -0700

After Navy snipers caught view of Somali pirates aiming an AK-47 at Captain Phillips, Navy sharpshooters came in and killed three of his captors rescuing the captain. President Obama personally approved the use of force by US Special Operations forces.

Phillips was taken hostage after pirates attacked his American cargo ship. The crew regained control of the vessel, but the pirates held the captain hostage on the life boat. After three US warships came within reach of the lifeboat, the Somali pirates threatened to kill Phillips. On Friday, he jumped out of the lifeboat, but was recaptured. He was finally rescued today.

To see video of the initial news conference, read more.

Pirate's Booty: Women Flock to Somali Port to Marry Pirates

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:30:52 -0700

It may be wedding season at Sugar, but elsewhere circumstance and desperation still send women down the aisle . . . or to the docks. In like, say, Somalia!

In an interview today on CNN's American Morning, TJ Holmes found that Somali women are flocking to the port town of Bosaso in hopes of marrying a pirate. Arghh. I'm going to assume these pirates are more like the men pictured above and less Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. So what's the appeal? Well, money - pirates have it.

In fact, women want to marry pirates for the same reasons men become them: they want to escape the hopelessness, poverty, lawlessness, and civil war that pervade the streets of Somalia. Can you blame them?

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Front Page: Somali Pirates Capture Ship With US Crew

CitizenSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:47:43 -0700

Somali pirates have seized a US container ship carrying 20 American crew members. - New York Times
According to the latest death toll, 260 people have died following the Italian earthquake. - AP
Al Franken has increased his lead over Norm Coleman to 312 votes in the neverending Senate race. - MSNBC
A Russian space capsule carrying a US tourist has arrived safely back on Earth. - BBC News
Mass murders seem to be happening every day, which has some experts questioning the phenomenon's tie to the recession. - Washington Post
President Obama received a generally warm reception from Iraqis. - The Daily Beast

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US Using High-Tech Drones to Fight Low-Tech Pirates

LibertySugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:00:17 -0800

Unmanned US drones, equipped with cameras and night vision, are hunting pirates off the coast of Somalia.

The planes will fly (themselves) low, and take detailed pictures of the pirates' fishing boats, relaying them to the international antipiracy coalition. Without risking any US lives, the drones make it harder for Somalian pirates to hide, and easier to protect at least some of the 100 ships that are attacked each year by the pirates.

US drones are at work around the world. Last week, Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) disclosed for the first time that there are pilotless CIA Predator aircraft patrols in Pakistan. Although the details are top secret, experts believe the drones are controlled by the US. And they allegedly carry out missile strikes against extremist targets in Pakistan.

How do you feel about unmanned aircrafts carrying out military operations - are robot fighters safer and more accurate, or ethically questionable?

A Pirate's Life For Me! Hijackers Bring Boom to Somalian Towns

LibertySugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:30:35 -0800

In chaotic Somalia, economic stimulus packages come in the form of pirate booty. The country's weak central government cannot stop rogue seamen from hijacking huge commercial ships and demanding millions of dollars in ransom. Right now, these pirates are asking for a record $10 million in exchange for a Saudi oil tanker carrying over $100 million worth of cargo.

Thanks to the surge of cash, pirates bring a surge of commerce most places they go. CNN reports on life in the pirate-centric towns:

Savvy Somalians have created a pirate economy, selling cigarettes, food, and orange soda to pirates coming back to shore daily.
Since pirates often take things without paying, sellers have set up a special credit program for them, hoping to be reimbursed when the ransoms come in.
Formerly destitute towns are now lively centers filled with restaurants, luxury cars, and cyber cafes.
More income has allowed residents to purchase generators that provide day-long electricity, previously unattainable.
Pirates treat their captives well, hiring caterers to cook Western favorites like spaghetti and grilled fish.

Can you think of any way for pirates to channel their capabilities toward positive contributions to Somalian society that doesn't involve pillaging and plundering?

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Front Page: Pirates Anchor Largest Oil Rig Ever Hijacked

LibertySugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:17:15 -0800

A giant Saudi oil tanker seized by Somali pirates Saturday has been anchored off the coast of Somalia. The cargo in the biggest tanker ever hijacked is estimated to be worth $100 million. - BBC News
US officials warned lawmakers that more economic aid is urgently needed, even though the Bush administration has decided not to spend more of the $700 billion bailout funds approved in October. Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke appeared at a congressional hearing today, where they described a gloomy economic situation and defended their actions. - New York Times

Washington DC officials are preparing for as many as four million people to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama, a tally four times larger than any other event. The city hopes to avoid a situation similar to the 1976 bicentennial, when millions were stranded in cars and buses for hours. - Washington Post
Finland's government plans to raise the alcohol tax by 10 percent, not to raise money but to discourage heavy drinking. Officials say alcohol is the country's most common cause of death.- AP

Front Page: Taiwan Arrests Its Former Leader

CitizenSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:06 -0800

The ex-president of Taiwan was detained by his country's police on charges of corruption and money laundering today. The defiant Chen Shui-bian raised his handcuffed hands above his head while shouting “Long live Taiwanese independence."- New York Times
In his White House meeting with Barack Obama, President Bush indicated that he would support another economic stimulus package, which includes aid to the auto industry, if the Democrats stopped opposing the Colombian free-trade agreement. - International Herald Tribune
Somalian pirates captured a Philippines chemical tanker, carrying 23 crew members, marking the 83rd hijack in Somalian waters this year. - Associated Press

After the Mars Lander ran out of batteries last week thanks to a dust storm, NASA announced that the mission has ended. - CNN
The surrogate grandmother in Ohio that gave birth to her triplet grandchildren last month, told Good Morning America that she is feeling fine, and was happy to serve as his daughter's surrogate at the age of 56. - Associated Press

Somalia: Is the Chaos There a US Problem?

LibertySugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

An exaggerated fear of "Islamofascism" ignores a complex reality, causing the US to overreact and damage its own interests. So says columnist Nicholas D. Krsitof, who argues that the situation in Somalia is one of the least-known Bush administration failures. Kristof explains that in 2006, a movement made up of moderate and extremist Islamic groups was close to uniting the country. Fearful of an uncooperative government in Somalia, the US supported Ethiopia's invasion of its rival, crushing the best hope for peace.

Events this week bolster the argument that paranoia of Islamic extremists has led to disaster. Today in Somalia, five suicide bombs hit government security posts, UN offices, and an Ethiopian consular unit, killing dozens.

On Monday, the human rights chaos came to a head as well. A rape victim was stoned to death for adultery in an Islamist-controlled region. Buried up to her neck, thousands gathered at a soccer field to help execute her.

Perhaps extremists win when international powers stubbornly refuse to reach out to moderates. Would you rather see the US abandon a strictly ideological viewpoint, instead opening its eyes to nuanced reality, or does security require zero tolerance?

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Front Page: Foreclosures Grow by 70%, US Hands Province to Iraqis, Pirate Attacks Up 75%

CitizenSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:58:31 -0700

Foreclosures Grow by 70%:
The number of homes in a state of foreclosure grew 70 percent in the third quarter of this year, compared with the same time last year. Almost 766,000 homes received at least one foreclosure related notice between July and September. By the end of the year it's thought there will be a million bank-owned properties for sale, or a third of all houses on the market.

US Hands Province to Iraqis:
Iraqis have been given control of security of the province of Babil by the US military. This marks the 12th of 18 provinces to be given back to Iraqi control. Babil has seen much sectarian violence including a clash two days ago between militants and tribesmen which killed 15 people.

Pirate Attacks Up 75%:
On the Ukranian arms ship hijacked by Somali pirates, food and water are running low. So far only $1 million has been collected toward the pirates' initial $20 million ransom demand. Pirate attacks are up 75 percent this year off the coast of Somalia. A NATO flotilla is sailing to the waters now to begin anti-piracy operations in the next few days.

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