Sep 26, 2008

Yarr, Somali Pirates Seize Ukrainian Ship - Hilarity Ensues

Yesterday, pirates seized a Ukrainian freighter off the coast of Somalia. Usually the pirates ransom the cargo for a tidy profit, or fence the goods if nobody pays. Now imagine their surprise when one group of enterprising pirates discovered their latest prize was transporting thirty T-72 main battle tanks.

“If there are tanks on board,” said an unnamed Western diplomat, “I don’t think there’s a chance in hell they can get them unloaded.”

We hope so.

As the NYTimes notes, “The pirates are often former fishermen who have turned to the more lucrative work of plying the seas with binoculars and rocket-propelled grenades.”

Thank God the tanks don’t float, or said pirates would now be plying the seas in forty-one tons of Soviet-armor, with 125 millimeter cannons, and a comprehensive nuclear, biological, and chemical protection system.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

For how big Russians are on security, I'm surprised the Ukrainians didn't have more spunk than to let so much heavy armor be stolen by fishermen. But then again, security in Russia at least often seems bigger on the bark than the bite, if only for the fact it's so disorganized. Like the middle-aged Russians in camo drinking tea and supposedly checking ID's at academic institutions -- easiest job ever.
Alec
eagleandthebear.wordpress.com