Sunday, November 30, 2008

Inane quote of the day:

Via that ever reliable source of vacuousness, CNN:
Pirates have reached a deal with the owners of a Ukrainian ship loaded with arms that was seized more than two months ago, an official with the Kenya Seafarers Association said Sunday.

...

The ship, which is laden with Soviet-era tanks, tank artillery shells, grenade launchers and small arms, was seized on September 25.

...

After the hijacking, the U.S. Navy sent ships to monitor the vessel for fear its cargo could end up in the hands of terrorists.
Really? I guess having a bunch of 125mm 2A46 tank guns in the hands of terrorists would be much worse than having them in the hands of pirates, then?

I mean, if Al Qaeda got their hands on a 40+ ton T-72M, they could sneak it onto an airliner with the aid of a mole in the catering crew, and I'm pretty sure that not even a reinforced cockpit door would be a match for a long-rod penetrator at 1600 meters per second. You don't even want to know what a tank would do at the food court of your local mall...

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not so much worried about the T-72s as I am about the other stuff listed. All kinds of mischief can be done with an under-barrel grenade launcher or a couple a three kilos of Semtex.

Anonymous said...

Yeah...... look what they did with a couple of box cutters..... now imagine what they could accomplish if they had actual weapons.....

Matt G said...

I've been wondering for months why we haven't just hulled 'em at the waterline and thrown out life rafts and begun rescue procedures.

Thirdpower said...

The most likely scenario of getting rid of them (assuming they had the crane capability of getting them off the ship or just beached it and cut some holes in the side) would be to sell them to local warlords.

That would have screwed things up around there w/o a doubt as long as they could keep them running.

Joseph said...

Where the hell do you think they were headed?!?

Anonymous said...

Dang it Tam, now I DO want to know what a tank could do to the food court.

Anonymous said...

A terrorist with a 125mm cannon is a lot like a mule with a spinning wheel; nobody knows where he got it, and damned if he knows how to use it!

Dr. StrangeGun said...

"You don't even want to know what a tank would do at the food court of your local mall... "

That's ok, Food Court Team Seven has been thoroughly trained in how to overrun and secure tracked vehicles in the indoor setting.

WV: chick. Seriously. Seriously?

Doc said...

Tam, The only deal the owners should have with the pirates is when security forces in the employ of the onwers board the pirated ship and "dispatch" the pirates.

Anonymous said...

Tell me again why we can't shoot pirates? Do they have a seat on the Security Council at the UN? Is there an as-yet unnamed ally that is also a military power? Are we afraid of nuclear retaliation from Somalia?

Anonymous said...

Don't forget: terrorists could use those T-72s to shoot down airplanes.

They'd be just like .50 caliber rifles except 10,000 times more powerful and actually able to destroy a jetliner with one hit.

Ken said...

I think I've got the food court sussed, but I do have one question: How many extra trauma plates do I need to tape to my back to catch 125mm rounds while my partner assembles the breakdown NEF single-shot 300 WinMag with an 18" bbl?

Thanks in advance!

Tam said...

It depends on whether they are using kinetic energy or shaped charge rounds. If they are using the latter, a reactive armor vest would be the appropriate protection... ;)

Anonymous said...

Taking a tank to the food court of the mall sounds like an enjoyable afternoon...

Rabbit said...

Hell, I just want to know where to send my boxtops and proof of purchase UPCs to get my Lettres of Marque and Reprisal. I can build a fine Technical out of a Bassmaster VIP with a 50Hp. Evinrude and a 40mm Bofors. I'm ready to go make some money.

Regards,
Rabbit.

Ken said...

Ain't no hardpoint in a bass boat. I suggest a recoilless rifle instead of the Bofors (which otherwise is a darned fine choice). ;-)

WV: "catism," the largest religion on the Internet (sorry, pastafarians, but it's true).

Anonymous said...

somebody needs to nuke that fucking place and wipe out this nightmare

Anonymous said...

Just strap the Bofors in and point it forwards.

Aim the boat at the target.