We're Being Lied to About the Somali Pirates?

Interesting, to put it mildly.

$150 Million Paid to Pirates

Thems some rich pirates.

• And their good for the economy.

• And their bringing Gulgudud and Mudug reinforcements in. Really. And they still have that ship full of tanks.

• And look out: the Indians are ready to kick some pirate ass.

Pirrates Rrelease Hostages [Updtd]

Late Update: Pirates captured, flown to Paris. Pirates get all the breaks.

Updating this post, the 30 hostages taken last week from the yacht Le Ponant by PIRATES have been released. Whether or not a ransom was paid is unclearr.

Updtd3: Pirates Seize French Cruise Ship Yacht

Update: Hostages released, 4/12.

This is a photo of the seized ship, Le Ponant. (Click for larger.)

Owned or run by Arblaster & Clarke and available for wine tours. Off Somalia. Hopefully there's extra wine for that one.

*** Story now says "cruise yacht", whatever that is. Thirty crew on board, no passengers.

The yacht, the Ponant, "was the victim of an act of piracy early this afternoon as it was sailing between Somalia and Yemen," spokesman Christophe Prazuck said.

The 850-tonne three-masted yacht was carrying around 30 crew but had no passengers on board at the time, Prazuck said.
"As far as we know, no shots have been fired," he said.

French military forces and a US-led task force, both present in the area, "were able to confirm the situation and are following its evolution," he added.

Update, 4/5: French navy after ship.
More info on and photos of Le Ponant.