U.S. considers military action after pirates seize Orange County couple's boat

U.S. military officials said they are considering a response after reports that pirates off the coast of Somalia hijacked the yacht belonging to an Orange County couple on a worldwide voyage distributing Bibles.

Rear Adm. Charles Gaouette, deputy commander of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, told CNN on Saturday that the U.S. is prepared to intervene to rescue the couple if they are indeed aboard the boat.

"They were part of a sailing group that set sail from the southern tip of India into the western Indian Ocean," he told the network.

Jean and Scott Adam have been sailing around the world for six years on their sailboat, the S/V Quest. They have raced with the Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, which has been their mail drop during their global odyssey.

Omar Jamal, first secretary at the Somali mission, said Friday that pirates in the Indian Ocean had taken four U.S. citizens captive when they hijacked the S/V Quest. The other two people have not been identified.

The couple's website, svquest.com, shows that the Adams were on a journey this winter from India to the Mediterranean by way of the Arabian and Red seas. They had hoped to reach Crete by April, then sail to Istanbul, Turkey.

"Djibouti is a big refueling stop," Jean Adam, a retired dentist, wrote of a stop that they were planning just beyond Somalia. "I have NO idea what will happen in these ports, but perhaps we'll do some local touring. Due north is the Red Sea where we plan to tuck in when winds turn to the north."

Last year, the couple sailed to ports in Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand.

Piracy has flourished off Somalia's coast for two decades. Before the recent seizures of the S/V Quest and another vessel, the Alfardous, pirates were believed to be holding 29 ships and about 660 hostages.

The S/V Quest website says almost nothing about where the Adams lived or what they did before they set off around the world.

"We were so unhappy being 'dirt dwellers' during our time in the States that another floating abode had to be acquired," Jean Adam wrote.

But the website richly chronicles their adventures abroad, among them tales of distributing Bibles in Fiji.

"We seek fertile ground for the Word and homes for our Bibles," she wrote. "Often, the ultimate homes are best found by people who are already living locally and seeking and cultivating that fertile ground."

She also told of the uncertainty of their future plans.

"We have some repairs we need to make in Turkey," she wrote. "We'll do a little cruising in the Med. AND we have a reservation on October 15th in St. Katherine's Docks in London, England — SOOOO, we'll see...."

--Michael Finnegan

Photo from svquest.com

Comments

[mitch walker]

They're holding over 600 people hostage. There would be a lot of support to go in there and free them while at the same time rounding up these pirates and putting a stop to their trade.

[mike]

if south korea can do it, the us military better step up too

[Philbomb]

Alrighty then. Let's go!

[Ed]

If you go looking for trouble, chances are pretty good you'll find it.

[Svlad Cjelli]

In their quest to make the whole world just like them....

[imacobru]

The US has absolutely no business becoming involved in this mess. The Adam's, who must be experienced in saling, since they have been at their 'Mission' for over six years, had to know the problems with Pirates in these waters. If you choose to go into a Lion Den, you're probably going to get bit or worse. The US has business getting involved in their unwise decisions and poor judgement. Stupidity should hurt and leave a mark.

[Dave Morgan]

Like a fly scurrying passed the mouth of a bullfrog.

[Robert Beall]

I hope we take action to protect our citizens. We took care of the Barbery Pirates and I am sure our marines and or Special Forces could raise to the Occaision.

[Pete Sake]

My first thought was also to send in the military. But really, Americans should know not to sail by Somalia by now. An international effort is required to create a long term and iron clad strategy for handling pirates. I'm talking about friggin sharks with lasers...or something.

[John Dingler, artist]

It's about time that the US started seizing ships and assets belonging to those international companies who illegally dump toxic waste into Somali waters and raid Somali's fisheries. Finally, the US is doing something right, pointing its guns toward the right people.

[oldusedcop]

Considering? What is there to consider? Time to bring back the gallows for pirates.

[Terence D.C.]

It should go without saying that they should be rescued; the sooner and faster the response the safer they will be and the less chance of repeats.

The current global precedent however is to wait and
negotiate a ransom, thus encouraging further hostage taking and expanding the area of the sea subject to the rule of piracy.

[Hakatau]

Arrogant, brainwashed people with too much money and not enough sense.

[Macca Doo]

Good luck finding them in somalia.

[arturo]

I say teach the pirates a lesson they won't forget.

[J R]

Well, what can you say. Let's spend a million or two dollars to rescue some ignorant American sailors (don't care whether they are dispensing Bibles or not) who don't have enough sense to avoid cruising the beautiful pirate infested waters off of Somalia.

And while we're at it, let's spend some more taxpayer cash to liberate some stupid hikers who don't think it's dangerous to hike Iran. What kind of people are these?????

[Paul Espinoza]

Pirates don't honor the laws of Somalia much less those of the US and those international treaties regarding the High Seas. These perps need to be arrested and brought to justice in Somalia, in the US and before an International Tribunal...in that order for 1-shot, 3-strikes corrective action.

[Keith L]

"officials said they are considering a response " Hope so. Hope that they get them back soonest.

They are good sane people. They were not taking bibles into the middle east. They were now on the the leg of a vacation of a lifetime that heads up to the Med. They were well aware of the situation and are very capable sailors. The flotilla they joined was supposed to have some support to help avoid this.

Their many friends are all pulling for their safe return.

Please think twice about your posts. There can be a lot of hurt feelings.

[MeValeMadre]

It would probably be cheaper for the US Gov to pay the ransom than the cost of mounting a military rescue.

[Chris Harding]

Bravery! Sadly, others may not understand such bravery and religious beliefs!

[Verballistic]

As Robert Beall so succinctly points out, this is no different than the Barbary Coast pirates that hijacked and looted private US ships just over 200 years ago.

Our response in 2011 to terror on the high seas needs to be the same as it was back then, when President Jefferson sent US troops to deal with these ocean-going terrorists.

[King Vitamin]

I agree that people who enter these waters are ignorant idiots and dont deserve ransom paid for them. But, I do agree that our military should send a clear message to these pitiful pirates with a few fly by's( like drive by's). Hit there coast lines and ship ports with some missiles! So far no one has really stood up to these sea punks yet! Lets send our jets in once a month for fly by's and missiles, to send a message that crime does not pay!! Or at least they need to find another way to do it. We can use it as training missions for our military and take out some pirates and their ships at the same time..

[King Vitamin]

I am sure the U.S has some old bombs and missiles and or chemical weapons we need to dispose of. So lets use them in some training exercises in Somalia in the ports where these street punk pirates operate. We can send a very clear message I am sure. We can take out some pirates, their ships and find a use for these old bombs at the same time, LOL.. The U.S can send these punks some missiles and bombs for ransom, lol.

[John Dingler, artist]

Their fearlessness and confidence of Fundie preachers, evangelists, and missionaries is an inspiration to all. They need no rescue by secular methods which are endorsed by Satan and should be avoided.

We should respect their confidence in the power of faith in God who will save them from all predicaments. Do not demean or deny their faith. They are already saved. God bless them. Leave them in the care of God the Allmighty. They will be OK.

[DudB]

It's to sink these pirates should be sunk in mid ocean. Show them we aren't playing around. That's the best they deserve, nothing better.