By John Farnam
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm doth bind the restless wave, Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
~ First stanza from the “Naval Hymn,” authored by William Whiting in 1860, inspired by dangers of seafaring described in the 107th Psalm. It has since been “adopted,” officially and unofficially, by many Western navies and Marine Services.
Cruise ships:
Many, including US Adm James Stavridis (ret), have expressed grave concern for the obvious vulnerability of cruise-ship crew and passengers, herded together in a small space, and isolated far from any kind of help in some remote corner of a vast ocean, to attacks by ISIS. Stavridis is the former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
Slow, lumbering, high-profile, luxury cruise ships typically carry 5k passengers and crew. And, they are utterly defenseless! Cruise ships are “gun-free zones!” Passengers and crew are all castrated!
A dozen heavily-armed ISIS terrorists can easily board and take-over most cruise ships, with scant interference from the crew, none from passengers. Escape will be all but impossible, and rescue will be grievously arduous and dangerous.
Results are predictable, and will resemble the Beslan [massacre]!
And, it is not all just speculation!
In October of 1985, the luxury cruise ship, Achille Lauro, was hijacked by a dozen members of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) while off the coast of Egypt. They singled-out a passenger, an American Jew named Leon Klinghoffer, who was confined to a wheelchair. At point-blank range, Klinghoffer was shot to death in his wheelchair, and then he and his wheelchair were thrown overboard.
Hijackers subsequently escaped and were granted “safe passage” to Tunisia, but the getaway plane was forced to land in Italy by US fighter jets, under the direction of then-president Reagan. During the extradition hearing, bungled by the Italians (what a surprise), the leader of the murdering hijackers, (Muhammad Zaidan, also known as “Abu Abbas”) was allowed to fly to Yugoslavia and ultimate freedom.
By chance, Zaidan was recaptured by American forces in Iraq in 2003. When his identity was discovered and confirmed, he was scheduled for extradition back to Italy. He never made it! The Italians didn’t get a second chance to flub the dub! Zaidan died in early 2004, while still in captivity, of what were reported as “natural causes.”
Currently, there is still scant co-operation/coordination with regard to terrorism at sea, even with regard to piracy, much less luxury cruise ships. The entire issue is fundamentally ignored!
… and will continue to be until the unthinkable happens, again!
For one, cruise ships are not for me, nor is any other place I can’t be armed. For the foreseeable future, this world will not be a happy place for VBCs (Victims, by Choice)!
“Americans have the right to choose to be unarmed and helpless. Be my guest!” ~ Ted Nugent
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance, if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
Have we all forgotten all the ships hijacked by Somalia pirates already? Yes the pirates are looking for a payday and not Islamic headlines, but it shows that a few armed men in small boat can take over tanker or freighter with just small arms. The hijacked freighters had more defences available to the crew than what a luxury cruise ship has.
Avoid “Gun Free Zones”, otherwise known as “Target Rich Environments” Anyplace you go where your movements are restricted and escape routes are non-existent should be avoided unless absolutely required. I know of no person who is required to take a cruise and waste their money on a overpriced hotel room with travel restrictions.
Since the story is about a 30+ incident , I am sure that the cruise ship industry have updated their preparedness for attacks from terrorists. However, I am more afraid of the many people who are drunk on board every day and if they all had guns then, therein is where the crisis would lie. After 58 cruises, I have witnessed many times, security officers having to deal with drunk passengers. I can only imagine if these drunk passengers had guns at their access. NO, leave the protection to the professionals, not to a bunch of tourists having a good… Read more »
NO, they have not in any way shape or form. Most have a stick their head in the sand approach with the only arms onboard being a couple of handguns and a shotgun. Take a cruise at your own peril.
Steve,
That doesn’t seem to happen very often with drunks on land. Why would things be different at sea
?
I don’t argue the message – preparedness. But citing a 35+ year old incident doesn’t sell the point for me.
While the premise of the article is valid and unchallenged, citing an example from 30+ years ago is a bit of a stretch to support the topic.
If anything, more reason not to take a cruise.
You mean that they’re hotbeds of diseases wasn’t enough for you?
Gil = Paid VPC TROLL
Do. It feed the trolls
Typo there ….. do not feed the trolls
Mom out from under the porch yet, VPC troll Gil?