They each got sentences slightly longer than forty years, rather than life imprisonment, apparently because the RPG that one of them was holding was broken and incapable of firing, or because U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson believes that life imprisonment is cruel and unusual punishment. Is firing an RPG at a Navy ship not cruel and unusual punishment for those on the ship?
“Last two Somalis get time in attack on Ashland,” by Tim McGlone, The Virginian-Pilot, May 16, 2014 (thanks to Creeping Sharia):
A federal prosecutor said a Somali man convicted of piracy stood ready to launch a rocket-propelled grenade at a Navy ship four years ago.
The man, Mohamed Abdi Jama, was sentenced Thursday to 41-1/2 years in federal prison for his role in the April 2010 pirating attempt on the dock landing ship Ashland. Another Somali, Abdicasiis Cabaase, was sentenced to 42-1/2 years in prison for his role in the attack.
They were the last two of five Somalis convicted and sentenced this week for trying to hijack the Ashland.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hatch said Jama held an RPG that day, but that it was broken and incapable of firing. Still, the sailors didn’t know that. The captain may well have believed that the pirates were capable of blowing up the bridge, he said.
“It’s a very threatening weapon. I do believe he stood ready to perform,” Hatch said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office had sought life prison terms for each of the five Somalis, but the judge ruled that would violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. He equated the case to attempted hostage taking.
U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson said the sentences handed out this week, though less than life, “send a message to those who commit piracy.”
tahmineh says
Surprised that the sailors didn’t fire at them.
Defective weapon or not, the intent was there. I’m all for stripping assets if they have any (not likely) to pay for legal fees and deporting them. Permanently ban them from the US and put them on a terrorist list.
PRCS says
USS Ashland Captures Pirates
Story Number: NNS100410-08Release Date: 4/10/2010 11:44:00 AM
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From U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
USS ASHLAND, Gulf of Aden (NNS) — At approximately 5:00 a.m. local time April 10, USS Ashland (LSD 48), was fired upon by a skiff manned by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 330 nautical miles off the coast of Djibouti.
During the attack, Ashland received small arms fire on the port side from the six man crew of suspected pirates aboard the skiff. Ashland, in accordance with her rules of engagement, returned fire.
USS Ashland fired two rounds at the skiff from her MK-38 Mod 2, 25mm gun. The skiff caught fire and the suspected pirates abandoned the skiff. Ashland deployed her rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to assist the pirates who were in the water near their skiff.
Once it was verified that the suspected pirates no longer had weapons on their person, all six were brought on board Ashland where they received medical care. “There is no apparent damage to USS Ashland, and there were no injuries to any members of her crew.”
I don’t know why they were given those sentences.
But the truth is, the morons couldn’t figure out that Ashland was a combatant vessel and decided to attack it with pea shooters.
They’re lucky the ship did not respond with its CIWS Gatlings.
http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=84184
Bezelel says
Why bother rescuing them?
Isabella says
At the pace US is convicting islamists, there will be a shortage of accomodation for these lovely guests in US jails.How much is this guy going to cost to America? It is insane.
mortimer says
They commit piracy for Allah, but they do not call it piracy. They call it ‘jihad in the cause of Allah’. Attacking the US military is attacking the defenders of the world’s freedoms. Allah HATES freedom. Allah LOVES enslavement.
Muslims love enslavement and hate freedom.
Uri says
Deterrence – Russian style.
Do you think there were any survivors to take home to Russia?
http://youtu.be/4XJ0nblZjZE
Salah says
Thanks for the link. Indeed, that’s the only way to deal with these vermins.
sheik yer mami says
U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson believes that life imprisonment is cruel and unusual punishment.
So do I.
They wanted to kill and die for allah. We should dispose of them accordingly.
Aardvark says
I second that, Sheik. And apparently halal slaughter is completely painless, so just cut their throats and hang them up by their heels until they stop moving. Allah would like that.
Jerry says
They should have been towed to safety as a shark bait
or, in conformity with traditional law of the sea allowed
to walk the plank, sufficiently weighed dows.
Thy should American (or other) taxpayers be punished
by having to maintain them in jail maybe only until
some misguided American closet Muslim President
decides to release them under the pretext of some
peace seeking gesture.
Jerry says
typo correction – please read: weighed down
Charli Main says
Perhaps this was a new and inventive way to get entry into the good old US of A and a FREE meal ticket for the rest of their lives??
Angemon says
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office had sought life prison terms for each of the five Somalis, but the judge ruled that would violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. ”
The jihadis were under the impression that kuffars would suffer through eternal horrors in the afterlife:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahannam#Description
Life in prison is much more humane in comparison.