Vermont town waits, prays for resident's safe return

This must be a tough one for the far left residents of Vermont. Who to side with? The terrorist pirates or one of your own. What a dilemma! A source I know in the military told me the destroyer nearby is under a no-fire order from the White House. I believe it. We might hurt them. We should open up a dialog with them and ask them nicely to leave our ships alone.

SEND IN THE SEALS!

I am very curious as to why our military didn't use the big iron assets in Diego Garcia off the southern tip of India--our best and closest base to the Gulf of Aden--to go on a strafing run of the pirate boats. A few rounds from a 30-mm cannon would dishearten almost any would be pie rat.

While early information is often fraught with error from retelling or hearsay, it has been widely reported the crew was able to conduct evasive manuevers for some 3 hours. If this was the case, then I would have expected an F-18, or an F-16 could have come to the assistance of our US flagged freighter. I expect nothing less from our armed forces, to protect American intertests in the world, and projecting US power. Somalia is a failed state, anarchy on land has led to an absence of government, which in turn has led to anarchy on the high seas. While I share the concerns folks have said this piracy has to stop. It is my belief the answer lies in restoring order in Somalia. A place where the US has prior experience which came at a huge cost in terms of personnel.

In any case, my thoughts are with the Family that they will have their husband, father, son and brother returned them quickly and in good health, the hostage negotiation team will have the patience, foresight, and creative problem solving to win over his hostage takers and that the pie rats will seek a peaceful end to their situation and value their lives, and the life of Richard Phillips.

Wow some people really can politicize everything. Good luck to Capt. Phillips and his family!

Whose side is SITS (comment # 1) on ? His sort act as if they are the only real Americans, but can only do so by belittling others. If pressed on what they do believe, do you think it would sound much like your real American values? Replying to peole like him is a waste of eletrons, I know but it is not about changing him. He is free to whatever he is in my America, but not standing up these sort empowers them. I understand not bothering, but at least people need to express that he is not the majority view or can it will soon appear to be. His comment ruined the acticle for me,

Jan, how do you know that this family, pained by the kidnapping of a loved one has the Vermont values you despise? In any case, have you no compassion for them, even as they pray? Have you no shame? And I thought the right had "family values."

And Boston Globe, do you really have to print every comment, no matter how vile?

If we had a real leader the captain would be free by now. Has anyone noticed that Obama has been silent on this one? You think it has anything to do with the fact that the pirates are African? He needs to grow a spine and tell them to let him go or suffer the consequences.

I think several of these comments are vile and despicable. The reason Obama is staying silent is that there are sensitive negotiations going on for Phillips' release. And "Wake Up" is racist and you guys don't understand that if you attacked the lifeboat, you would be pretty much condemning Phillips to death-a firefight is NOT the way to go.

Mr. Lippman...you are right, we do not want to have Captain Phillips harmed, and thus, have not hoped for a fire fight. But Present Obamarx has given a no shoot order (as proved by the fact that Captain Phillips was off the ship and the navy did not fire-I refuse to believe that ANYONE in our navy would not take this opportunity to eliminate a vital target if given this opportunity) so please, stop your race baiting bs and realize that you, like 54% of this nation, were fooled by this fool who does not have the 'present' option on this one! May history forgive america for this massive blunder!

On that note...let us hope that this great american (as proved by his offer to trade himself for his crew and his desire to survive by trying to escape) His mother and father should be able to go to their graves one day KNOWING that their work raising a great man was done properly.

Wow - there are some real haters on this site. Tough noogies if you didn't vote for Obama and got him - he's doing great things for this country - as opposed to that numb-nuts who was in office for eight years - what was that doofus's name again? Bozos like these haters need to get a life - which I doubt they will. Censoring idiots like these only sends them underground where we are less aware of them.

The current policies are the poblem. But they are not Obama's policies particularly. How long they have been in place? They are actually the international insurance company's policies. It is cheaper to pay off the crimnal highjacking, kidnapping, murderous pirates, then arm the seaman and/or the ships and risk claims under the Jones Act. Even if would end the piracy It is sickening greed, and shameful if you have any ideals or believe in the rule of law. The ships' crew, all seamen, are tired of it. All the concern about the crew's safety does not extend to leaving them in hand of pirates for months, does it ? Why ? Follow the money.
How afraid of dieing were the crew when, unarmed, they took on armed men? How afraid of death was the Capt. when he jumped off the life boat ? These men value their liberty more then they fear their deaths, and have fought for it. If armed they would all be free. The insurers fear the cost of their death or injuries. That is the only reason they are unarmed. The root cause of the piracy is greed but it the insurers greed that allows the piracy to continue and grow.

I was at the church when the news vans were there. If I had to guess there was about 10 or 15 news vans some out of state. It's terrible those poor people who have to deal with the unsertinty and to have all those people shoving cameras into your face. I hated just being there, I wanted to enjoy a good friday mass but there was camereas recording everyones every move, I can't imagin what it must be like for the family if i couldn't even take being in the parking lot for to long! My heart goes out to them!