MAERSK ALABAMA - First Person Account of the Pirate Attack

After being forwarded about a dozen times, this email describing the pirate attack on the MAERSK ALABAMA reached my email inbox. It contains a couple good points to keep in mind if you need to prepare your ship against pirate attack.

(extract)...

I wanted to let you know some of the lessons we learned so you guys can better prepare yourselves for something similar.

The only guys actually captured by the pirates were on the bridge: Capt, 3/M, and 2 AB's. I don't really know why they stayed on the bridge until the pirates got up there. Then they had keys to everything and were able to unlock everyone's rooms.

The pirates got up to the bridge very quickly once they were onboard. We had a locked cage door over the ladder well from main deck, but it only took a second for them to shoot it off. They then got to the bridge up the outside ladders. By that time we had taken control of the engine and steering down below.

xxx stayed in the ECR and the C/M was out on deck tracking the pirates' movement. We kept swinging the rudder side to side. The pirates' boat capsized, though I'm not sure exactly when or what caused it. After about 20 minutes the engine was killed, I don't know by whom. At that point I shut off the air bottles and xxx killed power. He was also able to get outside and trip the fuel shutoff for the EDG. I think this was critical. The pirates were very reluctant to go into the dark. We will be looking at a way to shut off the EDG from the ECR in the future.

All the crew had been mustered and secured in the steering gear. Our pirates didn't have any grenades, so they would have never been able to break in there. The previous day we had welded a padeye on the inside of the hatch to the fantail so it was secured from the inside. The only problem with the steering gear was the heat and the shortage of water. In the future we will store food and water in various spots for emergency usage. I think we will also run a fresh water line into the steering gear. We were able to make a run from the steering gear to the E/R water fountain and fill up some empty oil sample bottles we had back there. The C/M was also able to get some fruit and sodas from the galley and drop them down the line standpipe.

The pirates sent the 3/M unescorted to go look for crewmembers, so he was able to get away. One of the pirates then went with an AB down to the E/R to look for people. xxx was able to jump him in the dark and we took him prisoner in the steering gear. No one else came down into the E/R.

As the day went on the pirates became desperate to get out of there. There boat was sunk, and they couldn't get our ship moving. The Captain talked them into taking the MOB boat. The three remaining pirates went down in the MOB boat with Phillips. We were then able to negotiate with them over the radio. We dropped some food, water and diesel to them. We started getting the plant back on line. Unfortunately, the MOB boat wouldn't start.

A couple of guys got in the lifeboat and dropped it. They motored over and traded the lifeboat for the MOB boat. We were supposed to exchange their guy for the Captain, but they ended up keeping him. They motored off in the lifeboat. They had no way of getting back aboard, so we followed them. The Navy showed up a few hours later. We stayed close by for some time, but then the Navy asked us to head out. I heard that several other pirate vessels were heading our way and the Navy wanted us out of the way. That's about it. I'll give you all the details some other time.

Just to reiterate the most important points:

- Have a well fortified location with food and water supply.
- Kill all the lights.
- Leave the alarms going, the noise helped cover our movements
through the house.
- Flashlights and radios are very handy, as well
as the sound-powered phone.

Anyway, it was a pretty stressful situation. I have to say I am impressed with how the entire crew responded. We didn't have anybody who wanted to give up. I'm pretty confident that Phillips will end up ok. They have to know that if they kill him they'll be done....(continues)

Back in the '90s I took a ship security course and it included a piracy drill. We tried to take the ship back and all ended up dead. In the debriefing, the pirates, who were former-seals, mentioned that the hardest area of the ship to take control of was the engine room...

For more on the MAERSK ALABAMA pirate attack see gCaptain here.

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Clinton: "new diplomatic efforts to freeze the pirates' assets"

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opened her mouth to confirm that the current US Administration still isn't up to the task of fighting Somali pirates, despite the recent attacks on US-Flag merchant ships. Take the following comment made today:

In Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced new diplomatic efforts to freeze the pirates' assets and said the Obama administration will work with shippers and insurers to improve their defenses against pirates, part of a diplomatic initiative to thwart attacks on shipping. - Yahoo News

Are you frakking kidding me?!?! Freeze Pirate assets? Just how do you freeze pirate assets when the pirates have millions of dollars raining from the sky? Take the MV FAINA:

And take the SIRIUS STAR:

Kind of hard to freeze millions of dollars in cash. It's not like the pirates are just depositing it in the nearest bank. At least not any bank the US can get anywhere near. No, the money is split into many small 'cuts' and distributed to whole groups of people. Good luck with that. But wait, the Clinton plan gets even worse:

She acknowledged it will be hard to find the pirates' assets. But she wants the U.S. and others to "explore ways to track and freeze" pirate ransom money and other funds used in purchases of new boats, weapons and communications equipment.

"We have noticed that the pirates are buying more and more sophisticated equipment, they're buying faster and more capable vessels, they are clearly using their ransom money for their benefit — both personally and on behalf of their piracy," she said. "We think we can begin to try and track and prevent that from happening." - Yahoo News

Yes, let's go after the Mogadishu branch of Boston Whaler and Chris-Craft and tell them not to sell to pirates any longer.

This is the problem with 'sophisticated' diplomats like Clinton and her boss our President. Their solution to piracy is to stop the pirates from buying new attack boats. Pirates who steal whole ships. Pirates who can just as easily steal small attack boats. They are pirates after all, in Africa. And for that, they can surely use the millions they get in ransom to buy anything they need in the local market. If Clinton's plan is so great, why not try it against the Drug cartels, Rogue States, Terrorists, in addition to the pirates.

If Clinton is serious about tackling pirates, then this is what it looks like to fight pirates:



Update:

Here is another idiot's view:

Sharpton: Pirates really a “voluntary Coast Guard”

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French Capture More Somali Pirates (Photos)

The French have gone and captured more Somali pirates:

(CNN) -- The French Navy captured 11 suspected pirates off the coast of Kenya Wednesday, the French Ministry of Defense announced.

The Navy tracked the pirates overnight after they attacked a ship called the Safmarine Asia. The French launched a helicopter from the frigate Nivose to head off the attack Tuesday night, then seized the suspected pirates Wednesday morning, the statement said. - CNN

"Interception of a pirate skiff by the Nivôse's boarding team"

"The helicopter from the Nivôse stopped a pirate assault skiff"

Also spotted and apparently tracked was a pirate 'mothership' as seen in the photo below:


"The mother vessel intercepted the pirates"

I am guessing that it is carrying food, drinking water, fuel, weapons and not much else other than that drug they all chew. (Khat.) What, you expected something bigger?

Here is an English translation of the French report on the capture: (Original French version here)

The French frigate Nivôse operating within the framework of the European operation Atalante intercepted eleven pirates on the morning of 15 April. The operation took place about 500 nautical miles (900 kilometers) east of Mombasa.

The pirates sailed from a mother ship, a boat 10 meters long including carrying 17 drums of 200 liters of fuel, and two assault skiffs . They are currently seized on the Nivôse.

The Nivôse had spotted the pirates April 14 in the evening when his helicopter had helped to thwart their attack against the building trade Safmarine Asia (Flag of Liberia). The ship tracked the boats during the night and then spoke at daybreak.

The Nivôse joined the Atalante force on 12 April. EU Operation Atalante currently consists of eight vessels (German, Spanish, french and Italian). They accompany ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and secure navigation lanes, escorting cargo ships of the World Food Program carrying humanitarian cargo to Somalia.

The increase in the number of attacks off the eastern coast of Somalia has led France to deploy the Nivôse in this area. It's work is supported by a French maritime surveillance Falcon 50 aircraft which operates in the region and complements the information collected by other maritime patrol aircraft based in Djibouti. - Google Translation link (I edited the translation a bit to the best of my guessing ability)

It sounds like they also captured the mothership but I am not sure. It would be good news if they did. And if they did, are their any pirate boats trapped far out at sea?

Click on the 'Piracy' label below for more pirate capture photos.

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'Anchor Babies' in Play

The news media, in it's never-ending goal of proving how much they are in the pockets of liberals, seems to have started covering for the President on illegal immigration, publishing stories they think will help his chances of passing something to legalize illegal aliens.

(CNN) -- Julie Quiroz, a 14-year-old U.S. citizen, has been separated from her mother for nearly two years. Her mom was deported to Mexico for being in the United States illegally.

Julie Quiroz is one of an estimated 4 million "citizen children" in the United States, according to new study.

At the age of 12, Julie was forced to decide between her country and her family. With the help of a Christian philanthropist, she chose to stay in the United States.

"It's really, really hard to leave your family," she told CNN by phone. - CNN

A tear jerker for sure.

That said, this kid, and others in a similar situation, need to realize that their parents entered this country illegally and may have to face up to their crime by being deported. Yes, the children might be separated from their parents, as being American Citizens, they do not face deportation like their illegal alien parents, and can stay in the US. However, they can go back with their parents if they feel so strongly about not being separated. So there is no force separation. The parents have the right to force the child to return to their home country with them. Instead, they find a way to keep their children in the US. That is choice. Not for anything, but they should appreciate the fact that they are given this choice instead of forcing the children to remain with their legal guardians.

Julie is called a 'citizen child' in the CNN story above. I am not sure where they got that term, especially since there is already a term out there for her. Julie is an 'Anchor Child'. (Seems they got the Citizen Child term from this group, 'Organization to Help Citizen Children', which is mentioned in the story.)

Anchor baby is a derogatory term for a child born in the United States to immigrants or other non-citizens, regardless of the immigration status of the parents. The term refers to the supposed role of the child, as a U.S. citizen, in facilitating immigration through family reunification under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. - Wikipedia

Call it derogatory if you want, the act itself is a despicable one, as it uses a child to help foreign nations obtain legal residency in the US. the definition claims a 'supposed role' for the child, but the CNN story itself is clearly using the child to bring sympathy to the plight of the parents. and family.

In fact the Government has take one step to discourage this type of anchor-baby immigration by delaying the process by which the child can request immigration rights for their parents until they become 21. (I did not know until now that the Government does appear to penalize those who were here illegally when they gave birth to their child. I wonder if this only applies to those who were caught at the time or do they investigate their status at the time of birth as part of the application process.)

Under existing law, parents of United States citizens may be sponsored for immigration by their adult citizen children (those at least 21 years of age) under certain conditons. The child must demonstrate the financial ability to provide for the parents. In addition to this under current law and USCS policy individuals who entered illegally (EWI or Entry without Inspection) may not adjust in the country. However, leaving the United States triggers a ban on entering the U.S. If the parent was only present in the U.S. between 180-364 days they will get a 3 year ban. However, more commonly if they were present for 365 days or more, they will get a ten year ban on entering the U.S. Unless, the parent is willing to live out the ban outside the country, they may not regularize their status though the child. For parents that enter legally they will not have to leave the U.S. to adjust status unless they entered on a K visa or for people who entered on J visas and did not obtain a wavier for the foreign stay period - Wikipedia

One option not seriously discussed to this point is to stop granting automatic citizenship to babies born in the US when their parents are here illegally. There have been some calls for this change but none have gained any traction. Personally, I am not in favor of making the change. After all, it is not the kids fault. I think that before going that far, they should change the law eliminating the possibility of legal immigration for parents through their US-born children for those parents who came to the US illegally. The child would no longer be an 'anchor baby' and may cut down on immigration by pregnant women looking for US citizenship. Then again, it just might take a refusal to grant citizenship in order to get control of this problem.

How big is this problem? Big:

Nearly 4 million children who have at least one parent who entered the U.S. illegally were born in the United States and are U.S. citizens as a result, according to the study conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center. That's about three quarters of the estimated 5.5 million children of illegal immigrants inside the United States, according to the study. About 1.8 million children of undocumented immigrants live in poverty, the study found.

"Among children whose parents are unauthorized immigrants, one in three is poor. The [poverty] rate of children of unauthorized immigrants is similar whether the children are unauthorized immigrants or U.S. born," the study says. - CNN

'Unauthorized Immigrants'. You have to love the pro-illegal alien re-branding. Well, according to the figures above, the US Government would need to grant legal residency status to between 4 and 8 million illegal aliens to permit them to stay with their Us-born children. I bet the number is closer to 8 million, unless all these illegal aliens come over here while single and then all managed to find U.S. Citizens to marry. Using their numbers, legalizing these illegal-alien parents would end up legalizing 1/3 to 2/3s of all illegal aliens! That would basically take a big chunk out of the issue of what to do with illegal aliens, seeing that the fate of about half would be decided based on having an anchor baby.

Can you imagine the flood of illegal aliens coming to the US if this become a possible route to legal residency?.

Previous:

Mexico and the US Governments are the Immigration Problem - 25 May 07
How Illegal Aliens get a 'Social Security Number' in their own Name - 27 Sept 07
Iraq, Zimbabwe and Mexico - 21 Sept 07
Elvira Arellano Should Not Have Been Deported - 30 Aug 07
Now that the Illegal Alien Bill is Dead, How about Securing the Border - 9 June 07
Congress Should do Nothing About Illegal Aliens - 7 June 07
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Should Resign - 2 June 07
"Rep. Steve King: The Voyage to Amnestistan (Amnesty) Aboard The Clipper Ship "America"" - 2 June 07

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Maritime Monday 157 Posted at gCaptain

This week's edition of Maritime Monday has been posted at gCaptain.

Maritime Monday 157

You can find last week’s edition here.

You can find Maritime Monday 107 here. (Published 21 April 2008).

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Lesson Unlearnt - Pakistan is a Terrorist Haven

I have written a couple times about Pakistan. The country is a mess and it is a haven for terrorists. I have pointed out the simple fact that 'It is NOT OK to let your son go to Pakistan'. Little good can come from it. Whatever the reason your kid might be giving for wanting to go to Pakistan, it is a lie. And by letting your child go to Pakistan, you are supporting terrorism by providing them with another recruit.

This view of Pakistan is one that they have wholly earned. No less than Nigeria has earned for being a scam state for their bogus emails promising millions. And since Pakistan has earned this reputation, they should be treated accordingly. Every Pakistani and every person going to and coming from Pakistan should be considered suspect. And yet, we still have terrorists coming from Pakistan because Governments don't take the right precautions because leftists will complain that actually investigating if someone might be a threat is not politically correct.

Suspects being questioned today after one of the biggest anti-terror operations since the July 7 attacks exploited lax student visa regulations to enter the UK from Pakistan, Whitehall sources said yesterday.

As police continued searches in ­Liverpool, Manchester and Clitheroe, Lancashire, after the raids on Wednesday, the Home Office said student visa checks had been tightened in the last fortnight because of widespread abuses of the system.

There are concerns inside government and the security services that the 11 Pakistani nationals being held in the north of England could have gained entry on student visas in order to form a sleeper cell. Gordon Brown talked of the police having foiled a "very big terrorist plot". - Guardian

JUST - PLAIN - STUPID.

If my memory serves me right, all of the latest terrorist plots are linked to Pakistanis and activity inside Pakistan. Pakistan has taken the place of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, other than the ever increasing number of missile strikes, not much is being done about it, partly because the country claims to have a working Government. That's a shame, because that was pretty much the same scenario we ran for Afghanistan until they attacked on September 11.

As for using the poor conditions inside the country as a defense for the actions of it's people, that is total B.S. Either they can be in charge of their lives and their country or others will come and force civilization down their throats. And yes Islam is part of the problem. Much is what is backwards about Pakistan can be traced back to Islam. This religion either has to change greatly or be wiped from the planet. The religion as it is practiced there is incompatible with the first world. (Clearly muslims can live in the West and fit in with society. Perhaps that brand of Islam can be exported...)

Previous:
It is NOT OK to let your son go to Pakistan - 10 Aug 06

Update:
The UK's stupidity was even greater than I thought:

Members of the alleged Al Qaeda cell suspected of plotting a Bank Holiday terror atrocity worked for a firm based at Manchester Airport.

At least one drove vans for a cargo company which has access to sensitive locations.

A further two had passed security industry checks which enabled them to guard premises overnight, further raising fears that members of the gang - all but one of them Pakistani students - were planning to infiltrate high-profile targets before an attack. - The Daily Mail via Gateway Pundit

The story also claims that these guys have links to established terrorists, and all sorts of other red flags. Not only that, but they are not even sure if they have stopped the plot entirely yet. What a bunch of assclowns. It would be funny, but these progressives keep getting people killed and all they are concerned about is how they can hug these terrorists better.

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Total B.S. "White House: No bow to Saudi"

You know, this has been batted around the internet for a while and frankly it has not interested me, until the White House had to come out and deny that it happened:

The White House is denying that the president bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at a G-20 meeting in London, a scene that drew criticism on the right and praise from some Arab outlets.

"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah," said an Obama aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. - POLITICO

On the post is video of the event. This is the first time that I watched it. It sure looks like he bowed down, and bowed low. When you look at the video you can see that the King had his hand outstretched high and President Obama took it while standing and then bowed. It was only when he was coming back up that he took his hand with his other hand. So the White House's statement is total B.S.

So lets say that the White House is being truthful and that this was not a bow. (Although looking at the video puts us all in fantasy land in order to believe the White House on this issue) If so, then perhaps these assclowns that 'advise' the president should take a piece of what I thought was well known advice:

Not only must the act be honorable but it must appear to be honorable

This is where the President (and his staff) failed. It appears to be that he bowed to a foreign leader. So he is wrong regardless of whatever he might have actually done.

OK, maybe we can move on now. This I think is a relatively trivial issue as this President is up to much worse than bringing discredit upon the United States, such as bankrupting the country by looting taxpayers.

I guess his pres staff needed to get something out there, knowing that most people will never actually see the video to make a judgment of their own. So go see the video here and judge for yourself.

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Documentary "U.N. Me" Exposes the United Nations

Seems that someone has done a documentary on all the evil things that are going on under the umbrella of the United Nations. It's about time!

About The Documentary

The United Nations was founded on the principles of maintaining international security and promoting the dignity of mankind. But as the 20th century became the 21st century, it seems that we haven't seen a marked improvement in our defense of human rights and collective security. U.N Me is a film that exposes the perversity of the U.N. and its failure to live up to its founding principles all wrapped up in a highly entertaining film.

U.N. Me has uncovered the disturbing truth that an organization that was created to ennoble man has instead been ravaged by corruption, enables evil and sows global chaos. The film has a very strong emphasis on entertainment.

U.N. Me is irreverent, humorous and intense, using thoughtful and powerful interviews, dramatic images, hard-hitting politics and caustic commentary.

Filming has taken place on location in exotic settings throughout Africa, the Middle East and Europe. - Link

I look forward to seeing this movie!

Link:
U.N. Me

Click on the 'UN' label below to read my coverage of UN abuses.

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Maritime Monday 156 Posted at gCaptain

This week's edition of Maritime Monday has been posted at gCaptain.

Maritime Monday 156

You can find last week’s edition here.

You can find Maritime Monday 106 here. (Published 13 April 2008).

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Obama Refuses Return of TARP Money: "the system still needs government capital."

As the news has been reporting, a number of banks and financial institutions are desperate to return the Government TARP money to get out from under the Government restrictions that are coming about to impact their businesses, restrictions that have come out months after the money has come out in wake of the fake AIG furor. Some banks have already returned the money but other banks are being told by the Government to keep the money for now, apparently on direction of President Obama:

JPMorgan’s Dimon spoke first. He began by complimenting the president on the economic team he’d assembled. And he said his industry needs to explain more directly to the American people that the economic recovery plans are already working. Dimon also insisted that he’d like to give the government’s TARP money back as soon as practical, and asked the president to “streamline” that process.

But Obama didn’t like that idea — arguing that the system still needs government capital. - Politico

This is complete B.S. Maybe it serves these banks well to be trapped into a now forced relationship with the President. And maybe the President is enjoying that the anger with TARP is partly being directed at bank executives. Still, this is not the way Government is supposed to work.

If the Government really thinks that the 'system' still needs Government capital, then they should go and open up bank accounts in these banks. The banks will then be able to loan out a portion of that money or have the money on hand for whatever their business requirements may need it for. On top of that, the Government can earn interest on those deposits.

Better yet, give me some of that money. I will do my best to stimulate the economy!

UPDATE - 4 April 09:
The Wall Street Journal is on the story:

Fast forward to today, and that same bank is begging to give the money back. The chairman offers to write a check, now, with interest. He's been sitting on the cash for months and has felt the dead hand of government threatening to run his business and dictate pay scales. He sees the writing on the wall and he wants out. But the Obama team says no, since unlike the smaller banks that gave their TARP money back, this bank is far more prominent. The bank has also been threatened with "adverse" consequences if its chairman persists. That's politics talking, not economics.

Think about it: If Rick Wagoner can be fired and compact cars can be mandated, why can't a bank with a vault full of TARP money be told where to lend? And since politics drives this administration, why can't special loans and terms be offered to favored constituents, favored industries, or even favored regions? Our prosperity has never been based on the political allocation of credit -- until now.

Which brings me to the Pay for Performance Act, just passed by the House. This is an outstanding example of class warfare. I'm an Englishman. We invented class warfare, and I know it when I see it. This legislation allows the administration to dictate pay for anyone working in any company that takes a dime of TARP money. This is a whip with which to thrash the unpopular bankers, a tool to advance the Obama administration's goal of controlling the financial system. - WSJ

First the banks. Then the health care professionals because you know the Democrats can't stand to see doctors make money for saving lives. And once the Government starts paying for the care, they sure as hell are going to dictate compensation for doctors and nurses just like they plan to do for bankers. And just like it is the bankers fault that you're poor, it will be the doctor's fault that you're sick! (See: Government Health Care - Government Dictated Salaries!)

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Government Health Care - Government Dictated Salaries!

So, the Government has decided that they want to have control of and limit the salaries and potential bonuses of employees of financial firms that receive Government bailout money with the idea being that the Government has the right to be so intrusive because they are providing money to the company. Well, I have stated before that I am against the Government bailing out companies as all that does is turn the losers into winners and threatens the better-run companies as their competitors are getting unfair support which then permits them to wreck the market with slashed prices, making it unprofitable for everyone (and possibly driving more companies to the point of needing Government assistance. Ford motor company has basically said that if the other two automakers get bailout money they they will have to get money as well in order to compete against their aggressive price cutting).

The Obama Democrat-controlled Government wants to throw lots of Government money at all sorts of stuff. Are they then going to shove their noses into those businesses as well?

And what about this Socialized health care that Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress wants to force down all our throats? That's Government money going to Doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, research outfits and all sorts of health care providers. Guess what is going to happen to the salaries of Doctors, nurses and everyone who works to keep American healthy? That's right, Obama's Health Care plan is surely going to regulate/limit their pay. This is what happens in other countries that have public health care. This is how they control the Government's cost of providing 'free' health care.

Of course lowering the salaries for doctors and all the supporting medical staff reduces the supply of doctors and nurses. As it is, the US already has a shortage of nurses. I have heard a couple stories already of laid off auto workers training to be nurses. Too bad that good money they are getting ready to earn is going to go away.

In other countries, especially in Europe, those countries are already suffering from a lack of trained doctors and nurses. They have to go to the third-world to steal doctors and nurses attracting them with much higher pay than they can earn back home. The problem has gotten so bad that these countries have been complaining about this 'brain drain'. Now imagine the US sucking from this ever-shrinking pool of trained medical professionals.

So remember, there are many things the Democrats are not telling you about socialized medicine. Rationing of care is one issue. Salary control is another. It has not worked elsewhere. It certainly will not work in the US.

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"GREENLAND" From the Air (Photos)

Here are some photos of Greenland taken from the plane on our trip back from vacation in Finland in early March.

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