Saudi Arabia to Join NATO Naval Mission; Pirates Boost Defenses

Nov. 21 (Bloomberg) — Saudi Arabia said it will join a fleet of NATO warships on an anti-piracy mission, as hijackers bolstered defenses around an oil-laden Saudi tanker captured off the East African coast.

The navies of India, Russia, France, Britain and Germany have all battled pirate vessels in the past 12 days alone.

The seizure of the oil tanker may push Western navies to step up their actions against hijackers, who find potential targets with Global Positioning System navigational aids and satellite phones and use captured fishing trawlers to launch attacks out at sea, according to an October report by Chatham House.

So it’s a fleet of warships from every major military power in the world vs. some fishing boats. Think these pirates may have bitten off more than they can chew?

Granted, the swashbuckers have been having Jack Sparrow-like success lately–capturing nine ships in the last month and asking for a mil in randsom for each. But then they got arrogant and commandeered an oil tanker. Big mistake. We’re they expecting us not to go war over oil? That’s the only thing we go to war over. Looks like in a couple months there won’t be too many pirates anymore.

As the night wore on the only hope came from college towns who had yet to report their results, but even then Clinton’s early lead of 2% refused to shrink. Every 200 vote swing would prompt groans or cheers from the crowd, but the margin stayed so constant on through into the night that the networks finally called the results for Hillary Clinton at 10:30. New Hampshire’s recently elected congressman and woman tried to come out and pump up the crowd, but nothing could wake the Obama patrons who were still in shock from what was supposed to be a runaway victory. Finally, the Senator from Illinois emerged and the energy from the crowd lifted at the sight of his face.

Obama’s knack for giving a speech has been his strength during this campaign, but giving a concession speech is whole new ball game, no matter the candidate. As he conceded the state’s delegates to Hillary Clinton and congratulated her on her victory, the crowd only half heartedly gave him their approval. It seemed like the wind had been knocked out of his sails, that his spirits had been broken. But then, in an instant, Obama flipped on a switch of such passion and energy that he made every person in that room, however dejected and discouraged they might have been, believe again. “For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we’ve been told we’re not ready, or we should’nt try, or we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums of the spirit of a people: “Yes We Can!’”

And with that, he took off. He implored the rest of the country to not give up hope, he again proclaimed, “Yes, we can!” Over and over he pressed the issue. To all the doubters and cynics who say he cannot win, he said, “Yes we can!” To all who say there will never be “a new majority” in this country made up of Democrats and Republicans and Independents, he shouted “Yes, we can!”

With those three words he left the stage to an ecstatic, rejuvenated crowd, clapping and screaming, who, at least for a few moments, seemed to forget about the night’s unexpected loss almost completely.

Obama was winning by 10+ points in virtually every poll taken yesterday and today.

The room where the victory party was set is completely silent. Obama’s supporters’ usual “Fired Up! Ready to Go!” chant that usually deafens the room is only catching on with a quarter of the auditorium.

When Obama’s name came up on the screen recently a slightly inebriated fan yelled, “OBAMMMMAAAA!” and was followed by an awkward silence.

People here are worried. Clinton is leading big with women and in big cities, both of went to Obama in Iowa. Obama’s last hope might be the three college towns that house Dartmouth, Franklin Pierce and University of New Hampshire students–they have yet to report.

Everyone here is in for a long night. More to come…

We expect these numbers to be changing shortly, but anything can happen…

I’ve just taken a look at the growing lines of supporters outside Nashua South High School and had the chance to take a few pictures, speak with a few people, and otherwise get a feel for the atmosphere.

One of the first people I talked to was a college student attending school in Iowa. Having traveled back to her university to cast her vote for Obama in the victorious caucuses, she had returned to New Hampshire to see her candidate in action. She was thrilled and amazed at the general atmosphere both here and in Iowa. “They’re pretty crazy in Iowa,” she told me, grinning, “if you went into a diner or anywhere, the election was all anyone was talking about.” Certainly that is true of New Hampshire as well—large groups of supporters intermittently break out into loud, raucous cheers and the buzz of anticipation is infectious.

Supporters hoping to secure a seat turned out in front of the Nashua High School South as early as 3 pm for a 7:30 pm door opening hoping to gain admittance to the anticipated Obama victory rally. Attempts to gain entrance by supporters have not been thwarted by sold-out ticket sales. The length of the line for those hoping to gain admittance without a ticket rivals that of the ticket holders.

Patiently waiting supporters kept track of polling numbers with PDAs and others enjoyed an open WiFi connection and were keeping the crowd up to date with the latest poll turnout. MSNBC reported that NH is experiencing record turnouts with up to 70 percent state wide participation. Huffingtonpost.com confirmed this, adding that some polling stations are running out of ballots because of an, “unexpected amount of people who have never turned out to vote before.”

I sit listening to the typing keyboards, the buzzing and chirping of cellphones, the click and whir of cameras. Above it all are the television pundits on the big screen, expressing their theatrical awe at the voter turnout, the implications of the win, and the massive outpouring of volunteer and monetary support for Obama. I can’t help but feel paralyzed in the eye of this political tornado, this kinetic Purple.