American Author Kidnapped in Somalia, Will SEAL Team 6 Intervene Again?
American author Michael Scott Moore was captured by Somali pirates while on his way to the airport Saturday.
Moore, an active blogger who is best known for "Sweetness and Blood" book on surfing, was hijacked by 15 men in two Land Cruisers south of Galkayo in the Galmadug region, according to somaliareport.com.
The writer, who has dual U.S.-German citizenship, is accused of spying and critics anticipate that the pirates will eventually demand ransom, which is the often the case in such situations.
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"This group of [pirates] holding the journalist are also holding another two hostages on land, the crew of FV Aride, for whom they haven't received any ransom as yet. So it will be difficult to release this American unless they get a ransom," an insider told Somalia Report.
The news follows that of Jessica Buchanan, 32, and her Danish colleague Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, who were recently rescued by SEAL Team Six after months in captivity.
Like Moore, both Buchanan and Thisted were abducted and held by Somali pirates before being rescued by the same group who killed Osama bin Laden.
It is unclear whether the U.S. government plans to intervene in a bid to rescue Moore as it did for Buchanan, an American aid worker.
"We are aware of news reports that a U.S. citizen has been kidnapped in northern Somalia and we are concerned about the individual's safety and well-being," Victoria Nuland, a State Department spokeswoman, said at a news briefing Wednesday.
"We have been in contact with the individual's family and we are working with contacts in Kenya and Somalia to ascertain further information," Nuland added.
While some critics fear that Moore's life is in jeopardy due to the death of four American hostages who were killed by Somali pirates in 2011, others insist the government will step in.
In a statement released shortly after Buchanan's rescue, Obama reiterated that the U.S. government takes the kidnapping of US citizens seriously, which critics point out could be proof that Moore will also be saved.
"The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice," Obama wrote.
"This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people," he added.
It is believed that Moore was in Somalia working on an upcoming book.
