BULLETIN - AT 8:20 A.M. ET:

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 21 crew members aboard, a diplomat and a U.S. Navy spokesman said.

The Kenya-based diplomat identified the vessel as the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama and said all the crew members are American. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The U.S. Navy confirmed that a U.S. flagged ship with 21 members of crew was hijacked early Wednesday off the eastern coast of Somalia.

COMMENT:  If the Americans aren't released immediately, this will blow into a major incident, possibly requiring the use of American force.  Now let's see how President Engagement handles this.  These are American citizens.  They've been taken prisoner on the high seas by a hostile regime.   This is an open-and-shut case.  Calling the White House.

April 8, 2009