American Morning
Somali women flocking to port in hope of marrying pirates
Pirates are holding a U.S. captain hostage at sea. The Navy is watching everything that happens. So what is supposed to happen next? And what is driving this problem? We talked to someone who knows a thing or two about the pirates and has experience covering them in Somalia. Kaj Larsen, former U.S. Navy SEAL, spoke to T.J. Holmes on CNN’s American Morning Thursday.
Larsen says the root conditions of poverty, lawlessness and civil war on the ground in Somalia are to blame. The large sums of ransom money being paid out to pirates, he says, is even leading some Somali women to venture to the port town of Bosaso in hopes of marrying these newly-rich men.
T.J. Holmes: We know that piracy pays. What is it that's going to break this cycle if every time they take a ship, they get paid. Why stop it?
Kaj Larsen: That's the 50 or $100 million question, which is about the money that the pirates took in last year in ransom. The solution unfortunately is not going to be a military-centric one. Ultimately, you to have to find some way to govern this ungoverned space, this lawless sanctuary that the pirates have in Somalia. That's really the only long-term solution you’re going to see to this problem.
Holmes: Let's start with the military solution. Why not send a message?
Larsen: Certainly there would be some deterrent effect. I think in this case, the incentives are so large. The money that they’re making is so extraordinary, especially by Somalia standards, that it would be difficult. However, in this particular situation, the goal is to solve it as quickly and as safely as possible without putting the hostage in jeopardy.
Holmes: There are hopeless, deplorable conditions in Somalia. A life of piracy looks pretty good for some of these young men compared to the conditions in Somalia.
Larsen: You couldn't have said it better, T.J. I’ve been on the ground in Somalia. One of the interesting demographic things that’s happening right now is that single Somali women are flocking to the port town Bosaso where these pirates come out of in the hopes of marrying a pirate. So you can see that it really is - the root conditions of poverty, lawlessness and civil war on the ground in Somalia are really what are breeding this problem.
Holmes: Is it worth the risk for these companies to continue to go through the Gulf of Aden? Does it cost much to take another route? Is it worth it to take the chance, pay the ransom, and keep moving?
Larsen: So far, that's been the model. As these attacks increase, we've seen six in the last week alone, the cost of doing business in that area is just going to be too high. The insurance companies are going to jack up the rates of insurance. And at some point, they're not going to be able to continue without taking much more serious security measures or without finding an alternative route.
Holmes: Do you think this situation will begin to draw more attention to what's happening there off the Horn of Africa and maybe more action will begin to be taken by countries all over the world?
Larsen: I think this is a clarion call to the international community that Somalia is and continues to be a failed state. And that if we don't continue to pay attention to it, if we don't start changing the conditions on the ground there, if we don't start governing that ungoverned space that it’s going to be a breeding ground for piracy and possibly international terrorism. So yes, I would hope that this situation, that the silver lining in the cloud is that people would start paying attention to this horrific situation in the country there.
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I urge a compassionate response toward Somalia in general, which would involve educating these people towards building their country into something more civilized; these efforts would go a long way towards security in the region. But I also think these people are responsible for their own actions – nobody forces you to commit violent, unlawful acts towards your fellow man – I'm sorry, but not matter how bad things might get, I don't think I'd fall the level of taking hostages for money and potentially taking lives. These people have the ability to make choices, as the whole of Somalia does, and they've made many poor ones both as individuals and as a society. Again, compassion is in order... yet I'm tired of hearing that these people have no other choice but to become pirates. They could quit having so many children. They could cooperate to survive. They could engineer ways to better themselves. They could foster a more stable and trustworthy society, on which everything else must be built upon. To believe anything less would be to deny that these people are human, so it is for that very reason there should be consequences as well as compassion... like new maritime laws allowing for armed merchant ships.
Seems like easy money with minimal/acceptable risk. Heck, it's an attractive business model. I can't blame them. If the Somali's can do it, just imagine what a well equipped western privateer could do! Big money and adventure on the high seas! The allure of guaranteed millions and bungling governments afraid to do anything more than floating a few ships, makes moving to the Somali coast and setting up my own pirate fleet very attractive. Who wants to come with? Minimal investment required….lol
What is really scary is, what if these unarmed ships were carrying oil and the people hijacking them were not looking for money, say they were terriorists. And they decide to just sink a large tanker for the heck of messing up the water? Or cause some nasty chemical spill somewhere close to a place they dont like? Why the heck do we not have better security on these ships carrying lord knows what on our oceans? THis is really really scary!
Right now the Navy's should be searching for the mother ship and blow it out of the water, then our navy seals should rescue that Captain and dispose of the pirates. To hell with sending them to Kenya for trail.
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Just announce to the world that the next ship that is taken by pirates will immediately be sunk by the US military killing all pirates and crew, and follow through with this promise. This "next incident" will also be the last one. In the long run this will save countless lives and restore peace.
Hello...we are talking large tanker vs. small skiff etc. How can these large ships allow them to even get close enough? Are you throwing them a line to climb up too??? I like the burning fuel idea..or how bout a few good ol fashon 12 gauges with buck shot....industrial size pepper spray.....high powered stun guns...razor wire around hull. how about a fire hose, you fill up their little boat till it sinks, then leave for the sharks......now thats a novel idea.... How diplomatic do we need to be? Oh Yea... I forgot... God forbid we violate their rights..
Come on people!!!
Honestly Somalia is really a failed state where everything goes.
The international community should sanction somalia and make them responsible for any pirate hijjacking.
I hope this Somalia situation is addressed by the new administration thoughtfully. Somalia needs strong government to deal with the lawlessness and anarchy that is now spreading in the region. I left Somalia in 1990 when the Siad Government fall apart and to this day I see millions of Somali civilians at the mercy of these cruel thugs. I think It is time to resolve this Somalia situation, lets bring this country back to its feet.
Just like what is happening in Nigeria, how are we going to stop such a notoriously profitable ill-business.
Offer a bounty on pirates! Dead or alive!!!
That should bring all of the ninjas out of the woodwork...
R U kiddin? The US puts up with everything else and does nothing about it...countries shooting anti-ballistic missiles, while we gots our back turned and scared...does anyone think for a second that we gonna do anything about a bunch of broken down blaque with holes in their hats and socks, penniless blaque pirates...hell, give them all a slingshot and let them be on their merry way, stealing from the next dumb US ship to sail near them.
Yes, it is wrong what this people are doing they are stealing, and harming other people. But I also see the flip side of thiings some of the men may have hungry families at home, and it is the man's job to provide for his own at any cost. Would you not feed your kids because of your pride? Even if you had to lie cheat and steal.
And all this talk about blowing people up yeah great way to build new terrorist! Because if someone kill my dad who was just trying to feed us in a country with no type of laws, you would be my next victom.
Now we have to protect the ships that go by, but remember if this country and oil or gold the USA would be there trying to rebuild like we have done in Iraq.
Remember what goes around comes around we kill they men they come here and kill our sons.
Richard –
"They do it because they can get away with doing it; make the price too high, and it will go away."
This is only half the story. They do it because they are out of options. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating piracy, or do I think giving into their demands is the appropriate solution. But "killing them all" is logistically unrealistic, and heartless to say the least.
As a father, feeding, sheltering, and clothing my children are among my heart's greatest desires. These are the reasons I breath each day. I don't feel as I have the right to heartlessly judge these men because if I was ever in their shoes I may end up doing the same thing.
The whole situation sucks. We definately need to respond and prevent piracy. But piracy is only a symptom of a greater disease... a desperate population with little to no hope of escaping the hell they live in each day.
I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figue out what to do. Cut the human rights garbage, bomb these pirate ports further back into the stone age, shoot anything which might leave port along the Somali coastline and peace will be restored. It worked against the pirates of the Barbary Coast, it would work against these low tech gangsters too.
Just leave the idiots at the UN out, and maybe put some of the human rights defenders into the boats too, before sinking them.
it sounds as though with the prices these companies are paying for the insurance and ransom. that they would be smart enough to hire security details for these ships. breaced entry would then mean a death or two of pirates, but in the end,everybody over there gets the hint that it is not free money when their relative doesn't come home.
In response to Michael Wilson's comment "So why don’t the shipping companies take a small contingent of ex-Seals, etc., aboard each vessel armed with the appropriate weaponry, including rockets, and take a few of the pirates out?"
Um, because that would be illegal. Its called murder.
It is really sad that the people make a living off of attacking Americans. I am not surprised the government is not paying attention to what they need to paying attention to... This attack by pirates could have been prevented.
Americans are constantly targeted for kidnappings. People actually believe that I am rich. I tell them I am not and it is okay to talk to me.
Have a carrier in the area and use F/A 18's as first response. No weapons. Flyover the attacking boats at mach2+ at 200 feet or less and go vertical upon reaching the boat.
There are a wide range of tools available for commercial ships, LRAD for instance "Long Range Acoustical Device" this is a non lethal weapon used against combatants, it emits a very focused sound beam at a level that is painful but not lethal. If this isn't enough to deter the attackers then lethal force would be warranted. .50 Cal's mounted on the ship would be enough to sink any and/or deter a chase vessel. I also can't help but think of the market for a private security company to set up shop and provide a security escort a service through the area. They could have high powered weaponry to combat the pirates and the ships could carry on as they normally would. If I have the money to do it, I would. I certainly have the experience as do many people. Patrick (ex-soldier, ex-medic) Care to debate me on it hit me up at medic.kc.rr.com
I dont agree with giving boat captains access to missiles or heavy artilery but why not have armed guards on the boats? I could see how this could be an issue porting in 'Civilized' countries but if these boats are going to travel areas that are known to have pirates then why cant they have the guards while travelling thru these waters? It seems like it would be alot cheaper to do this than paying millions of dollars to these thugs, all while perpetuating the issue. I dont understand the lack of common sense here?
2 things:
-IF THERE ARE PIRATES DONT GO THERE OR COME PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF.....
-STOP GIVING THESE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT PERIOD....
We must learn from the past or we are destined to repeat it....
Everyones talking about why the merchant ships arn't armed and how they should... However, Its not that easy.
Chris put it the best when he said "
The problem is that you can’t necessarily arm vessels that travel into the ports of foreign countries. Think about this… would you want a Russian or Chinese container ship that had RPGs, Flamethrowers, or any weapons pulling into San Fransisco bay or Boston harbor?"
Also, a couple people have pointed this out, YOU CAN"T SCARE PEOPLE WITH THE POSSIBLITY OF DEATH, IF THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO DIE! This logic is old as dirt, Sun Tsu talked about in the Art of War and that book is centuries old.
Part of me also wonders about what rivirivi said. I wonder, in how many of the hijackings, there was inside help.
Unfortunetly, theres no easy solution, trying to fix the country will be too expensive, for too many people and countries involved and killing them will only make them more violent and desperate.... Probably the best short term plan would be is non-lethal weapons and training in anti-boarding tactics.
But...I thought Piracy was cool?
3 Pirates of the Carribean movies tells me im right!
Johnny Depp is upset at the unintended consquences of making being a thief COOL
If the United States had intervened several years ago, before it was 'not our problem..., it would not be our problem now.
Way too much time has passed, the pirates are wealthier, better armed and just more dangerous now.
Gene you're a NUT why do eddits try to blame Obama for all today's troubles he was just elected you should address your comments to the Bush administration
ahoy mateys there be booty and plunder off the coast of africa! all ye scallywags who still have yer Halloween costumes and are willing to enter an accord under the pirate code, join my crew! we'll board the Black Pearl where she be sitting off Universal Studios, and sail her to the Horn of Africa! Glory awaits!
YARRRRRRRRRR
Flatten the country and start over.
Put the bigwigs who operate these companies from comfortable office chairs in jail for not protecting their employees adequately. Start with Maersk.
These ships need to be aware of how to fend off those pirates, and have a small contingency of special forces on them prepared at all times. This has been going on way too long, as soon as someone gets killed then we will send in those individuals who have that special training to end this and then get the UN involved with bringing stability to this part of the world.
Man the ships and take defensive action with the necessary weapons.
Providing them with the money to buy more Guns and Boats places them in control of International Waters. Right now, no end in sight and it gets worse everyday.
OK, enough of this crap. First threaten the pirates, given them a chance to stop. Then each ship they take after that nuke a port in Somilia. I bet they stop after the second port. We have to show the world these guys are not heros and their actions have consequences.
This is the first American flagged ship that has been attacked in this area in many many years. The U.S. response has resulted in 4 highjackers on a lifeboat with no fuel vs a fully crewed and armed warship. The only reason the pirates are still free is that they have a U.S. hostage. How can any one be arguing that the U.S. is letting the pirates push us around? Would you prefer that we sunk the pirates along with the hostage? We are spending a ton of taxpayer dollars to save one U.S. citizen and to send a message to the pirates that it is not worth it to approach American flagged vessels. Expensive, but the correct response.
Nuke the entire coast Kill them all and make it a dead zone
I am guessing most people do not realize what the offensive situation is here. Yes merchants can (and often do) arm themselves. But desperate men + cheap inflatable speedboat + RPGs = dead merchants. When you are a big slow target up against tiny fast targets, offensive weapons are of limited value, esp when those tiny fast targets can easily carry portable weapons capable of sinking you.
Further to a previous comment, the solution is quite simple and obvious. There needs to be a deterrent. The solution is for all nations to come together with a very small financial contribution (I think $100K per nation would do it). We take this money and build a dummy ship using an old derelict freighter. Decorate her with fake containers housing heavy guns, even electrify the decking (I'm sure we could be even more creativer here), and sail the ship around the horn, looking helpless. The ship itself would need to quickly take on a new identity after each pirate encounter, which could be accomplished with paint and some hollywood scenery. If you always leave one or two alive to tell the story, the word will quickly spread, and you might just have some hesitation on the part of the pirates.
For those advocating violence against these pirates, you are wrong. Violence is not the answer. The pirates live in a society that is totally broken and hellish existence. The pirates are only trying to better themselves in the only way the know how, to feed and cloth themselves and their families, and just like all the illegals flowing into this country for economic opportunity, it is NOT there fault. Those who wish to kill only display their racism and ignorance, and you need to be more understanding and knowledgeable about disadvantaged people in other parts of the world.
Arrrgh! Let Johnny Depp do the negotiating on behalf of the FBI, seems like a perfect role with great PR value! Pirate Ho!
Better yet, we should put some kind of barbed wire around the ship so they can't come on board or an electrical device. Would be fun to see them just drop in the water.
LONG LIVE THY PIRATES !!!
SAMUEL L. JACKSON NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED! TEACH THEM SOMOLIANITES A THING ER TWO!
Right on Charles, I agree – – -Invade Somolia.
Remeber Mogadishu? We owe those people a stompin'
Here is a very simple solution and it would not cost near the amount of training the crews to handle weapons. There are many retired military, who have had the training and would not put up with any of the non-sense happening. Put about five old salts on these ships and there would be no such thing as ships being hijacked, provided they have the weapons they need. Heck, I bet most of them would do it just to get to ride around and see the country. I would!
There is a quarter million sq miles of ocean (way larger than the state of california) that now needs to be patrolled off of Somalia.
And putting one guy on deck with a gun means three guys, because, I don't know about you, but I need to sleep sometimes. And on a ship three football fields long, probably means a lot more than three.
Thank you Captain Obvious.
Hey John, read your response about have them immigrate, give them welfare, and free medical and that will solve the problem.
Well honey, if you haven't gone into a government complex in the Twin Cities in MN then I guess you haven't realized that WE ARE ALREADY DOING IT!! My unwed, unemployed daughter with a baby can't get free health care here and the welfare office in Dakota County MN is riddled with Somalians. Wearing their tents and all their other garb. Our school handbooks in St. Paul is printed in Somalian. The government offices all their directive signs are in Spanish and Somalian as well as Hmong, Vietnamese, and Karon.
I'm for the military action. Blast the country off the map and quit importing them to become our burden. The Somalians are the rising "minority" in our jails here in MN and the crimes they commit are some of the most violent. I am not a prejudiced person, but I am becoming rather bitter. Why should our banks cater to them and create the "Muslim" friendly loan? Why import these people?
Totally sick of it. Get the big guns out I say!
Women will marry any one who has money.. Not surprised by this story. As for the pirates, we should kill them and broadcast the video throughout Somalia..
Today on the CBS Morning News a graphic of a Pirate Flag (ie: Pirates of the Caribbean) arrrrrrrrr.....there be pirates in Somolia ARRRGGGGGGGGG
Gee, no matter how advanced civilization becomes the old ways still rear their ugly head........from newly formed entrepreneurs.....
I say we bwast em !!!!
hahahaha
They are right to want to marry the pirates
We need to sit down and talk to our Pirate friends. We need to understand their situation better. It can't be easy living with eye patches and hooks for hands...I mean...where's the love people? Where's the compassion.
Of course plan B could be a hungry crocodile who every time he appears the sound of "never smile at a croc-o-dile..." starts to play with that insane clock like beat....
Then there's plan C....just shoot em.
Perhaps its time to heavily arm a cargo ship, and come in close, wipe them out, then they will wonder about every cargo ship being armed
Looking at the many comments saying we should obliterate the pirates clearly makes me see how ignorance and myopia has consumed Americans. To begin with, Somalis are excellent, strategic, hardened and intelligent fighters... do not be fooled that because their's is a failed state, they are all a bunch of stupid idiots walking with AK-47s. They beat Americans hands down and all their sophisticated weapons didnt help. Somali pirates have nothing to lose, and death is always imminent, whether at home or in the sea... death is death believe me. So, its better to die in the sea pirating than stay at home waiting for hunger to finish them. Oh, and they got sophisticated communication equipment too, in case you didn't know. How then do you explain their extremely high success rate in pirating virtually every major world power's ships.... and getting paid for it? Most dangerous man is one who has nothing to lose and is ready to die for a cause as simple (yet critical) as food. Only solution? Bring stability, education, economic revival to the masses and you deal with this problem for once and all.
Arm the US on these ships and shoot them. The Somalis know they can get away with this so why not put a stop to it.
SIMPLE AND EASY...
KILL THEM ALL...We Americans have the technology....SEND THE Pirates a message or two....DO NOT COME NEAR THE AMERICANS VESSELS....Other countries will follow.
We have two wars on hand...can't tackle another country...
KILL THEM IF THEY COME NEAR 100 miles of American vessels...SHARK baits...
they should just bomb somalia.
Diplomacy will not work with these pirates. They only care about one thing – money – and they care about it more than their own lives. The owners of these merchant vessels need to provide the crews with machine guns and a couple of RPG's. Let the crews defend themselves! Set up 24 hour watches and sound the alarm when any boat gets within a mile of the ships. Blasting these pirates into chum would be a lot cheaper than continually paying them multi-million dollar ransoms. Send a clear message that if you attempt to board any vessels in these shipping lanes, you will be blown into to tiny bits of fish food. Tell them that crime will no longer pay!
Combined military forces from affected nations could also coordinate their efforts so the expense isn't only on the shoulders of the U.S. The military could assist with killer drones and satellite surveillance. They could also send some undercover agents into the Somalian ports and attempt to stop this where it starts.
Why not pipe Barry Manilow music over the sides of the ships.
To everyone here who posts that we should pity the pirates:
If I am out of work I would like each of your addresses. That way I can come rob you, since I will only be doing what is necessary to take care of my family. I will not kill you, I will only rough you up, scare you by brandishing an illegl automatic weapon, and ask for money to release things that never belong to me. I will also inconvenience you, cause your family worry, and violate your sense of security. BUt it is fine, sine I am only taking the necessary steps to feed my family, right? You wouldn't press charges on me would you? Of couirse you would.
To improve the conditions in Somalia, the people first need to form a government. Yes, it is difficult, but our founding fathers did it over 200 years ago, under much worse condidions. (Each of them was considered a traitor to the crown and would have been executed immediatly if we had lost).
As Americans, we can not be the world police any more than we can be the savior to the world. We are not the nanny, or parent, or anything else to the world. We are (or at least were) the good Samaritan who wil provide help if requested. We could go help the Somali people set up a government and teach them to sustain themselves, rather than depending on handouts for life. And all the people have to do is ask.
As soon as the Captain is released give an an International Memo. Give all 72 hours notice and then sweep the water.
If you look like a pirate then you're going down.
I bet that these pirate would begin to think twice.
People also need to understand that piracy is NOT just a problem localized to the Horn of Africa. It's a global problem that has been occuring and increasing in MANY areas of the world. This is just ONE of the many hotspots.
The reality is that piracy is an EXTREMELY profitable endevour. It's not without risk, but generaly the risk is not all that horrible. It's basicaly just another form of crime.... and the people who engage in it, engage in it for the same reasons that criminals do all over the world.
I feel as sorry for people who live under horrific conditions in Somalia as the next guy. Improving living conditions and opportunities for honest work in places like Somalia IS one way to reduce crime and does work in poverty and crime ridden areas..... but that in itself is not sufficient to address the issue ALONE.
Crime still occurs in some of the wealthiest nations in the world.... and is sometimes commited by people that actualy aren't all that badly off.
The reason is simple....not everyone has a conscience, not everyone respects the rights of others, and many people are intrinsicly greedy.
Addressing poverty/opportunity issues only deals with one segment of the population attracted to such activity. The only way to address the others is to make the risk and chances of success simply not worth the reward.
You need address the problem on ALL 3 avenues. Addressing poverty/opportunity issues will help deter those who would rather be doing something else but see no opportunity to do so.
It won't help for those that say.... "Yeah I could make a decent living by doing honest work.... BUT I could be filthy rich for just a couple days work as a pirate". Don't tell me that there aren't plenty of people with that sort of attitude in ALL societies.
Yes, killing the pirates is the first part of the equation. Show them the same respect that they show others, and the end of a gun. As for the Somali problems that is a huge concern, and is endemic in their culture. This has been going on for how many hundreds of years? Perhaps if they would focus on limiting their reproductive activities they would have less of an AIDS epidemic, and have more time and resources to apply to farming and manufacturing.
Stealing is the easy short term solution. We see some of the same values among a portion of the US population. As a society we need to stop rewarding those values. Where is Darwin when you need him?
It's time for somebody to go in and colonize Somalia, and I mean 19th century style.
"You have to fix the underlying proverty / lawlesness of somalia and then the risk of dying while doing piracy will seem too great."
That is exactly the wrong answer. I used to agree with it, but I've realized that one of the major problems with America is that we think "oh, if we only go make it all better for those poor people they'll act like they have sense". Unfortunately it doesn't usually work.
My take on it is this: We don't have to fix anything. That's not our responsibility, and when we try to fix it, we generally end up being blamed for the results and poorer to boot. So, my suggestion is this: Arm the ships. If the ports complain, they'll cope.
One earlier poster mentioned a system by which fuel oil could be sprayed under pressure and then ignited. Having dealt with shipboard fuel systems in the Navy, I see no overriding technical reason why this would not be practical. It might also skirt the definition of weapon in some of the less-understanding ports.
Let me be clear: I have exactly zero regard for the life of a pirate. Let them die screaming in agony as their speedboat turns into a floating torch-I give crap one. I care not whether they hail from the armpit of the earth or a decent country. A horrible death may not deter them, though it will ensure those particular people don't repeat the mistake. BUT, one thing that WILL deter them is if almost none of them ever succeed. When the chances of success are low enough, eventually it will cease to be worth trying, even if you don't fear death. I think the fuel oil idea is excellent. Alternatively, if environmental concerns give pause to the idea, use gasoline instead. Unburned gasoline will evaporate, whereas for all practical purposes diesel fuel won't.
I think ships that operate in that area should be armed. Or, barring that, US ships should have a 4-5 man security detachment of Marines on board like air marshalls on planes.
So why don't the shipping companies take a small contingent of ex-Seals, etc., aboard each vessel armed with the appropriate weaponry, including rockets, and take a few of the pirates out? A little defense would make the pirates a lot more cautious. The cost would be peanuts compared to the amount lost.
Oh and RAM, this problem was going on long before Obama got into office; yet Bush didn't send missles and ships over there. And he was a lame duck, so he had nothing to lose by ordering it.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
and our navy doesnt have to blow up any unmarked ships... They scuttle the boat themselves after taking the vessel : (
Take a more educated approach to this situation, its not always a pissing match.
Look at all this pontification!! Plain and simple,...KILL THEM!! End of problem.
NATO and those neighboring countries should get together and do a few sting operations by having fake cargo ships with counterrorism units aboard. You could also employ a few ex marines like 3 per boat that are trained, but as soon as there's a hostage, they can charge ridicolous amounts! How many of these "Pirates" are there really in those waters? What do these Pirates represent? Are they all Somalian? How is the rest of the world viewing this?
Our already overspent tax dollars should not be expended to protect private enterprise–again. Apparently, each of the prior companies has been able to quickly and easily pay the ransom. There hasn't previous need by the countries with which the carriers have been associated to retaliate against the pirates. Why should the U.S. intervene? Somalis can appear to be weaker prey than they ultimately are. We cannot afford the quagmire. Finally, the U.S. aid shipment aside, I wonder what has been the actual cargo of these other ships. The incidents were resolved quietly and quickly. If carriers are attempting to transport illegal or questionable cargo, the priates' ransom don't strike me as morally out of line.
Avast! Ye Ladies!!!!
Use the awesome government satalites (the ones that replace the ones that supply google earth with images) to sweep the area and pick out targets (somali pirates). Use some of the top secret star wars space based lasers to burn a hole in the pirate boats and sink them. Remeber that due to provisions in the geneva convention, you can not directly shoot a pirate with a laser, but you can shoot his equipment, so aim for their hats or whatever if you have to take one out.
Forget high tech detection equipment. America needs to stop trying to make everyone like us. If your going to be a great, successful nation you're going to have to offend somebody. Blow them out of the water.
What's a pirate's favorite letter?
aRRRRRR!!
How do you know youre a pirate? You just AAAAARRRRRRRE!!!!!!!
Do you people not know why no one lifts a finger to prevent this? The powers that be are figuring out how to raise the price of gas and cotton candy here in the US due to these ocean high jackings. Thats all it is.
Why did the Pirate go watch a movie? Becasue it was rated AAAAARRR.
Where is Blackwater when you need them?
How about sub-contracting it out to the Mossad?
What ever hapened to the loud sound alarms that kept the pirates off that cruse ship? I'm suprised that a repeler of some kind hasen't been tried. To all the people who want to solve the problem with guns, people with guns don't always shoot the people you want them to.
If you ever lived in that type of communuity, you must realize there is no mercy. You just take them out, that's all they understand. Quit being the nice guy getting your teeth kicked in. Those pirates just don't care, and the sooner we quit pandering to their demand and clean the waters out the sooner the terrorism will stop.
You guys are unreal... all od your solutions are just plain uneducated
1) It would be very easy to arm the members of the fleet, however, Shipping companies and owners don't want to provoke a fire fight where they could lose an entire vessel and its cargo (both having value far exceding the payouts) due to the nature of the explosiveness of the tanker fuel and potentially the cargo.
2) Technology surveying the entire area for a small watercraft not much larger than a personal boat as well as using aircraft/boats to intercept a 20 ft vessel just isn't plausible. Finding something with a 20 foot surface area in a 2000 Sq mile area and then intercepting it before it attacks the ship? lol Goodluck wasting millions more dollars
3) There really isn't an easy short term solution besides stop using that area or increase the standard of living and education in those areas. Simply killing off an entire sity or area is not an option these days...killing 1,000,000's over 20 pirates. Dont we already have enough international crises on our hands?
4)also boats dont want to carry/store hazardous substance or chemicals anymore than they have to, another dumb idea.
SADface
Jerry April 9th, 2009 1:18 pm ET
Obama’s naughty brothers! Are we such wimps we will allow this to continue???
ARE YOU RETARDED GUY?
Equip the ships with some kind of defense mechanicsim
such as electricity on the ladder or an alarm when boats are approaching at certin distances and most certainly guns aboard
Arm these ships ....or hire some Security Operators
My company has been soliciting to take contracts to provide counter-piracy operations. We already have other Africa based contracts currently going on be it protecting NGO's in Sudan,Nigeria, or the Congo. Despite this those shipping companies bank on insurance and all shipping crews are expendable.
It is cheaper to lose this cargo vs hiring para-military operators to protect these ships going back and forth., what also needs to be done.. is to take over the sea port in Mogadishu Somalia..establish a base there under the U.N. or NATO this could serve as a base of operations to cater to USAiD programs in the surrounding countries.
These pirates are a joke, running about in styro foam boats with out board engines.. just drop a concrete block from the fan tail of a freight boat it would put a nice hole in one of those so-called pirates boat.
بياسي فروم تي ميددلي اِاست
I nominate France to solve this problem. Maybe some help from Iran. We, the West, can observe and learn something.
After all, we appear to be uniformed.
Arrrr....there be pirates!
For the short term, decoy ships sounds like it could help, in theory. However, they probably get wind of a when a good mark is coming by.
As far as people criticizing America, don't be too harsh. At least 50% of us are embarassed by these type of idiots, too. Many of us are thoughful, quiet, readers, who have a decent abilty with geography, and can speak more than one language.
We just not loud and annoying enough to spout off everyplace we can, for everyone to see.
For the record, I like Ian's idea too! 😉
Aren't this 'pirates' operating within Somali water? If so, isn't the international shipping companies using their waters without paying any fees? I am confused! Unless this so called pirates are operating on international water, I think the rest of the world would be better off engaging the Somali transition government with a view of paying them taxes that they can then use to provide security along their coast line. I crinch when I think about how Multinationals are able to point a finger at the other guy when their business interests are threatened. It happened during colonial times, and millions of people were killed while others where enslaved in their own countries due to economic interests of the U.K.
This whole problem can be solved in two words: INVADE SOMALIA!!!!
Hire a small group of mercenaries for each trip. give them a 50-cal, rocket launcher and some vision and poof! Pirates won't jump in the fire twice!
Why would you ask a seal about policy? A better question would be "How could two seals kill everyone in the boat without killing the hostage? Policy would be a good question for President Obama.
YAAARRRRRR!!!
Vote for Captain Redbeard Schurr and First Mate Carlson in 2012!
It's George Bush's fault.
Lets say everytime a pirate went out they came back floating face down. Wonder what would go through the simple minds of the next group of pirates.
One question – where is the UN in all of this? Shouldn't Somalia this be high on their priority list? We provide a headquarters for them, pay them billions each year, provide them with military assistance – for what?
Of course, we now have the ObamaLama abusing the no-limit Federal Credit Card like an out-of-control drug addict. What's a few billion here, a few billion there?
This is NOT the complete story
for years and years, developing countries including the united states have exploited the waters around Somalia by taking all the seafood for their own profit from this already poverty ridden country. Also, tons of nuclear waste have been dumped in this water. Piracy becomes th only option. Ofcourse the whole picture is never mentioned on CNN. ..
Option 1
150, 000.00 U.S. (per trip) – – – I will ride on the bow of any commercial vessel that wants to hire me.
I will have a phalanx installed (shipping company cost) and will "persuade" would-be pirates to seek other prey.
Option 2
What bounty are the shipping companies offering for pirates these days?
Airstrikes!
These plundering idiots are wreaking havoc on our seas. When these guys are caught they should be burned alive, that is how they treated pirates of yesteryear and it had a dramatic effect.
If these freighters go into these areas without enough firepower to combat these "pirates" they deserve to be raided and killed!
Our Navy should blow every non-registered boat out of the water each and every time they take a ship. They think they are poor now... it could get worse.
Metallica could solve all of this very quickly, as long as they were told these pirates were also stealing their music!
carpet bomb the coast
those who propose that the crews carry weapons probably don't have a family member working on a ship. engaging in a shootout with pirates, who are extremely well armed, is way too dangerous for the crew. what I don't understand is why the international community is not going to the root of the problem – somali fishing villages where they are all coming from. apparently, it is known exactly which towns they come from, which villas they live in, which yachts they own...so if somalia isn't going to do anything about it, why can't the international community intervene - on land?
The international community should consider demolishing the homes where the families of pirates live as a deterrent. Israel has been doing this for some years now, apparently with success, to deter attackers.