Somali Pirates

[RGD.]

I for one was elated to read the news reports. It's always just kinda pissed me off that a handful of "pirates" in little speed boats could actually take over a big ass ship like they do. So yeah - kudos to the Navy Seals on not wasting any bullets - 3 bad guys, 3 Navy Seals, 3 bullets! Practice pays off.

But why stop here. We have satellites, AWACS and all that other secret spy stuff at our disposal - so why not use it for more practice.

1 pirate mother ship.
1 US Navy attack submarine
1 torpedo.
Practice.

1 pirate strong hold.
1 Arleigh Burke class destroyer.
1 Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile.
Practice

1 pirate speed boat.
1 Navy/Marine AH-1 SuperCobra
1 AGM-114 Hellfire
Practice

The list could go on.

And before I forget - kudos to France also for jumping in and kicking some butt themselves.


Ron

[Old Sailor]

Originally Posted by RGD.

I for one was elated to read the news reports. It's always just kinda pissed me off that a handful of "pirates" in little speed boats could actually take over a big ass ship like they do. So yeah - kudos to the Navy Seals on not wasting any bullets - 3 bad guys, 3 Navy Seals, 3 bullets! Practice pays off.

But why stop here. We have satellites, AWACS and all that other secret spy stuff at our disposal - so why not use it for more practice.

1 pirate mother ship.
1 US Navy attack submarine
1 torpedo.
Practice.

1 pirate strong hold.
1 Arleigh Burke class destroyer.
1 Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile.
Practice

1 pirate speed boat.
1 Navy/Marine AH-1 SuperCobra
1 AGM-114 Hellfire
Practice

The list could go on.

And before I forget - kudos to France also for jumping in and kicking some butt themselves.


Ron

Right on!!

[JimmyPeaches]

I just recently gave a report on piracy for my international logistics class and the article that I used highlighted the problems in acting offensively against the pirates.

1. The Gulf of Aden is close to to the distance from Maine to Miami and also several miles wide. No one navy has enough capacity to effectively patrol this area. Yes, there would be enough naval force if countries act in concert, but aerial capability is also needed, not something every navy has. This has been in the works for several years, Pres. Bush started working on this bill and how to incorporate other nations before he left office. Pres. Obama is now currently working on finishing this doctrine.

2. Who is ultimately responsible for prosecuting the pirates? Is the nation that the ship is register in? Is the country of the navy that apprehended the pirates? Is it the country whose waters the pirates were in when they apprehended? So far, no one country on the African coast wishes to partake in the insanity, so often times the pirates are just dropped off on the beach after being detained for awhile. Yes, Kenya did prosecute some pirates and sentence them to 7 year sentences, but Kenya itself does not have the legal or institutional capacity to incarcerate all of the pirates.

3. Why can't the U.S. take over? Transporting pirates to the USA, trying them, and then holding them would put a strain on our national funds for a world problem. Also without capable local governments, practical enforcement is near impossible. In the Straits of Malacca near Malayasia and Indonesia, the pirates were deterred and finally moved on one the local governments stepped enforcements.

4. How does a speedboat stop a cargo ship? Most often the pirates ask for ransoms that are less than the insurance premiums for a one-way passage through the Gulf of Aden. Premiums have risen from $500 to ~$20,000 in very recent years and months. Secondly, many times the pirates are crewed on the ships, so knowingly or unknowing the shipping company has already set themselves up, which is also the reason that weapons are not kept aboard.

Well, that's enough for one post.

Originally Posted by JimmyPeaches

I just recently gave a report on piracy for my international logistics class and the article that I used highlighted the problems in acting offensively against the pirates.

1. The Gulf of Aden is close to to the distance from Maine to Miami and also several miles wide. No one navy has enough capacity to effectively patrol this area. Yes, there would be enough naval force if countries act in concert, but aerial capability is also needed, not something every navy has. This has been in the works for several years, Pres. Bush started working on this bill and how to incorporate other nations before he left office. Pres. Obama is now currently working on finishing this doctrine.

2. Who is ultimately responsible for prosecuting the pirates? Is the nation that the ship is register in? Is the country of the navy that apprehended the pirates? Is it the country whose waters the pirates were in when they apprehended? So far, no one country on the African coast wishes to partake in the insanity, so often times the pirates are just dropped off on the beach after being detained for awhile. Yes, Kenya did prosecute some pirates and sentence them to 7 year sentences, but Kenya itself does not have the legal or institutional capacity to incarcerate all of the pirates.

3. Why can't the U.S. take over? Transporting pirates to the USA, trying them, and then holding them would put a strain on our national funds for a world problem. Also without capable local governments, practical enforcement is near impossible. In the Straits of Malacca near Malayasia and Indonesia, the pirates were deterred and finally moved on one the local governments stepped enforcements.

4. How does a speedboat stop a cargo ship? Most often the pirates ask for ransoms that are less than the insurance premiums for a one-way passage through the Gulf of Aden. Premiums have risen from $500 to ~$20,000 in very recent years and months. Secondly, many times the pirates are crewed on the ships, so knowingly or unknowing the shipping company has already set themselves up, which is also the reason that weapons are not kept aboard.

Well, that's enough for one post.

Good food for debate! I could easily shoot holes in all these points. No time right now. The last point is the root of the problem. The third point, I seem to remember something about being "tried at sea". ...

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by JimmyPeaches

I just recently gave a report on piracy for my international logistics class and the article that I used highlighted the problems in acting offensively against the pirates.

1. The Gulf of Aden is close to to the distance from Maine to Miami and also several miles wide. No one navy has enough capacity to effectively patrol this area. Yes, there would be enough naval force if countries act in concert, but aerial capability is also needed, not something every navy has. This has been in the works for several years, Pres. Bush started working on this bill and how to incorporate other nations before he left office. Pres. Obama is now currently working on finishing this doctrine.

2. Who is ultimately responsible for prosecuting the pirates? Is the nation that the ship is register in? Is the country of the navy that apprehended the pirates? Is it the country whose waters the pirates were in when they apprehended? So far, no one country on the African coast wishes to partake in the insanity, so often times the pirates are just dropped off on the beach after being detained for awhile. Yes, Kenya did prosecute some pirates and sentence them to 7 year sentences, but Kenya itself does not have the legal or institutional capacity to incarcerate all of the pirates.

on your point one: Europe is sending more ships, the Dutch navy alone will send 6 ships and the Dutch will lead the European operation for the first 6 months (leadership will rotate between all active parties).

On your point two, well, it is international crime so I think the UN should prosecute.

[CBI_2]

Originally Posted by RGD.

I for one was elated to read the news reports. It's always just kinda pissed me off that a handful of "pirates" in little speed boats could actually take over a big ass ship like they do. So yeah - kudos to the Navy Seals on not wasting any bullets - 3 bad guys, 3 Navy Seals, 3 bullets! Practice pays off.

But why stop here. We have satellites, AWACS and all that other secret spy stuff at our disposal - so why not use it for more practice.

1 pirate mother ship.
1 US Navy attack submarine
1 torpedo.
Practice.

1 pirate strong hold.
1 Arleigh Burke class destroyer.
1 Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile.
Practice

1 pirate speed boat.
1 Navy/Marine AH-1 SuperCobra
1 AGM-114 Hellfire
Practice

The list could go on.

And before I forget - kudos to France also for jumping in and kicking some butt themselves.


Ron

Practice in real time.