Somali Pirates

[marge796]

This will be very bloody before it's all over.


Chris.....

[357]

Simple fix is repeal the disarmament laws many international ships are bound by. Armed people are less often considered as potential victims than their unarmed counterparts.

[mosesbotbol]

There's still 230 hostages in Somalia that do not have the US Navy Seals to help them out. I hope their fate is not sealed due to our actions. I am glad were able to show our stuff to the world watching under a new president. He certainly faired better than Carter and Clinton under similar circumstances when they were president.

The world needs to get on the same page and figure out how to deal with these pirates as if affects everyone.

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

There's still 230 hostages in Somalia that do not have the US Navy Seals to help them out.

YET.

I'm sure wheels are in motion.

[floydpink]

In a recent conversation on a gun forum, there was a question posed to a Marine asking what he felt when he shot a terrorist.

He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "recoil?"

At that point, I realized I have missed my life's calling and am now too old to correct that oversight.

One saving grace is the castle doctrine here in Florida which allows intruders to be shot and assumed to be a deadly threat.

Originally Posted by BamBam

YET.

I'm sure wheels are in motion.

Apparently plans are in motion as we speak and Mr. Obama has already delivered a speech about our stand against pirating.

[King James]

Way to send those 3 pirates to their maker. Whose next? Time to take them all out.

[replicant_argent]

I suppose a history class might have prevented this situation from its inception if the Pirates simply understood the phrase "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli."
Yes, I know the shooters were Navy Seals, not Marines, but the sentiment, and the continent is the same.

[macpappy]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

I suppose a history class might have prevented this situation from its inception if the Pirates simply understood the phrase "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli."
Yes, I know the shooters were Navy Seals, not Marines, but the sentiment, and the continent is the same.

I think the pirates have watched Pirates of the Caribbean and some of the other romantic Hollywood movies too many times...

[DrDubzz]

Lots of SF types like to modify the M14 and use it for sniping/sharpshooting etc.

[SeanGAR]

Way to go boys ... if you're ever in my neck of the woods, beers are on me. About frickin time those scum face bullets instead of stacks of $100 bills. Next time they need to give them counterfeit money then blow them out of the frickin water after they head back to shore/mothership. A few months of 99% mortality and pirating won't seem to be such a good option anymore.

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

A few months of 99% mortality and pirating won't seem to be such a good option anymore.

That's what ended piracy the first time around.

Originally Posted by icehog3

Nuke 'em.

Agree with Admiral on this. The only course of action is an overwhelming show of force. No walking on eggshell appproach. Just hit em where it hurts.

Originally Posted by jamesb3

Agree with Admiral on this. The only course of action is an overwhelming show of force. No walking on eggshell appproach. Just hit em where it hurts.

Yeah! When has the "walking on eggshells" ever put a swift end to bad behavior?
Maybe not nukes, though. Do we still have big gun battleships? Crater the coastline. Could you imagine the soiled pants if a battleship or two parked off their ports and swiveled it's guns around.

[MedicCook]

Spike TV just announced they have a deal with the US Navy and will start filming in 2 weeks for a reality show. They hope to have it on tv by September.

[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.