The Great Pirates off the Somali Coast thread

[mmx1]

Constructive... what is YOUR solution to the failed state?

Uganda and Burandi already has troops in Somalia working with the AU as we speak. We already fund them as well as the UN, EU, and League of Arab states.

In my opinion increased funding would be better than having the US come in and take military lead or make tomahawk strikes.

Containment. Look at the history. Our support for Ethiopia's war against Somalia (spurred by Ethiopia's Christian leadership's own desire to stamp out a possible Islamic insurgency at home) overthrew the relatively moderate Islamic Courts Union and birthed in its place the Shabaab. The AU forces control only the capitol and have a lick of a chance of regaining any territory because the Transitional government has no legitimacy outside of the city and itself is alleged to have links to pirate group.

This is not a problem you can throw money at proxies to fight for.

 

[Flash]

That's O.K., Slash ... we'll just agree to disagree on this ... and probably 99% of what else goes on in life.

I'll opt for 'action' vice 'talk' anyday, anyway. I learned that hard and valuable lesson 40 years ago ...are you even 40 years old, yet ???

Fine by me, I'll continue to live in the real world and you can continue to enjoy that retirement you keep telling us about.

Does age really matter?

 

[eddie]

What prevents merchantmen from arming themselves?

 

[helolumpy]

What prevents merchantmen from arming themselves?

Legally there is nothing stopping them however;
If you're going to arm the crews, then you will need to train them. The company will obviously have to pay for additional training for the crews.
Not sure how the cost of the insurance on the ship would change if you armed the crew. The ship owners may not be a big fan of additional costs.

Until recently most of the pirates did not harm the crew of the ships they took. However, if the crew of the ship started shooting at the pirates, the violence would escalate.
What would be the liability to the shipping company if some of the crew died in armed combat with pirates??? I'm sure some family would look to get rich of the deep pockets of the shipping company after someone died in a shootout with the pirates, following arming and training by the shipping company.

Historically the shipping companies have looked at the costs of piracy (increase insurance premiums, past along to the customers) as the cost of doing business in this part of the world.

 

[SkywardET]

Apparently Somali pirates need to unload some ships/hostages to make room for new acquisitions. Is this another example of how "the system works" in reducing the effect of piracy, like how a Dutch passenger noticing someone trying to light their underwear on fire was also how "the system works." Sorry, that's unfair to a certain inept cabinet secretary.


http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,749507,00.html


Gee, I guess all those bothersome questions like, what are we going to do about the thousands of future hostages, might have been a little overblown?

 

[Uncle Fester]

Helo bubbas light up, kill pirates attacking merchie

Navy: Helo fires on pirate skiff, killing 4

Naval Enquirer says that a helo off Bulkeley lit up a pirate skiff off Somalia, under the principle of 'extended self defense'. Merchie continued on their way, helo RTB, four less pirates to trouble the high seas. Sounds like a win to me.

 

[Gatordev]

Navy: Helo fires on pirate skiff, killing 4

Naval Enquirer says that a helo off Bulkeley lit up a pirate skiff off Somalia, under the principle of 'extended self defense'. Merchie continued on their way, helo RTB, four less pirates to trouble the high seas. Sounds like a win to me.

A buddy from that squadron told me about this this morning as we were both waiting to get probed for our flight physicals. Good on the det. I just hope they don't write an Approach article about it.

 

[Swanee]

Navy: Helo fires on pirate skiff, killing 4

Naval Enquirer says that a helo off Bulkeley lit up a pirate skiff off Somalia, under the principle of 'extended self defense'. Merchie continued on their way, helo RTB, four less pirates to trouble the high seas. Sounds like a win to me.

This is the way we should be doing business with pirates. Great job done by the crew of the helo.

 

[Cron]

That must've been pretty awesome for the tanker crew. You go from being attacked and calling MAYDAY, to having the cavalry come in with guns blazing and saving the day. BZ!

 

[MasterBates]

Why couldn't we do that on MY pirate det?

 

[H60Gunner]

We need to do more of that. BZ to the crew. Get Some!

 

[SkywardET]

Next up in Post-9/11 campaigns: intensified action inside and over Somalia?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/somalia-piracy-idUSLDE7650U320110706

Ransom payments are illegal, according to the UN. The money worms its way to al-Shahaab and therefore to al-Qaeda. Now the UN is acknowledging the link which is apparently news to most governments. We've done combat operations over Libya for far less. Any bets on the next phase of Operation Whack-a-Mole/Terrorist?

 

[Hair Warrior]

Kearsarge ARGâs unusual cruise is over

The three warships left Norfolk on Dec. 17 but their tour really became three separate cruises.

www.navytimes.com

^ Either Navy Times meant to say Suez Canal, or that truly was an unusual cruise.

 

[Jim123]

^ Either Navy Times meant to say Suez Canal, or that truly was an unusual cruise.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Hell I got confused when I read the word "disaggregate " - you need @Jim123 level of reading comprehension for words like that!