Piracy? or are we becoming a world of wimps?

[doug hodder]

I don't get it....we are clowning around with a bunch like this? Seriously...how hard is it to take out a fishing boat, regardless of their weaponry. That far off shore, those guys aren't out there fishing...strike first! We've taken them out before...so we know it can be done.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Somali-Pi ... 4f20faa820

[rebapuck]

Think it has to do with PR. David and Golith. Those big ships currently don't carry weaponry. I would. Sink one of those little boats and keep going. Who would complain? They just didn't return from their "fishing".

[Alfred]

I don't get it....we are clowning around with a bunch like this? Seriously...how hard is it to take out a fishing boat, regardless of their weaponry. That far off shore, those guys aren't out there fishing...strike first! We've taken them out before...so we know it can be done.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Somali-Pi ... 4f20faa820

I agree, it seems like this goes on and on with the pirates...

My understanding regarding this particular incident is that the tanker is full of inflammable crude oil and they did not want to risk any exchange of fire, thinking that the pirates had firearms and grenades, for fear either the oil would burn or leak into the ocean...Supposedly, many vessels are now carrying onboard security forces, but this tanker was not...

Still, something needs to be done, this has been going on for several years now and it is getting worse not better as the pirates are more and more emboldened.

AL.

[Miriam C.]

I know! Don't anyone go there....

[steve smoot]

lets see...they are a couple hundred miles out to sea, in a major shipping channel, in a dang row boat...I don't even see a fishing pole....

I say they would quit this crap, if you take out a few of them...sorry, but they are asking for it in the first place...

[Juneaudave]

It is interesting...I suspect my house has more firepower than a typical merchant ship

[starleen2]

lets see...they are a couple hundred miles out to sea, in a major shipping channel, in a dang row boat...I don't even see a fishing pole....

I say they would quit this crap, if you take out a few of them...sorry, but they are asking for it in the first place...

It worked before with the Barbary pirates. Jefferson sent a group of frigates to defend American interests in the Mediterranean, and informed Congress. Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of Tripoli "and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify." An Act written into the Marine Corp theme!

[Shadow Catcher]

My understanding is that some tankers have been carrying helicopter gun ships and there have been a number of private security firms that have been successful in preventing pirates. A double hull tanker (and they should all be) should be able to withstand an RPG with only exterior hull damage. The bottom line however is that you can never pay off a hijacker or pirate, ever, other than in consequences they will not like.
When you are that grindingly poor the pay off vs. risk is high.

[Corwin C]

This is why I believe that all people should be armed and prepared to defend themselves.

I get so frustrated with the idea any government will be able protect us ... IT'S BS. TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! I don't care where you are, in your home, at the grocery store, or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, by the time someone with any authority gets there, you're in REAL TROUBLE if someone wants to cause it. Governments are there to assess the situation after it is all over, determine the truth, and appropriately punish those who were in the wrong.

These pirates are taking over ships in international waters with deadly force ... anyone out there is completely justified to use deadly force to protect themselves. (And personally I EXPECT them to do just that.)

Just my 4 1/2 cents ...

Corwin

[caseydog]

I don't know what can be done short of putting weapons and soldiers on every ship.

The area that is subject to these pirates is supposedly as big as the US Eastern Seaboard. That's a lot of area to patrol.

The boats they use are small, so they are needles in a giant haystack.

Also, most countries with navies don't really care until one of their own ships/crews gets taken. We didn't care until and American crew got grabbed.

And, let's not forget the most important factor -- business.

"Like any business, Somali piracy can be explained in purely economic terms. It flourishes by exploiting the incentives that drive international maritime trade. The other parties involved — shippers, insurers, private security contractors, and numerous national navies — stand to gain more (or at least lose less) by tolerating it than by putting up a serious fight. As for the pirates, their escalating demands are a method of price discovery, a way of gauging how much the market will bear." -- Wired

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/ ... li_pirates

Click the link to read a good explanation of the economics involved with Somali Piracy. I guess sometimes crime does pay, and fighting crime does not.

CD

[Jst83]

I heard them talking on the radio that there's a company arranging pirate hunts and for a pretty penny they'll take you out in a big yacht trying to lour them out. Then you can use the big guns they provide and take care of them.

[Steve_Cox]

Reality show.... Yacht loaded with combat veterans armed to the teeth looking for pirates.

[planovet]

I heard them talking on the radio that there's a company arranging pirate hunts and for a pretty penny they'll take you out in a big yacht trying to lour them out. Then you can use the big guns they provide and take care of them.

LINK

If only it were true... Give me the minigun!!

[hotrod]

I heard them talking on the radio that there's a company arranging pirate hunts and for a pretty penny they'll take you out in a big yacht trying to lour them out. Then you can use the big guns they provide and take care of them.

LINK

If only it were true... Give me the minigun!!

I had that emailed to me a couple days ago.
I to agree, take care of yourself and your crew There is NO WAY a "fishing boat" could get close to one of these shipping vessels carrying ONE 50 cal and someone who could use it.. End of problem.

[caseydog]

I heard them talking on the radio that there's a company arranging pirate hunts and for a pretty penny they'll take you out in a big yacht trying to lour them out. Then you can use the big guns they provide and take care of them.

LINK

If only it were true... Give me the minigun!!

Ummmm, yeah. I'd like to be on a cruise ship full of adrenaline drunk yahoos with automatic weapons.

What could possibly go wrong?



CD