Pirates: Part Two

Hence, the international community take it over and turn it into a reserve.

Hi,

This sounds like the .50c Lead Pill to cure all ills to me.

Apparently not the problem of you getting ripped off, buy in bulk man!

I say let the shipping companies hire well armed and trained security forces opperate "vessels of opportunity" for pirates in the area, as pirates attack they attack back and pursue the fleeing criminals.

You guys are loosing your diplomatic flair.
I think the only way to deal with Somali Pirates is to finance an invasion by our great new allies the Ethiopians, so they can restore order to this failed state through a friendly democratic government and rescue the loving Somali people from this unfortunate scourge.

I think OutMyWindow's Idea is probably the only one offered up that would both fix most of the problems, and not make who ever does it horrible war criminals.

Boy Marine's notion would help too.

Somali Pirates Are Getting Rich: A Look At The Profit Margins

A quick take on the economics of piracy:

http://247wallst.com/2009/04/14/somali-pirates-are-getting-rich-a-look-at-the-profit-margins/

That is quite a handy margin, thanks for posting it.

With well over 100% ROI, it's only a matter of time before the more business-minded pirates offer up an IPO, maybe underwritten by a Wall Street investment bank as an, um, intra-pirate professional courtesy.

It is time to call this "piracy" what it is ... state sponsored terrorism. We invaded Iraq for less legitimate reason than we have seen offshore Somalia recently. We know where their bases are, we know who their "leaders" are and we have the technology to destroy them at sea and ashore. All we seem to lack is the will to flush this toilet once and for all.

We don't need to rebuild the wreckage of their ports or provide an interim government after the smoke clears. They created and support this sewer, let them rot in it until it is safe for honest seafarers to bring them aid.

I think there is a strong possibility that we will be happier if we avoid this.

The "can of worms" analogy rings even brighter once one does a quick google search on the subject.
It seams that the "Ethiopian" strategy has been already tried with mixed results at best.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17612.htm
Funny how we only hear the happy stories.

Keeping that in mind, I'm going to swing with the "hawks" on this one and support selective targeting.

I wasn't suggesting we invade Somalia. We have no need to set foot on that septic soil, we have cruise missles and UAVs that can sterilze the ports and eliminate the carriers of this virus. We have the means to locate, track, and destroy the "motherships" and their foetid spawn. We just need the will to do it before we lose an American seaman.

Like I wrote before, we don't need to rebuild, assist, or provide comfort. We only need to eliminate the threat.

I was thinking more about us here and avoiding an uncomfortable discussion that has nothing to do with yachts and anything to do with Iraq. Sorry I was not more clear.

MSNBC just announced that there is talk in congress of issuing "Letters of Marque and Reprisal". (Licence or commission formerly granted by a government to a private person to fit out an armed ship or privateer to capture an enemy's ships and merchandise in time of war, or in reprisal for damage done.)
Letters of marque fell into disuse following the abolition of privateering by the Declaration of Paris in 1856.

I'm sensing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Xe is going to get the majority of any business I am sure.

Need a land-based operations partner?

I love the idea that those terrorist scum would just sail away and never be seen again. Kinda takes the glamour out of being a "pirate" doesn't it?

Hi,

I have just heard from someone I know who is involved in close protection for a client of mine that there are a number of ex Special Forces teams running high speed heavily armed boats around the area, they are restricting their services to paying customers and providing protection to convoys moving through the areas.

'bout time. Maybe they'll be able to make some on the side chasing them down and finishing the job if Letters of Marque and Reprisal takes effect. Wonder what the "pirates" would pay to get their boats and crews back?