[sergeantdave]

“The Boxer resembles a small aircraft carrier.”

So we need an aircraft carrier to chalenge a bunch of thugs in bathtub?

We do indeed live in an upside-down world.

[SoCalPol]

The USS Boxer which is based here in San Diego

is not an Air Craft Carrier

The Boxer is an Amphibious Assault Ship

It also carries around 2,000 Marines.

[tanknetter]

So we need an aircraft carrier to chalenge a bunch of thugs in bathtub?

Remember that there are a LOT of our allied nations with ships and crews that have been hijacked. All fun/games speculation aside, we can take care of this one situation easily ... but the other pirates are going to get upset (freaked out, paranoid variety) at seeing their compadres smoked and are likely to start popping their hostages.

Boxer brings a hell of a lot of capability to the dance. Including the ability to do an over-the-beach, forced assault on the pirates cute little village. These pirates aren't really ideologue nutjobs looking to die for Allah or something. They're businessmen. They have a LOT to lose, and not a whole heck of a lot to gain from an unpleasant resolution to this situation. An ESG with an MEU embarked is going to send a very clear message.