[Venturer]

The real answer is to destroy the country that harbors them.

[PIF]

"The first obligation of a country, of the government of a state, is to save the lives of its countrymen."" The first obligation of a country, of the government of a state, is to defend its countrymen. The difference is that one statement makes ransom paying valid, the other makes ending the lives of hostis humani generis (pirates) valid.

[expat_panama]

destroy the country that harbors them..."

What, crush the government?  Force the population into squalor?   Destroy the infrastructure?  Spread desease?  Forget it.  It's already been done and it hasn't helped..