Contractors Kill Somali Pirate, Prompting Fears of Rise in Violence

Wall Street Journal ^ | 24 Mar 2010 | Associated Press

[docbnj]

Private security guards shot and killed a Somali pirate during an attack on a merchant ship off the coast of East Africa in what is believed to be the first such killing by armed contractors, the EU Naval Force spokesman said Wednesday.

The death comes amid fears that increasingly aggressive pirates and the growing use of armed private-security contractors aboard vessels could fuel increased violence on the high seas. The handling of the case may have legal implications beyond the individuals involved in Tuesday's shooting.

[canuck_conservative]

Who prosecutes the ship’s defenders, when the incident happens on the high seas??

Exactly, they didn't break any country's laws because they weren't in any country.

[MrB]

I believe the “law of the sea” is that pirates can be hanged without trial.

[meatloaf]

I disagree somewhat. Pig fat should be used to grease the dead pirate and inserted into various orifices. Film the proceedings. Bury at sea. Post on youtube. Title the film: “Consigned to Hell! No Virgins for Him.”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Just forgot the shut up part. Should have just dumped the dead pirate in the drink.

[sbMKE]

It was customary in many countries to hang them in port for all to see. London for one...

http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.57/chapterId/998/London-and-the-pirates.html

[bunkerhill7]

sighted somali, shot same

[hosepipe]

What missing (so far) is the contractors video taping the event(s).. polishing them thru editing and selling the videos for further (maybe greater) profits.. maybe they could provide this service FOR FREE...

Call it............ Pirate Porn...

** maybe trolling the pirates as shark bait.. call it "Pirates Jumping the Shark"... as one episode.. Theres a lot of room for creativity..

[FReepaholic]

Blackwater’s pirate-fighting navy has sunk!

[massgopguy]

The pirates will use this as a “recruiting tool”. /sarc

[Pecos]

Very nice naval reference.

[elpadre]

“..growing use of armed private-security contractors aboard vessels could fuel increased violence ..”

just the opposite - arming cargo ships will put the pirates out of business as pirates are not brave, but cowards.

[Little Ray]

Dunno.

Dead pirates might mean that their buddies start hosing down the ship’s superstructure at long range with 14.7 mm HMGs while their zodiacs are closing on the target.

But maybe then, the navies of the world will start wiping out these bastards instead of playing “catch and release.” Or let commercial ships arm themselves with auto-cannon to sink the pirates at long range.

Probably not, though.

[LonePalm]

Scratch one ragtop.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Constitution Day]

sighted somali, shot same

Great! BTTT

[Bigh4u2]

Idiotic headline of the day!

I hate liberals.....

[jwparkerjr]

re: pirates can be hanged without trial

There are few ‘laws’ or understandings that are more widely known or as universally accepted as the defense of a ship at sea. The handling of horse thieves in the Wild West is similar, but the policy on pirates to back much longer!

After such an incident the ship should sail into its next stop with the severed heads of the pirates hanging from it railing.

[GonzoGOP]

Prompting Fears of Rise in Violence

Wow. So now defending yourself is just considered goading the pirates into more violence?

Well in the short term there will be a whole bunch of violence as the pirates get blown out of the water. Because Liberals are literal they don't understand the concept of defensive violence. Sometimes to defend your life or property it is right and proper that violence be employed. For the vast majority on this site that statement is so obvious that it never needs to actually be put into words. For a liberal any violence is bad so even defending yourself is a crime.

[GonzoGOP]

Scratch one ragtop.

If those darn pirates put a scratch in my ragtop they are going to get hung for sure. Oh wait you meant.... Never mind.

[Pharmboy]

Crews are becoming increasingly adept at repelling attacks by pirates in the dangerous waters of the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

LOL!! It's called shooting back...works every time, but it remains a mystery to those in our Fourth Estate.

[bert]

In obama like fashion they think that submitting to enemies is the way to make friends.

A dead enemy is not an enemy