[a fool in paradise]

What authority does the FBI hold in international waters off the coast of Somalia?

[chilepup]

I was wondering the same thing. I thought a good “negotiation” tool would be to assassinate the pirates and kill his crew. Of course, this regime is worse than Carter’s, so who knows what the Messiah will do next.

[auntyfemenist]

I was wondering how the FBI plays into this myself. Isn’t that the CIA’s territory? Or Interpol or someone like that?

[RinaseaofDs]

The FBI has zero authority. The USCG has legal jurisdiction in international water world wide on US flag vessels and vessels where the US has received a letter of no objection.

Piracy is classified a crime against humanity, however, and as such all nations have legal jurisdiction to prosecute. As such, those pirates are dead meat in any country that deems it necessary to kill those bastards.

Flying the US flag on your vessel buys you squat any more. Being a MUSLIM pirate? Priceless.

[Popman]

What authority does the FBI hold in international waters off the coast of Somalia?

I'm no expert, but since it's international waters, I would think there is no "authority" except for maritime laws.

Since the pirates are well, pirates (outside the maritime laws) does it really matter how they die???

[PeteB570]

More than the pirates

:-)

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I'm thinking it is not authority to negotiate, but the negotiating skills in a hostage situation that these folks are looking for. Does the CIA have this type of personnel? I don't know.

Otherwise, it makes sense to me that -- if there are only 2 pirates -- that you get a couple of snipers and count to 3. Cruise on over and pick up the captain. Sink the dingy. Guess that's why I'm not in charge.