Pirate attacks may tempt terrorists: US official

AFP ^ | Apr 8,2005

[hedgetrimmer]

A spate of pirate raids on ships in the Malacca Strait could tempt terrorists to stage a seaborne attack, the vice-commandant of the US Coast Guard said Friday.

We have some concerns that what the pirates might be doing is showing the terrorists where opportunities exist," Vice-Admiral Terry Cross told reporters.

Cross, who is on a tour of Asia to bolster maritime cooperation and port security, was speaking against the background of five pirate attacks on ships in the Malacca and Singapore straits in the past six weeks.

The Malacca Strait is used by about 50,000 ships a year carrying a third of world trade, and the ease with which pirates board vessels has given rise to concern that terrorists could hijack a tanker to use as a floating bomb or to block the vital channel and disrupt world trade.

In the latest attack, a gang of pirates attempted to board a huge Japanese-owned crude oil tanker off Indonesia's Karimun islands, where the southern tip of the Malacca Strait joins the Singapore Strait.

The tanker managed to outrun the pirates, but in four earlier attacks ships were boarded and robbed and crew members were kidnapped.

Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia last year began coordinated patrols in the Malacca Strait, and Malaysia has announced it will also place armed and uniformed police officers on board tugboats and barges plying the waterway.

The government has, however, rejected suggestions that the United States or other foreign navies be allowed to help patrol the strait.

Cross said there was international concern about pirate activity in the Malacca Strait, which he described as "a very difficult problem".

"We believe solving that problem is the responsibility of the nations in the region. Some progress is being made, we hope more can be made in the future," he said.

A US Coast Guard team would visit Malaysia to look into port security arrangements and Malaysian maritime offcials have been invited to the US, he said.

Cross leaves for neighbouring Singapore on Saturday before going on to Indonesia.

[hedgetrimmer]

A spate of pirate raids on ships in the Malacca Strait could tempt terrorists to stage a seaborne attack, the vice-commandant of the US Coast Guard, Terry Cross who is pictured here, said.(AFP/Jimin Lai)

[hedgetrimmer]

PING


Malaysian special forces absail onto a vessel from a police helicopter during an anti-piracy demonstration in the Malacca Strait at Port Klang. Pirates Friday attacked a Japanese-owned bulk carrier in the vital sea lane and robbed the ship of its cash before escaping(AFP/File)

[river rat]

"The government has, however, rejected suggestions that the United States or other foreign navies be allowed to help patrol the strait."

Sure -- the bastards are afraid we would kill too many of the sonsuvbitches...

Semper Fi

[Whispering Smith]

I've heard that back in the colonial days, an officer in either the Royal Navy or the Dutch Navy in Command of any craft could hang a pirate upon discovery. Seems like a good policy to me. Might even apply it to these terrorists.

[mlc9852]

Does anyone know who the pirates are? What countries they are from? Are any of them ever caught and prosecuted? And does anyone know if piracy is a big problem with private vessels? Seems foolish for governments affected by this to refuse our help.

[SteveMcKing]

Sailors are tough for good reasons - it goes back centuries.

Merchant marines are basically paramilitary. (Though some of them think having a uniform is the only requirement...)

[Parmenio]

This is a major problem, not only in SE Asia but also on the west coast of Africa. There are at least two sites that post reports of piracy incidents on a weekly basis. This is one of them:

http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

The other one I've seen is done, I believe, by one of the maritime insuarance associations.

[mlc9852]

Thanks.

[bobdsmith]

"Does anyone know who the pirates are? What countries they are from? Are any of them ever caught and prosecuted? And does anyone know if piracy is a big problem with private vessels? Seems foolish for governments affected by this to refuse our help."

Aii I hear they be a scurvy crew plundering the seven seas
from their secret island hideaway. Their leader be a dreadful peg-legged villian feared by traders and government navies alike. It is said he would sooner cut a throat for a piece of eight. But I warn you lad - those who seek his treasure NEVER return.

[FDNYRHEROES]

Sailors are tough for good reasons - it goes back centuries.

Cowboys don't cry...Sailors don't give a sh#t...

[ApplegateRanch]

Thanks! I assume that in a real operation there would also be a back-up gunship overhead.

As to Malaysia & Indonesia cooperating, don't forget that these are the two nations who were involved in a navy ship of one ramming a navy ship of the other last week...on purpose.

Their leader be a dreadful peg-legged villian feared by traders and government navies alike.

'Tis a scurvy lie. The real leader is the Puppetmaster, cleverly disgised as a parrot, sitting on his shoulder.

[hedgetrimmer]

The Malacca strait is an extraordinarily critical sea passage. The littoral countries on the strait do not want US intervention because they think we will never leave, if given permission to patrol once.



Whether something is profoundly wrong in the dialogue between the U.S. and the two Asian powers is an important question in itself, but the real issue is what is the best mechanism for securing the world's most important shipping corridor. One quarter of world trade and half of the world's oil and two thirds of liquefied natural gas (LNG) move through the Strait of Malacca each day. Freighters loaded with Japanese nuclear waste en route to reprocessing facilities in Europe and raw materials critical to China's booming economy pass through this chokepoint as well. But the strait is also one of the world's most vulnerable and threatened shipping areas, and terrorism experts have long feared for the safety of shipping traversing it.

In recent years al-Qaeda-linked groups have proved they see ships as potential targets. The USS Cole was attacked in 2000 and an explosive-laden boat hit the French tanker Limburg off the coast of Yemen in October 2002. Following the attack on the Limburg al-Qaeda issued a statement saying: "by hitting the oil tanker in Yemen the Mujahadeen hit the secret line-the provision line-and the feeding to the artery of the life of the Crusader nation."

http://www.iags.org/n0524042.htm

[NCjim]

We have some concerns that what the pirates might be doing is showing the terrorists where opportunities exist," Vice-Admiral Terry Cross told reporters.

Sounds like a modern-day version of Terry and the Pirates...

[KingofQue]

Time for a Special Ops Team to sail in these areas flying a US flag on two sailboats armed to the teeth and wait for the right moment and unload on these people. About 1 year of offensive operation and there will be no pirates.

[KingofQue]

Then we should hit their provision line. The one that donates funds to islam. CIA assassin teams should take out those who contribute large sums to islam.