Posted on 11/18/2008 9:16:24 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Alarm grows as governments and navies are rendered legally powerless to conduct security operations on the high seas
Somali pirates struck again yesterday, seizing an Iranian cargo ship holding 30,000 tonnes of grain, as the world’s governments and navies pronounced themselves powerless against this new threat to global trade.
Admiral Michael Mullen, the US military chief, pronounced himself stunned by the pirates’ reach after their capture of the supertanker Sirius Star and its $100 million (£70 million) cargo. Commanders from the US Fifth Fleet and from Nato warships in the area said that they would not intervene to retake the vessel.
The Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, the owner of the ship, condemned the hijacking as an “outrageous act” that required international action.
“Piracy, like terrorism, is a disease which is against everybody, and everybody must address it together,” Prince Saud al-Faisal said. Arab diplomats would meet in Cairo on Thursday to discuss what could be done in response, Yemeni officials said.
Analysts said, however, that the seizure of the Sirius Star exposed the use of foreign warships as “a sticking plaster” that would not solve the problem. “Maritime security operations in that area are addressing the symptoms not the causes,” said Jason Alderwick, a maritime defence analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Roger Middleton, a Horn of Africa specialist at the Chatham House think-tank, said that the capture was a crucial escalation. “Now that they have shown they are able to seize an enormous ship like this, it is beyond a military solution. You won’t fix this without a political solution.”
Pirates pulled the 333m supertanker yesterday to a mooring point off Harardhere, on the Somali coast. Farther north, Italian, Greek, Turkish, British, American and Russian frigates and warships were patrolling the Gulf of Aden under a
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Yes, face to face negotiations by The One are the world's best hope.
With no preconditions.
As much as I hate to say this, if this turns out to be real, and it does not affect the US, I say we should let the rest of the world deal with it.
Hmmm...Q-ships. I like it.
““Now that they have shown they are able to seize an enormous ship like this, it is beyond a military solution. You won’t fix this without a political solution.”
I’m wondering if that is code for: “The Somali government (what little of it exists) is behind this. It’s not just individual groups of pirates acting independently.”
Just a thought.
I say let the Iranians and Saudis deal with the problem, since it’s their ships. The world will learn soon enough when the US removes itself unilaterally as a world superpower.
I would not care a bit if every last somali disappeared from the face of the earth. In fact, I would be quite happy if they did. It would be a good start.
Wow. The very definition of journalistic hyperbole.
Perhaps a reading of Thomas Jefferson’s deeds in that part of the world would clarify the steps to be taken.
We could start in Columbus. They have infested our North side. Ignorant, demanding and ungrateful.
Somali Piracy is easy to solve, and fun too!
Run some fat targets close to shore, making sure the pirates understand they have lots of cash on board, a drunk skipper, and deep pockets owners.
Then, when the pirates get close, open up with the .50 cal guns and some guided missiles and blow them out of the water.
Repeat until pirates don’t come out for the bait.
No more pirate problem. Good gunnery practice for some Navy boys. Simple and fun!
Mogadishu, Minneapolis, Columbus.
I’m just wondering if anything has changed in the legal landscape. Or if this is a ruse to issue in more international regulation like maybe the Law of the Sea.
Ha. That was in Orson Welles’ version of Napoleon. He says to Talleyrand or somebody, “I can’t say I would be any the happier if I woke up one fine morning and found that England had disappeared.” Talleyrand replies, “Ah, but you did say one fine morning.”
This is quite a different matter from “subhuman”, which is simply inaccurate for starters.
“OBAMA must go and talk to these pirates & tell them to be good little boys & behave themselves!”
He and his little pirate friends are too busy hijacking the U.S.
Let’s clear this up a bit. The 5th Fleet Commanders said they “WOULD NOT INTERVENE...”. They did not say “could not”, they did not say “cannot”, they did not say “prohibited”, they did not say “incapable”, they did not say “we lack legal jurisdiction”.
I’m sure we WOULD INTERVENE on behalf of Iran if they ask us to. As a matter of fact WE COULD retake the ship and escort it all the way into a nice safe Iranian port. All they would have to do is ask.
Says the country with uber-wealth and without the balls to protect it.
They got a bundle. let them build a navy and earn the "international community's" thanks by taking these guys on. Same for the Iranians.
Fat chance.
Somali pirates sail up to a supposedly unarmed tanker. Some blinds roll down and they open fire on the pirates. Dump the bodies in the sea.
Repeat as necessary.
(For those who don't know about Q Ships)
Maybe the U.N. should send those pirates a strongly worded letter.
Why not Pirate Hunting cruises? Outfit a ship with 50 cal machine guns along the gunnels and sell seats for the cruise. Side betting encouraged.
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