Posted on 11/26/2008 5:04:12 AM PST by Leisler
There is something about the image of a pirate as a lovable rogue, Jack Sparrow style, that probably colors the way modern-day piracy is perceived. When combined with the relatively little public awareness of the shipping industry, there has been scant attention paid to this scourge of the seas. But today, with both of the world's major shipping routes between Europe and Asia under threat, the world is starting to wake up to the problem.
Most consumers don't realize the tremendous price they pay for piracy. The Suez Canal via the Gulf of Aden is the main route for ships plying their trade from Asia to Europe and the East Coast of the United States, laden with goods as varied as Christmas toys, clothing and cars. The increased risk of hijacking in the area, mainly from pirates based in Somalia, has resulted in higher .....
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We, the US, used to use that reasoning. I don't see why not the Chinese wouldn't.
On my daily commute, back in the day, I used to have some snot-nosed Somali punk stick a rifle in my ear at every intersection. In the beginning, the rifle was a WWII relic, with no ammo and held together mostly by rust, so the price of the “toll” was not too high. Then our “friends” the Saudis started dumping guns Mogadishu, and all the little punks had shiny new AK-47s with all the ammo they could carry, and it was time to leave...
These pirates are punks, nothing more. But well-armed punks can be dangerous. One thing they are not is “Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum!”
I am aware of that. Now they have a nice cover, which is always politically helpful, for them.
It is already reported that like any good businessmen they are plowing back profits into equipment. Mother ships, bigger faster outboards, better weapons, bigger labor force.
If the Navy doesn’t get off their butts soon, you could have the entire east cost of Africa, Indian ocean with the same economic activity as present day Mogadishu. It could go viral. Everything is there. Dirt poor Muslims, outboard salesmen, big fat white.....er...western pigs, all to be attacked as it is ordered in the Koran, and of course thus rewarded by Allah.
On the other hand, maybe it is a devious, let them sweat, maneuver to dragoon the near nations into some federated action.
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