Posted on 04/14/2009 5:30:33 AM PDT by areukiddingme1
"If the world's navies can't or won't protect unarmed merchant ships, then it's time to train the crews and send them to sea," the group of current and former ship masters said in a statement. However, despite support among some sailors for arming merchant ships, the industry generally opposes such a move."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
That is simply horse feathers. I can only speak for the U.S. Navy -- which, I tend to be a bit biased towards, is the "world's finest Navy," and if it was simply allowed to do it's job, then it can and would protect those ships. Let the men and woman at sea -- those Sailor's that are trained to do this kind of work -- let them do their job. It only takes a few more hundred dead pirates before they "all" get the message that this is an unhealthy profession to be in. But that is just my opinion.
I would recommend putting armed guards on ships transiting high risk areas. They would work like Pilots on the Panama Canal. They would travel on one ship southbound through the area and then transfer to a northbound ship at the other end.
It wouldn't take much firepower to deter the attacks. The defenders would be in a superior tactical position. Armed with a couple of 50 cals and some M-16s and night vision equipment they should be able to sink the small boats that the pirates use.
Absolutely. The defenders would be aboard large, stable ships while the pirates would be aboard small, unstable skiffs. Normal seas in the area run two to four feet, causing the pirates' boats to roll, pitch and yaw constantly, something that ruins the aim of even the best shooters. OTOH reasonably good shooters aboard large, stable ships, firing from behind cover with the weapons you mentioned, could chop the pirates' boats to pieces and kill the pirates with little trouble.
My reccomendation is to not send ships into that area.
Have sailors refuse to sail in Pirate waters.
It wont be long before the countries in that area start feeling the effects and put a stop to it themselves.
So you would shut the Suez Canal and have ships sail entirely around Africa?
That makes a lot of sense!
Dude, try looking at a map.
Without shipping and insurance companies, there is no merchant marine.
Great chest thumping though.
About as much sense as sending them there unarmed.
Bingo
1. Pirates are the enemy of all mankind and anyone who is able may kill them and seize their equipment (including vessels and weapons) without fear of legal or civil consequences.
2. All private vessels shall have a right of lethal self-defense, and the right to carry the means for this defense. Nations may require the measures to be declared before entry into ports, and may inspect, but not remove or disable such defenses.
3. No ransoms may be paid to pirates for ships or cargo. Organizations that do so shall face the sanctions of the signatory nations, including, but not limited to, seizure of vessels and capital and the arrest of officers and employees. Humanitarian organizations may ransom crews, but information on all such transactions must be open and available to the military and law enforcement organizations of signatory nations.
4. Charges of piracy are to be resolved in the military courts of the nations with sentencing as the discretion of the court.
5. Any nation, city, town, village, etc. that supports, harbors, or is otherwise occupied by pirates is liable for the most extreme methods of retaliation.
The purpose of the United States Navy it to keep the sea lanes open. It time the Totus starts commanding the job gets done.
Do you? I'm sure you have a reason for saying that.
I am ever so anxious to hear why you think so.
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Amen.
Remember the old saying, "When seconds count, a cop is only minutes away!". The saying applies to the Navy as well. No matter how well intentioned they can't be everywhere. The solution to this problem is two fold.
1.)Arm merchant ships, this has happened in the past with good results. 2.) The Navy, the one we are both proud of, should be sent in to Somalia and planes and missles used to devastate known pirate areas.
Also, wimp ROEs such as the Canadians(poor ba*****s, hands tied)have to follow should be done away with. Don't display signs, blow them out of the water!
Do you? I am still ever so anxious to hear why you think so.
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