Piracy At Sea Reaches Record High

National Post ^ | July 24, 2003 | Peter Goodspeed

[Loyalist]

[Zavien Doombringer]

[Corin Stormhands]

It's Disney's fault.

First everybody had to have a dalmation, then a clown fish.

Now everybody wants to be a pirate...

[Republicus2001]

I understand when sailing in US waters if you raise a Jolly Roger the Coast Guard has a right to fire

[HairOfTheDog]

Now everybody wants to be a pirate...

MMMMMMMM PIRATES HO!

[HairOfTheDog]

I understand when sailing in US waters if you raise a Jolly Roger the Coast Guard has a right to fire

HA! - Right, matey! Our boat flew a Jolly Roger always, and we were never fired upon. Course our boat was ~named~ the Jolly Roger!

[Tank-FL]

I just finished..

A radiation infested nearly dead pirate of Singapore origin is found in the Celebes Sea of the Western Pacific. The presence of radiation sets off warning bells all the way to Washington, D.C but also in Australia. Australian officials enlist Op-Center for a top-secret investigation of nuclear disposal sites. An empty drum from a recent drop-provides a clue that an international conglomerate which has been hired to dispose of the nuclear waste is actually selling it instead -- to a most unlikely terrorist...

[Corin Stormhands]

Why'd you call him a Ho?

[Zavien Doombringer]

Well, my militia group back in the 18th century arrested a local Torie that contributed to piracy on the outerbanks!

[Wneighbor]

HA! I will take my boat into dangerous waters to be chased by a pirate like THAT one!

[Wneighbor]

I saw that book last night at Hastings. Almost picked it up. I know, you're going to tell me now that I should have huh?

[HairOfTheDog]

Pirate talk.

Here he is ravishing a seemingly compliant wench!

[Space Wrangler]

pinging.... I know you share my interest in this subject. pinging....

[Wneighbor]

Here he is ravishing a seemingly compliant wench!

I would volunteer for that duty.

[dasboot]

This should be an easy problem to fix; but I think the hang-up must be along the lines of the debate to arm airline pilots. Is that correct?

[Skywalk]

If the crews were armed with automatic weapons, my guess is these incidents would be reduced greatly.

But the govts of the world would never allow that.

[Republicus2001]

Bangladesh is the second-worst focus of pirate activity

but wait that can't be - Bangaladesh is one of the members of the Security Council -

[AFreeBird]

But the govts of the world would never allow that.

I'm not expert or anything, but I thought Maritime Law governing international waters allowed vessels of any size to have an armory. The problem lies in the national laws of a port nation.

Can anyone clarify?

[dasboot]

I did a little search and found that international agreements don't prohibit arms; they discourage them, however.

The industry probably doesn't want the liability that comes with accidents, so they're experimenting with putting electric fences around the decks. It's exactly like the airlines' debate: bullet-proof cockpit doors, etc.

[hchutch]

If the Navy or Air Force didn't see it first...