It’s been a while since I’ve linked several posts all in a shot and there are quite some number of posts on Somali pirates that are worth considering.
- Noah Schachtman has an update with several interesting tidbits: Iran may send some ships to hunt pirates and Germany may send troops to do the same thing.
- Pundita has been running a series of posts on the Somali pirates. She emphasizes the connection between the pirates and radical Islamism in the area.
- Caroline Glick notes the problems induced by the law enforcement model in dealing with piracy.
- Fester at Newshoggers wonders whether enlisting local tribal organizations might not be a good way of dealing with Somali pirates.
- By far the most interesting post on the subject comes from Information Dissemination who suggests that the U. S. Navy’s ignoring the Somali pirates actually furthers our grand strategic objectives.
I continue to think that a functioning government in Somalia is the only workable solution to the problem. How to get one of those is beyond me. We can’t just run down to Governments R Us.
What’s ridiculous about this is that they can’t simply have one of the major world navies go right up to the main pirate coastal areas and sink any ships coming back with booty (or simply watch them bring it back, then sink them once they dock). Or do boarding actions on Somali ships in pirate-infested waters. That’s all what was traditionally done to deal with pirates.
I know that there is the whole issue raised about “Well, they’re keeping Somalis alive, blah, blah,blah” but nonetheless, this is piracy. These people are making a living off of crime. I guarantee you that if the Somalis were making money by being a slavery center, and stopping ships to enslave their passengers, that this indecisiveness wouldn’t be present.
Good collection of links. I have to admit, my instinct was also to say “go fire them up” and rain down some hellfire on them. Then I read Gahlran’s post, and thought, “hmmmm. He has a point there.” Interesting issue.
If nothing else my reading is eclectic.
After watching my tax money going to pay off the bankers on Wall Street I’m wondering what is the difference between them and the Somali Pirates. I’d rather be a pirate than a banker. Ayy Matey! They’re selling Somali Pirate t-shirts on ebay now. That means they have to be okay, right?