In view of the fact that piracy off the Somali coast has taken on such huge proportions in the number of vessels taken, monetary value of captured cargo, the number of hostages taken and the distance from their own coast the pirates are traveling to commit these acts—it is unfortunately time for the world to take the long view when planning solutions. Trying to negotiate our way through this is being short-sighted. Yes, we are trying to get through this without losing any lives. But that tactic is probably costing us lives in the long run. They are collecting hefty ransoms for their efforts and as a result, they are growing bolder and upgrading their capabilities. This is not making any solution easier to achieve and is in the long run endangering more lives than it is protecting in the short run. At last report, pirates currently have control of at least 12 ships plus a tug boat and have over 200 hostages.
These pirates, who have stated to the world’s press that they are acting as a form of Coast Guard to protect Somali waters, are now venturing over 200 miles from the Somali coast to board and take ships. No country in the world has ever been able to claim that distance away from their land mass as coastal waters. Although these pirates have told the press that they confront all ships be they fishing vessels or merchant ships carrying oil or containers, they are clearly working for profit here. Among the ships taken are a French yacht, tankers, container ships and a ship carrying tanks and military armaments bound for neighboring Kenya.
They have three potential revenue streams from each vessel taken. They can ransom the crew, ransom or sell the freight and ransom or sell the ship itself. The Pirates have made over $35 million in little over three years and have upgraded their technology to include GPS, sophisticated electronics and upgraded armaments such as RPGs and automatic weaponry. This is a growth industry and it is clearly nothing more complicated than organized crime.
During the most recent confrontation with pirates concerning an American ship, an FBI hostage negotiator working with the U.S. Navy on a case involving a ship’s captain who volunteered to be taken hostage, told the press that the pirates’ actions are all about the money. In his opinion they are not motivated by patriotism or ideology and have no ties to terrorist organizations. Regardless of their motivation, they are presenting themselves as a threat to shipping lane stability that affects the entire world.
The patriotic angle professed by these pirates doesn’t wash, since they are reaching out farther than 200 miles off the Somali coast. Eventually the piracy problem will be eliminated. An Indian warship has sunk one pirate ship and French commandos captured a pirate crew and freed all but one hostage on a sailing yacht. The hostage who wasn’t freed was killed during the rescue. If the French are getting into the actual fight, this problem is serious.
However, taking the cautious approach we are currently trying may be costing the world more lives in the long run than the more ruthless, but prudent action in this case. By paying the ransoms, ship owners and shipping companies are perpetuating this situation by making it profitable. Although it will seem ruthless to much of the world, we should consider how many lives will be saved in the long run by refusing to allow this type of action culminate in a payoff of any kind.
In fact, as horrid as this may sound to many people out there and as unfortunate as it would be for any current hostages and their families—it is just possible that the best solution to this particular problem would be a full scale military action that quite possibly could cost the lives of many hostages. The Joint Chiefs probably have a much better plan of action than I am suggesting here, but a U.S. Navy escort on all American merchant ships in the area seems appropriate. Guided missile frigate escorts in full view for every merchant ship and a permanently deployed submarine to patrol the general area, both with rules of engagement orders to treat the zone as a free fire zone in order to protect shipping lanes and prevent further disruption by piracy seems in order here.
This may sound cruel to some, but we have already missed the opportunity to nip this one in the bud and the net result is that we now have a full fledged piracy problem on our hands in waters that are considered by every country of the world to be open sea. If that isn’t a clear and present danger, what is? These pirates have to know that not only is there is no profit in this type of endeavor, but that this type of activity will immediately cost them there very lives.
To them this is a business model. It may be immoral and it may be wrong, but as long as it is profitable it is viable. If the pirates believe they will be blown out of the water by simply being there at the wrong time they will stop. There is no profit in dying. We have to make the risk too high for them to be willing to continue. If we don’t, we will see it continue and it will escalate. The sooner we stop this, the fewer lives and the less shipping freight will be lost. We cannot negotiate our way to the end of this particular problem. It is the negotiation that leads to their profit.
These pirates, who have stated to the world’s press that they are acting as a form of Coast Guard to protect Somali waters, are now venturing over 200 miles from the Somali coast to board and take ships. No country in the world has ever been able to claim that distance away from their land mass as coastal waters. Although these pirates have told the press that they confront all ships be they fishing vessels or merchant ships carrying oil or containers, they are clearly working for profit here. Among the ships taken are a French yacht, tankers, container ships and a ship carrying tanks and military armaments bound for neighboring Kenya.
They have three potential revenue streams from each vessel taken. They can ransom the crew, ransom or sell the freight and ransom or sell the ship itself. The Pirates have made over $35 million in little over three years and have upgraded their technology to include GPS, sophisticated electronics and upgraded armaments such as RPGs and automatic weaponry. This is a growth industry and it is clearly nothing more complicated than organized crime.
During the most recent confrontation with pirates concerning an American ship, an FBI hostage negotiator working with the U.S. Navy on a case involving a ship’s captain who volunteered to be taken hostage, told the press that the pirates’ actions are all about the money. In his opinion they are not motivated by patriotism or ideology and have no ties to terrorist organizations. Regardless of their motivation, they are presenting themselves as a threat to shipping lane stability that affects the entire world.
The patriotic angle professed by these pirates doesn’t wash, since they are reaching out farther than 200 miles off the Somali coast. Eventually the piracy problem will be eliminated. An Indian warship has sunk one pirate ship and French commandos captured a pirate crew and freed all but one hostage on a sailing yacht. The hostage who wasn’t freed was killed during the rescue. If the French are getting into the actual fight, this problem is serious.
However, taking the cautious approach we are currently trying may be costing the world more lives in the long run than the more ruthless, but prudent action in this case. By paying the ransoms, ship owners and shipping companies are perpetuating this situation by making it profitable. Although it will seem ruthless to much of the world, we should consider how many lives will be saved in the long run by refusing to allow this type of action culminate in a payoff of any kind.
In fact, as horrid as this may sound to many people out there and as unfortunate as it would be for any current hostages and their families—it is just possible that the best solution to this particular problem would be a full scale military action that quite possibly could cost the lives of many hostages. The Joint Chiefs probably have a much better plan of action than I am suggesting here, but a U.S. Navy escort on all American merchant ships in the area seems appropriate. Guided missile frigate escorts in full view for every merchant ship and a permanently deployed submarine to patrol the general area, both with rules of engagement orders to treat the zone as a free fire zone in order to protect shipping lanes and prevent further disruption by piracy seems in order here.
This may sound cruel to some, but we have already missed the opportunity to nip this one in the bud and the net result is that we now have a full fledged piracy problem on our hands in waters that are considered by every country of the world to be open sea. If that isn’t a clear and present danger, what is? These pirates have to know that not only is there is no profit in this type of endeavor, but that this type of activity will immediately cost them there very lives.
To them this is a business model. It may be immoral and it may be wrong, but as long as it is profitable it is viable. If the pirates believe they will be blown out of the water by simply being there at the wrong time they will stop. There is no profit in dying. We have to make the risk too high for them to be willing to continue. If we don’t, we will see it continue and it will escalate. The sooner we stop this, the fewer lives and the less shipping freight will be lost. We cannot negotiate our way to the end of this particular problem. It is the negotiation that leads to their profit.
If nothing else someone should stop by Israel and pick up around 12 Israeli commandos and sink the dang thing. Like you said, as long as it is profitable they will keep doing it. Take away the profit or better yet take away some of the ones doing it and the others will stop at least for a little while. From what I seen on the news other friends were coming to help the pirates, the US Navel ships should not have blocked the ships but sank the ships. Coming to help, I think the navy could hold out a hell of a lot longer than the pirates. Starvation gets crappy after the third week.
ReplyDeleteyour old buddy...clay
I must agree that there seems to be no solution to the pirating problem. Sooner or later the shipping companies will certainly arm the crew so they can defend themselves. It's not just the cargo anymore. There are lives involved.
ReplyDeleteThis pirating issue has brought up some thoughts about our government. My analogy: The pirates represent our government. They are taking our resources and money to improve the conditions for themselves and blaming it on "bad times". We the people are losing this battle. In the future I see our citizens arming themselves to defend their property and rights.
I read a quote from Margaret Thather this week that caught my attention and I would like to share it with you. She said,"the problem with Socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money".
The pirates are heading down the same path. It may be a profitable business model, but it is doomed to failure. Just look at the other Socialist business plans. They failed, as well.