Comments on: Pirates Take US Ship; Prosecute or Plug Em?

By: 3 War LTC

3 War LTC — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:44:25 +0000

It is now 23:33 Hrs Local on the East Coast and I wanted an up date on what the bloggers were still saying about this incident. The brave Merchant Marine Captain of the Mearsk Alabama is now free. 3 Pirates are dead at the hand of excellent Naval Special Warfare snipers. The 4th has made a court appearence in New York Federal [District] Court. The outcome of this incident was excellent. But what about the next time a U.S. Flagged Merchant Ship is attacked by pirates and seized? How will we react? Or should we engage in a high level of deterrance activities?
Somalia is a failed state…should the nations of the world engage in nation building or just let this splintered land sink further into rule clan by clan?
Some times doing nothing is a valid foreign policy, is this that time?

By: Henry Miller

Henry Miller — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:51:06 +0000

The cowardly statement that we don’t want to make them mad has to go. Let them beware not to make the US mad. If the US is already mad, the pirates are done for. Remember Tripoli.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:00:45 +0000

For those of you who think we should back off and use kid gloves, GROW UP. These pirates are very poor, un-educated Punks who think having an AK47 in there hands will conquer the world.
I am X-20 yrs Army and I say mount two 50 Cal’s bow and stern. Man them with GOOD trained soldliers, or train the crew of need be. Then, at the first sign of trouble, dump the pirates. Find there camp, take it apart including amybody, or anything associated with it.
All these people know is brute force. Give it to them. And they will fade away.

By: bob

bob — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:26:45 +0000

UPDATE: Snipers shot the pirates… seals came in to the rescue! Captain is free!

By: David Chidakel

David Chidakel — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:28:51 +0000

I’m afraid I agree with those who believe that the ships should be protect with both arms and armor.

By: chris

chris — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 07:58:57 +0000

Be careful when going for these so– called pirate’s remember Black hawk down, we don’t want another incident like that, now do we. It seems that the only thing America can do is use it’s might on weaker nations. But you must remember david killed goliath, with a sling and a stone. All in all this is just another incident, that shows the world is no longer scared of the greatest super power. After seeing them defeated in afganistan and Iraq by Al qieda. America better watch out because you can’t police the world.

home business idea’s

By: J Hanifin

J Hanifin — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:10:07 +0000

Bomb were they come from so they have no place to return!!!!!!!!!

By: Paul B-36 April 11th,09

Paul B-36 April 11th,09 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:14:44 +0000

Send food& water to life raft. Water laced with a date rape drug.
Given enough time take over sleeping pirates. When awake
fly pirates over their village,drop three out at 300 ft. while the
fourth watches. Land him so he can walk into village with an
American flag. This should have a lasting impression.

By: Paul B-36 April 11th,09

Paul B-36 April 11th,09 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:12:26 +0000

By: Ol' Tommy Boy

Ol' Tommy Boy — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:38:50 +0000

Are these Somali’s really “pirates”? If so, then send in Peter Pan and the problem’s solved. If, on the other hand, these are sea going Muslim terrorists, then set up escorts with Navy warships, ala WWII convoys, and blow them back to the hell they crawled out of. End of problem!

By: William L. Sasman

William L. Sasman — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:25:54 +0000

Where is Rambo? Dam this crap with talking to them dam creeps. Start putting their little boats on the bottom of the indian ocean with the fools. This bagan crap does not show us as being a top nation. First place the dam fools that go into them waters take on a risk and know it. So if something happens then they pay the price. Four b-hinds in a life boat hold up every thing is nuts.

By: Prasanna

Prasanna — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:39:43 +0000

This is another form of terrorism. There should not be any tolerance against them.

First Phase: Embark troops on all ships plying south and north crossing the dangerous zone with sufficient gear for own protection

Second Phase: If not sufficient after observing the effectiveness of phase one, line the ships up and make them convoys with sufficient escort ships.

Third phase: Sea Denial to pirates which may require breaching the sovereignty of Somalia and attack before they launch or within territorial waters.

Sri Lanka Navy has done this effectively against much potent enemy and continued supply to northern peninsula for over two decades.

By: Ugi

Ugi — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:32:48 +0000

Is there a bounty on pirates? And who pays it? Pirate Hunting seems like it might be a money maker for the right group of motivated individuals. I would like to see these pirates walk the plank, but if there is money in the bounty, I could see making a living that way. Anybody know anyone? I’m in!

By: Paul Reamer

Paul Reamer — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:32:19 +0000

They are pirates because they are getting away with it and they are making a good living doing so. The only way to stop them is to punish them severly. Agree to what ever demand they ask to get our man back, then kill them and hang their carcases in a fish net off the bow of the ship till they rot away. It will make a good statement for potential wantabe’s. Its not our fault they are dirt poor or their families are starving. American’s are the most generous people on the face of the earth so don’t cry foul and make excuses for the scum bags. I am sure Black Water would be more than willing to supply security to any shipping company who would pay them.

By: Joe LittleBear

Joe LittleBear — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:57:41 +0000

In the 5th century B.C the Emperor of China was petitioned by a group of “concerned citizens” to outlaw a “particularly heinious weapon” know as the crossbow.…The emperor consulted with his warlords and the consensus was unaminous… We have traveling caravans of merchants who trade throughout the empire, and we do not have enough soldier to provide an armed escort to each one… It is known that when five citizens stand with crossbows bent .…that twenty robbers dare not advance.. We should arm our merchant ships with at least TWO .…50 CAL machine guns.…fore and aft.…about 4 of ole Maw Deuce should be adequate…to give a big surprise to those pirates..they should be manned by some old soldiers ( or sailors ) who know how to use them…

By: vann4

vann4 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:57:07 +0000

if they hijack one of our ships we sink 10 of theirs. Thats the only message they will understand. in that part of the world fear of death is the best legal action.

By: WiildWest

WiildWest — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:20:16 +0000

Send in the SEALS and plug ‘em — NOW!

By: hess

hess — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:37:43 +0000

Maybe the navy should be doing some S@D pirate hunting misssions… Deploy assault crafts. We definatley need to get into the pirate hunting business… Right now they are getting away with anything they want. Nobody is going against them becasue they are from a lawless country… We need to secure our shipping lanes, and get rid of th scum that are thriving on this…

By: meport2

meport2 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:17:55 +0000

Before the days of political correctness and pandering to non affected or hostile international governments and agencies for political gain, the United States was a country of action and response to support and secure it’s interests in this world. In 1803 we didn’t seek the support of the world when we fought the Barbary Pirates. We did what was best in support of our national interests. We have to do this again. Now.

It used to be the accepted practice to hang captured pirates from the yard arms of their ships and scuttle the their ship in the passage way of ports where pirates frequented, then lay off and blast anyone who came near the ship or attempted to remove the executed pirates from the yardarms. It also was the law of the sea that captured pirates could be tried by the Captains of naval ships that captured them and executed or not depending on the decision of the Captain. And it also was the custom for naval ships to sail into pirate ports and sink every ship in sight without warning.

That was then. This is now, unfortunately. In today’s world, inaction, indecision and pandering is the norm. Forget about the increased costs in fuel, time, maintenance, salaries and supplies generated by making longer trips to avoid pirate waters. Those costs can be passed on to us, the consumers, as just another cost of doing business, “don’t you see”. So in the end we, the consumer, pay because governments would rather pander.

What a wonderful world we live in.

By: joiner

joiner — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:32:21 +0000

Latest news is the captain tried to escape… he jumped off the boat and began to swim… at that point they jumped after him and brought him back aboard…

ummm sounds to me like the navy was sleeping when this happend… I agree w/u guys and the navy spec ops option.… i say swim up to it in you seal gear and flip the boat… suprises the hostage takers, they panic drop their weapons in the water trying to swim, then you drag the captain with you with support from an assault craft or guys in a zodiac w/guns that were hidiing on the backside of the bainbridge… or for a simple solution get some snipers on the boat, and similtanniously engage all the pirates within a second of each other.

The Captain is getting desperate… they have to do something! We can not just leave him out there, we got to fix this problem..