Comments on: Prez Pledges Piracy Action; Experts Say US Forces Not Suited

By: paul

paul — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:23:36 +0000

Its a length and half a length of chaos!

By: William L. Sasman

William L. Sasman — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:35:25 +0000

This pirate crap is for the birds. I say and will keep on saying that its the UN that has to take care of this. They are jumping ships of all countries and that makes it right for the UN. Of course the idiots that sit up in New York UN place can’t agree on how to change a baby. So we can not expect to much from that way. If the US companies send a ship to that area they better put people on board to fight or stay out of there. If these creeps keep getting away with their crap then look out some copy cats ome place else may start up.

By: Galloglas

Galloglas — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:19:45 +0000

Flame throwers shot from the deck as the pirates climb, then snipers man the rails and pick off the pirates as they float smokin’ and burnin’ like flares on the water.
I call it the “Crab lice treatment” Like using a right guard can and an ice pick.

By: Fabricati_diem

Fabricati_diem — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:43:44 +0000

Hess I agree you could do that provided the .50 cals were semi-automatic (US flag and all) it would still do the job.
Seems to me if you justed hung a layer of razer wire over the edge would give them a nice surprise…

By: Edward Hoover

Edward Hoover — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:26:22 +0000

Attacks on US shipping leds us to a World War. Now another US vessel was attacked and damaged. Ehere were the the Navy fighters that could have been on the stop in no time to blow these scum suckers back to their maker. I’m tired of hearing about civillian causalties, we didn’t worry about them in WWI or WWII so bomb the cities these people operate out of. I’m sure then their own people will give them up. Let’s quit playing games.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:25:34 +0000

Prior to and through WWII, under the guidance of the US Navy our merchant marine armed their ships against possible attacks by axis powers. The ships had deck guns as well as small arms, The crew was trained in the use of the weapons and prepared to defend their ship.
Piracy, is nothing but a form of terrorism,if let to go unchallanged it will grow and more innocent people will be held hostage and more ransome will be payed.
To some in our government, piracy may appear
to be only a small problem not worthy of the full might of our nation but it’s amazing how uncontested fear mongers lead to the perpetrators becomeing more bold in their actions.
Remember only a few months ago the pirates went out 30 miles now it’s 200 miles.

By: hess

hess — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:47:02 +0000

I would just put private securtiy on the boat… 5 guys w/guns.. maybe a mounted 50cal front and aft.. smoke-em

By: Jon Henry

Jon Henry — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:23:51 +0000

What would it cost to assemble a squadron or two of UAV’s that could escort American flagged ships through these areas. We could even lease the service to other vessels on a per trip basis to cover fuel, manpower, ordinance and misc. expenses. The insurance companies would save a fortune and the program should be cost neutral after a yr or even turn a profit. JMHO

By: clyde

clyde — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:20:49 +0000

How about merchantmen with an arms locker???

I mean, at 20 to 4 odds, all the merchant crew needs is a few AK-47 asault rifles of their own, a little training, and post a watch.

I don’t see why I can get a concealed carry permit in Texas, where anyone would be crazy to do something like piracy, but merchantmarines can’t have a weapon.

At $50 a piece, the BATF ought o be buying them up and distributing them to those in need, rather than torching them up and driving domestic import prices up to voer $600.

Gun control means, a good sight picture and squeeze the trigger.

By: kurt

kurt — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:49:38 +0000

I agree on blowing the pirates out of the water but a long term solution is needed. As long as you have people living in desperation they will be doing desperate things. If you have been to Somlia or Djibuti or any where in that area you know these people basically have a day to day existance. The warlords are providing this wonderful employment opportunity so thay can feed the families. Its like busting a pot smoker and expect to stop the drug trade. They will both be examples of delayed success.

By: Lcpl. Littlejohn

Lcpl. Littlejohn — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:14:23 +0000

Barbary Pirates: Presley O’Bannon if memory serves.

I think the solution is to issue arms (and make sure they know how to use them) to the crews of the merchantmen. It would be a simple task to rake their skiffs with fire. A few such incidents and I’ll wager the buggers stay a bit closer to home.

By: bullshotb

bullshotb — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:43:42 +0000

Bring back the flying boats armed with miniguns and small rockets,
Slow flying with heads up,
Cheap to deploy and effective

By: Chief Houston

Chief Houston — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:56:59 +0000

U.S.Coast Guard DOG’s air lifted with drop boats 5 miles out from pirates. Joint SEAL/PSU/Force Recon Boarding teams. We need that specops air wing, since overwatch with modified sea surface landing Cobra’s would be primary gunships.

If any of you Olympic Task Force vets like me are out there, you know how we used the Icebreakers as mother ships with RHIB’s.
The U.S. Coast Guard is Uncle Sam’s pirate fleet.
14USC89!!

The Navy did not want the PSU’s until the Cole was blown up. Commandant Allen, this is the time for you to push, as I know you are Sir.

Unleash the DOG’s!

9th PSU lead the way! Urragh!

By: firered30013

firered30013 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:14:00 +0000

In the late 1980s / early 1990s, I live in Houston, TX. The area was having a real problem with violent armed convience store roberies. The Harris County Sheriff's set-up some "shotgun squads" that set up in the back room of likly targets. After a few of the bad guys had gotton blown away, the number of robberies dropped dramatically. Just like the Sheriff's Department didn't have the manpower to cover every convenience store, I sure the Navy could put marine / seal teams on every US flagged ship. However, why can't they put some on randomly selected potential targets. Even the old "Q" ship strategy from WWI has some merit. Modified cargo ships that concealed heavy weapons sailed likly areas of raider and submarine attack. When the raiders approaced, the concealment was dropped and the weapons brought into action. Obviously, the approached would have to be modified to counter more modern technology. However, the concepts are still valid. The bottom line is that you have to have the will to use force or the problem will never be solved.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:36:17 +0000

Why do you think the Marine Corps Hymn has the line “…to the shores of Tripoli?” We’ve used the Marines before to fight piracy on the high seas: we invaded Tripoli, Libya to stop the Barbary pirates a century and a half ago (and it worked). Piracy is terrorism on the high seas. One of the jobs of the Navy is to keep the shipping lanes free and open. Let them do their jobs.

By: OUTOFTHEBOXTHINKER

OUTOFTHEBOXTHINKER — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:33:31 +0000

PUT MICROWAVE RAY GUN ON THE DECK AND HOT BLAST ‘EM!

By: Kayaker

Kayaker — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:15:14 +0000

You know, people need to rise up and say enough is enough. We have spineless fools who don’t have the stomach to fight for what is right and just. These pirates need to be shut down before any other ship is taken captive or another hostage taken. Thats reality. We simply have to stand up and demand action now. The pansies will have no other option but to take heed.

By: KenL

KenL — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:52:11 +0000

I heard something interesting within the last few days on NPR. One major reason shipping lines don’t want to arm their crews is that their insurance rates would go way up if they do. I’m not sure that makes sense but I’m sure there’s some twisted mathematical justification for it. Maybe the equally twisted solution is to encourage the pirates to demand higher ransoms to encourage insurance companies to do away with incentives for defenseless crews.

By: B.Price

B.Price — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:54:22 +0000

…will not be asked to take on this task

By: B.Price

B.Price — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:52:21 +0000

@Jimbo:

First off (Blackwater) doesn’t exist anymore, it’s called Xe and pronounced ‘zee’
Secondly, there are plans for them to scale back that side of the business.
Lastly, they don’t have the capacity to go after these pirates at sea. They only have one rather large vessel that isn’t outfitted with weapons. Xe at its core is a training and logistics business now, with security being a side lined business. Come May we’ll get all the specifics on what they are planning to do with their security contractors (army), GSD Manufacturing, US Training Center, and Guardian Flight Systems.

So no, they nor DynCorp or Triple Conopy