Comments on: Needed: International Counter Piracy Center

By: Ed Reese

Ed Reese — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:24:36 +0000

We don’t need any of all that crap about legal framework or CERTAINLY UN involvement(the UN would only sell the priviledge to the pirates as it did with Sadam Hussein and oil for food). Piracy is illegal in every civilized nation on earth. Just use capture of the pirates as a training exercise for every navy of civilized countries. What is all this crap about a legal framework. Where in history has piracy been protected?

By: HERD

HERD — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:23:34 +0000

The “Blackbeard Nightmare” can easily be handled by “Blackwater” & other scty firms.

These shipowners should “spend the money — solve the problem”.

By: Jack

Jack — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:47:59 +0000

Why not do it like for 150 years ago, hang the pirate in the ro-mast, in our days we just put a granate on the pirate ship as soon it show up. The Pirate are not some kind of Robin Hood who share the money with anyone, maybe we have the money back in form of a bullet from a terrorist’s AK-47. The whole world of terror muslims have a great time, when we discuss a way to solve the problem with piracy.

By: clyde

clyde — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:01:50 +0000

Just put a couple of M-2’s on each US Merchantman, and our troubles are over.

A small arms locker would do it.

But, that’s not legal-right?

Sp, make it legal!!!!

Sort of, like, Concealed Carry, on the high seas??

Gun Control works for pirates, not for merchantmen, or anyone else who works for living!!!!!

Eat sh*t, Billary Pelosi UN dervus blobus politicanus

By: Davy Jones

Davy Jones — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:54:12 +0000

Argh Matey, There be many dead pirates down here in me locker. They knew the deal when they took up arms in acts of piracy. DEATH to all Pirates. It is part of International Maritime law as previously stated.

You can equip ships with a big ol red button, that when pushed by a crew member would launch a rocket propelled beacon high in the sky summoning all available help for a Pirate attack. Much faster that Radio. It would give posistion, name of ship and list of crew aboard. That is half the battle,to know where and who is attacked.

Shipping Convoys worked pretty well against U-Boat attacks during WWII. They had destroyer escorts. Saved a lot of ships. A few ships equiped with Harriers & Helicopters would be real nice in that convoy as well.

By: Yussuf

Yussuf — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:12:39 +0000

Thanks CAPT CG ret, infact that is it, with somalia gervment being the way it is? Then piracy will be at high becouse they are takeing cover or it’s the garverment it’s self, so dealing with somalia will also reduce or end piracy

By: gallglas

gallglas — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Arm the merchant ships traversing the area, shoot back when attacked, captured pirates are tried by drumhead court marshal and shot on the fantail.
Bodies jettisoned.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:05:29 +0000

To those demanding more “action” against piracy: most of the piracy off the coast of Africa and the Malacca Straits is a criminal and not a national security concern. I’m of the opinion that the best solution to a problem is usually the simplest and most cost effective one. In the case of piracy, the best thing to do is harden the targets, i.e. improve security for commercial shipping. Because most of these pirates are lightly armed, a small force of well-armed, well-trained private security guards onboard should be able to deal with most pirate incursions. Perhaps this could be augmented by speedboat-sized escorts. There are a number of private security companies staffed by ex-SEALS and other ex-military personnel that could easily adapt themselves to the job. The Navy needs to be focused on larger scale threats and if anything, should be a last resort used only in hostage situations. Wouldn’t it look silly if armored cars driving around to service ATM’s were to be escorted by M1 tanks? So why advocate the equivalent on the seas?

By: Yussuf

Yussuf — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:58:32 +0000

Hodi, gentle men and women we need fully planed war againest this pirates, and please don’t take this isue small, this people are trained gorilla who have all types electronic eqeupment that means, so can we help the world. Am yussuf from KENYA

By: CAPT CG Ret

CAPT CG Ret — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:50:49 +0000

Piracy cannot be eliminated at sea unless there is a solution ashore. The UN should be taking serious action on the irresponsibility of the Somalian government to eliminate the criminal activity originating from their shores. The fact that the Somalia is a failed state is just an excuse for continued criminality. Much of that is due to the shameful way that the UN botched up their nation-building efforts during the Black-hawk down era.

By: Yussuf

Yussuf — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:07:44 +0000

Thanks to you all, to me with trust, honesty, and correct intellegence from the land to water that men deployed can end pirates, and that is the change we need. Am Yussuf from KENYA

By: saints60

saints60 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:07:17 +0000

And which retired Coast Guard real admiral do you propose to run this new counter piracy center?

By: D. Danial Crear

D. Danial Crear — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:43:44 +0000

I’ve said that all along. If you’re busy defending your front door, you don’t have time to be off somewhere “hijacking” a boat. With all the electronic gadgetry at our disposal, it would’t take much to isolate their routes, or island if that be the case. A couple of well-placed unmanned armed preditors flying around their area, would put an end to a lot of the piracy issues. Satellite monitoring would save a lot of man hours too.

By: Thomas Carney

Thomas Carney — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:30:50 +0000

This is pure baloney. Another “agency” to have nice offices, lots of meetings, paper-pushers and virtually no one in the field to handle things. You’ll have people who have never been in the field making policies and decisions that make no sense and literally hamper, no, cripple the operations in the field.

Stephen Decatur and then-President Thomas Jefferson had the right idea during the days of the Barbary Pirates: bomb the snot out of the ports and the coast. Destroy all ability of shipping. Pirates are then out of business. If the pirates come back, the locals will not welcome them.

“Moses” Barack HUSSEIN Obama, Kisser of the Hand of the Saudi Wahabbi King, is an empty suit. Get real, dude. If the CO of the USS Bainbridge hadn’t taken decisive action in Article 19 of Appendix L in the “Convention of the High Seas” that the Commanding Officer of a US Ship on the high seas is obligated to respond to distress signals from any flagged ship (US or otherwise), and protect the life and property thereof when deemed to be in IMMINENT DANGER, we’d have a dead Captain Phillips.

By: Joseph P. Passaretti & Family

Joseph P. Passaretti & Family — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:04:28 +0000

This new agency is not needed. This should be a short term problem as was taken care of in the 1800’s. Action is what is needed. These ;pirates’ have ‘NO’ world rights and should be delt with accordingly !!

By: Rhyno327

Rhyno327 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:57:24 +0000

Yeah Chief! Take it to THEM. Nice plan.

By: Rhyno327

Rhyno327 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:55:36 +0000

We can’t even get all the NATO members to honor thier NATO commitments, so why would anyone think another UN, or other organization will work? You want to deter them? Hit them where they live. Light up thier beaches with napalm. That might have an affect. Seriously, I can’t see alot of countries willing to commit, so its a nice idea, but it won’t happen.

By: Moses

Moses — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:02:48 +0000

Thank you Chief Houston & Hess for enlighting us.

It seems we have some folks here who can’t comprehend or can’t say anything nice of our current administration.

It’s unfortunate.

Moses

By: Bob the Coastie Ret.

Bob the Coastie Ret. — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:39:11 +0000

I have to admire Lt Allen’s zeal. The fact is there are less than 200 U.S. Flagged ships in the world that may be affected and most of those are MSC Operated, or UN Humanitarian aid and a great majority do not sail to pirate infested waters. Most U.S. Licensed Merchant Mariners work on foriegn flagged ships not flying our flag (because we have forgotten how to build commercial shipping here in the U.S.).

By: Park

Park — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:21:24 +0000

Chief Houston sounds admirable in the explanation of the situation.
I am curious about the cheif’s statement that nobody is talking about a UN based policy. Is it not true that there is still a law concerning territorial waters?
Personally I think that a cruise ship venue should be designed for a cruise to troubled areas that might be subjected to piracy. All passengers would be trained during the trip to handle firearms that would be deck mounted.

This equipment would be stored in such a way as to not prevent normal day to day operations of the cruise ship. When the trouble arrives those that have taken the training offered on the cruise are allowed to use the equipment.

I think that would be a fun way for our patriots to get involved in our national security as well as internationally.