The Maersk Alabama, which is a large US Flagged cargo ship, was attacked again on Wednesday. Unfortunately for the pirates, the American company decided to arm its ship and the ship’s security crew returned fire. As with most criminal cowards, the pirates made a hasty retreat when they discovered that the intended victims were going to shoot back!
“Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still “solidly against” armed guards aboard vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different line than the rest of the international community.”
What a surprise that the socialists in the international maritime community are against armed guards. The French have announced what they believe to be a better plan, which is simply removing their flag and flying the white “surrender” flag at all times! LOL!
Maybe if the pirates get shot a few times, they will learn to leave American flag ships alone.
They seize a French ship, they get $10 million. They seize a Saudi ship, they get $30 million. They try to seize an American ship and the Navy Seals blow them out of the water, and all they get is the joy of buying themselves a new boat.
They try for another American ship and they get shot.
Couple more attempts and they will learn to stick to French flag ships.
When it started, I was advocating American Navy ships escorting convoys, but apparently, there are almost zero American flag shipping vessels, and I can’t see any reason to escort foreign flag ships.
But about 6 well trained and armed mercenaries on any ship should be able to repell half a dozen teenage pirates in a leaky dingy. Even for the non-violent, a strong water canon should prevent them from climbing up the side-- although my preference would be to shoot a hole in the bottom of their boat while they are still 1/4 mile off. Problem solved.
The French have a long history of dealing with terrorists by paying them off.
Even for the non-violent, a strong water canon should prevent them from climbing up the side-- although my preference would be to shoot a hole in the bottom of their boat while they are still 1/4 mile off. Problem solved.
My preference would be to kill the pirates and sink their boats.
propertymnager,
Finally we agree on something! Piracy is outrageous and should not be tolerated.
There is a fascinating history on the War Against the Barbary Pirates in Wikipedia. This became part of Marine lore–“From the Shores of Tripoli”.
Anyone sailing into pirate-infested waters should be armed to the teeth. Piracy is just home invasion at sea.
Satellite monitoring of vessels should make it possible to detect and fight back against pirates. It’s crazy that piracy is still taking place today. We have the monitoring technology, do the pirates have it as well?
“Finally we agree on something! Piracy is outrageous and should not be tolerated.”
I’m surprised you didn’t say we should employ RAD technology or water cannons before resorting to killing the pirates and sinking their boats!.. Wouldn’t that just be more gun deaths?.. :biggrin
Seriously though, if you THINK about it, this is EXACTLY what the whole gun thing boils down to… the assailant being deterred in the knowledge that their intended VICTIM is “armed to the teeth”, as you put it… looks like we are making progress after all… :beer
“Satellite monitoring of vessels should make it possible to detect and fight back against pirates. It’s crazy that piracy is still taking place today.”
It takes place because until recently, the high seas were basically the international version of a “gun free” zone… the pirates KNEW in advance, they would face a victim who did NOT have a gun to defend themselves with… and the result was, they would pay up… so they are motivated to do the same thing because it is profitable… but now, the victims have BEGUN arming themselves with RAD technology, water cannons, and yes, GUNS… when it gets to the point where it is no longer profitable for the pirates to continue because it is either too hard to board a ship or they are getting killed in the process, the activity will wane…