Comments on: Dealing with Pirates http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/11/26/dealing-with-pirates/ News & Commentary on Warfare, Policy and Counterterrorism Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:54:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jonesgp1996 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/11/26/dealing-with-pirates/comment-page-1/#comment-26877 jonesgp1996 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:37:43 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/?p=1603#comment-26877 I continue to be baffled as to why the "West" (whoever that includes these days) cannot figure out an appropriate (i.e. swift & destructive) response to piracy. Clearly part of the problem is the security free-riders; that is, the international community expects the US, UK, and a handful of others to handle the problem while they freely reap the benefit of freedom-of-navigation. While few countries any more lack global power-projection navies, those that engage in or benefit most from the maritime traffic that passes through this dangerous region ought to put what naval assets they've got into securing the sea lines of communication. I also agree that the lawyers (to employ the term broadly) are part of the problem here. Who cares what the pirates' grievances are? I certainly don't. The bottom line is that they are a menace to navigation and should be treated as "enemies of all mankind." Unfortunately, political hand-wringing in many Western countries on how to deal with this problem in a humane and civilized manner only serves to embolden these renegades. To that end, I agree with the Captain (and the other authors that he cites) that summary justice should be inflicted on the pirates when a naval patrol encounters and/or captures them. However, I have to think that such an approach is only treating the symptoms and not the cause. While making examples of a few of these guys may discourage some of them, there has got to be a higher entity directing, financing, etc., these guys, and some effort should be made to figure out who that is and to ultimately put the pinch on them, as well. I continue to be baffled as to why the “West” (whoever that includes these days) cannot figure out an appropriate (i.e. swift & destructive) response to piracy. Clearly part of the problem is the security free-riders; that is, the international community expects the US, UK, and a handful of others to handle the problem while they freely reap the benefit of freedom-of-navigation. While few countries any more lack global power-projection navies, those that engage in or benefit most from the maritime traffic that passes through this dangerous region ought to put what naval assets they’ve got into securing the sea lines of communication.

I also agree that the lawyers (to employ the term broadly) are part of the problem here. Who cares what the pirates’ grievances are? I certainly don’t. The bottom line is that they are a menace to navigation and should be treated as “enemies of all mankind.” Unfortunately, political hand-wringing in many Western countries on how to deal with this problem in a humane and civilized manner only serves to embolden these renegades.

To that end, I agree with the Captain (and the other authors that he cites) that summary justice should be inflicted on the pirates when a naval patrol encounters and/or captures them. However, I have to think that such an approach is only treating the symptoms and not the cause. While making examples of a few of these guys may discourage some of them, there has got to be a higher entity directing, financing, etc., these guys, and some effort should be made to figure out who that is and to ultimately put the pinch on them, as well.

]]> By: The Thunder Run http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/11/26/dealing-with-pirates/comment-page-1/#comment-26869 The Thunder Run Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:46:13 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/?p=1603#comment-26869 <strong>Web Reconnaissance for 11/26/2008...</strong> A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.... Web Reconnaissance for 11/26/2008…

A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often….

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