ARRRR! (Pirates? Srsly?)

[Archibald Nixon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyHyij2fZnY

Also,

Thai fishing boat hijacked:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111800583.html

Indian navy sinks a "mothership":
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB7YMEDuCwwY9ncDOtPAkEI4-H2wD94I0I380

How is this a problem? I know it takes a lot of money & hours to patrol a sea lane area the size of eight Californias, but god knows if we didn't have all our forces tied up in other [ahem]misguided conflicts elsewhere[/ahem] we could put an end to this nonsense very quickly. This ain't the fuckin' Caribbean in the 17th-19th century, with a maximum line-of-sight radius of 20-odd miles. We have satellites for fucksakes.

There are lots of logistical issues, not to mention some prickly notions that look more and more endearing every day (an acquaintance said, "Why not just arm the crews of the tankers?" to which I replied, "Why not give matches & bottle rockets to the orangutan standing near the row of open gasoline cans?") To say nothing of the political/moral ones --is this what we get for letting Somalia descend into chaos?-- But in the meantime a bunch of third world savages are severly pwning nations modern & civilized enough to engage in sea trade, and at a rate --and with an impunity-- I didn't think was even possible.

"[It's] like getting bitten by a rat out of the dustbin of history"

 

[Archibald Nixon]

 

[Archibald Nixon]

Any attempt to compare the pirates to terrorists fails once you realize that most terrorists at least have an ethos. These guys are in it for the loot.

Irony Department: Catching up on the situation in Somalia, I read that the Muslims that control the south are likely capable --maybe even poised-- to take over the rest of the country, and they've stated uncategorically that piracy would cease under their rule. Think we're gonna get behind that anytime soon?

 

[Marquis De Sade]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-m69yH4Md8

 

[missmanners]

Any attempt to compare the pirates to terrorists fails once you realize that most terrorists at least have an ethos. These guys are in it for the loot.

Irony Department: Catching up on the situation in Somalia, I read that the Muslims that control the south are likely capable --maybe even poised-- to take over the rest of the country, and they've stated uncategorically that piracy would cease under their rule. Think we're gonna get behind that anytime soon?

I'd frankly rather deal with someone who was in it for the loot. The USA is already hated for trying to be the world's policemen (or whatever) at what point do we just back out and let "them" take care of their own problems?

Buy more guns!


mm

 

[Archibald Nixon]

I'd frankly rather deal with someone who was in it for the loot. The USA is already hated for trying to be the world's policemen (or whatever)

I'd have to agree. A thief loses his motivation once you take away the possibilty of a big score. A zealot, not so much.

at what point do we just back out and let "them" take care of their own problems?

That's pretty much what we did. Unfortunately their crackhouse borders a major thoroughfare, so now they're running around the street & carjacking people.

Buy more guns!

A couple phalanx mounts amidships on either side would solve the problem. Wouldn't be cheap, but likely a lot cheaper than a ransom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS

 

[Conchaga]

One carrier and a sub can patrol an area that size.

 

[FBI parte due]

Apparently, some companies have been using the Somali coast as a dumping ground for various types of toxic waste ever since their government collapsed, and some of the pirates are claiming the attacks are in retaliation for that. How likely it is that the funds will actually go towards funding a cleanup isn't clear, but the comparison with terrorists isn't that far-fetched.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/10/2008109174223218644.html

 

[Conchaga]

It's not like it really matters if the coasts are drenched in oil and their kids play in it. You won't notice the difference before or after.

 

[FBI parte due]

It matters when the toxic waste makes them grow extra arms SO THEY CAN STEAL BIKES BETTER OMG BOCN

 

[Conchaga]

And what about the flies that feed on the kids? There's an ecosystem to think about, people.

 

[Archibald Nixon]

One carrier and a sub can patrol an area that size.

Probably --but it comes down to cost.

(something we're going to be hearing a lot of in the coming years.)

 

[Conchaga]

All it takes is a few jet fighters to respond to SOS's from ships being attacked. The pirates can't fight sophisticated, laser guided bombs.

Also, there can't be a huge fleet of pirates. They mostly operate off of small boats and jet skis like what you see on waterworld. All you'd need to do is eliminate half of them and they'd go back to being warlords on land in Somalia.