More Hijackings Already

AS LONG AS COUNTRYS AND COMPANIES PAY RANSOMS THE HYJACKINGS WILL NOT END THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM IS DEADLY FORCE THATS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM

My only question is why did it take 5 days to end the recent stand-off?? We continue to look indecisive in these situations, when in fact we should use deadly force at the earliest opportunity to send a crystal clear message

I do not know how many ship sail out of this area every day but why not put 2 or 3 trianed military or security members on each ship? They would have high ground and at least what i read and hear the pirates use heavy guns but it doesnt sound like it is 10 or 20 attacking the ships – if im wrong sorry

Has anyone thought of actually retro fitting these cargo ships with light to heavy artillary and adding some (whichever country whom owns the vessels) trained military personal to blast these pricks as soon as they are identified as pirates. I know I would think twice about attacking any vehicle…let alone a big boat in the water…..if I knew they we going to sink me in a NY minute. I say screw em and blast them out of the water and straight into hell. Bring it on baby!!!!!!!! Thx…Unclestu.

The United States Navy must protect U.S. Flagged ships only…We can not protect..all..Each company that owns these ships should be protecting their own intrests..

Why don't the ship owners hire some private contractors to take the cruise with their ships. Some hot firepower along with night vision equipment, should be able to take out those pirates on their little speedboats before they get close to the ship. It's a lot cheaper than millions in ransom, and give those guys something to think about on the way to meet their maker.

I do not understand why a few teenagers with guns can get away with this! Why don't we get together with the other nations involved and raid their port, kill or capture these kids and free the hostages and take the ships back. I mean where do you hide 17 large ships.

Perhaps to go in convoys with several ships with military power acting as security along the way is the answer. Perhaps employ some GOOD Somalians. This way they will have their own to police. Pay them good money. But to find such would be a challenge. Who exactly rules Somalia?

The idea of sending unarmed, untrained merchant sailors into these hostile, lawless regions is absurd. We would never entertain the idea of an army without guns. We would never rely on police who had no means of protecting the public. Some people claim there are good reasons to NOT to arm these vessels. I can't print what I think of that viewpoint here.

I don't understand why it seems so difficult to stop piracy when the answer is really simple.
Remember our history books regarding the “TROJAN HORSE”. Get five to ten ships, fill them with
armed and trained militia soldiers and sail the waters where the pirates work the waters and capture
those that try to hijack the ships, and shoot those that shoot back. Make a few arrests and shoot a few
pirates see if this won't deter them or make them think twice about whick ships to hijack.

Why not put sercurity aboard ? So when there is an attemted hijacking they are there to stop it. It would not take much to throw a granade or a sniper shot to end it before it begins.

Would it not be cheaper to send armed sercurity on these ships then to pay ten of millions for ransom? I would sign up in a heart beat. There is only one reason why a small boat would approach a big ship. They khow its easy pickings thats why. Well i say show them what will happen when you come to close for no reason.

I completely agree.

Certainly unless something is done they will keep doing it. Why not, its easy, they pay up, and no one is doing anything about it. Is this the only time they were stopped? Well some will think twice next time. SOME.

With one good shot from a granade launcher it would`nt matter how many.

YES,YES,YES.

It`s not rocket science.

It is incredible to me that with all the the paid eggheads in Washington and all our military experts that we cannot secure ships off the coast of Somalia. All our expert knuckleheads can say is that there is too much ocean to cover. Well here is a brain storm for you experts. Have armed men on all ships sailing the area. A half dozen correctly armed men could spoil all pirate efforts. I will even give you the weapondry and rules of engagement. Weapons besides the standard assualt type rifles and sidearms would include ideally two portably mounted General electric gattling guns or if you want to go cheap and not as safe fifty caliber machineguns( I prefer the G E's) as the standard. A couple of M203 grenade launchers would be the icing on the cake. Rules of engagement are simple .Let any approaching vessel that approaching within so many meters will illicit overwhelming force with no prisoners taken thereby ending the dilemma of how to bring these criminals to justice. The only other observation is that we chose to abandon Somalia in 1991 despite the blood of our brothers so who cares what happens internally just contain their violence on land and clear the shipping lanes.

I guess they would rather pay up.Hell I would protect the ship for a lot less then what there paying those fools for all that drama.

I noticed that there was a slight mention of the Somali pirates are acting out because of their waters being decimated of fish by first world countries, that their waters are a dumping ground for toxic waste. If this is actually true and I don't doubt it, I myself would become a pirate to stop this exploitation. Who the heck do we think we are? I read these blogs from gung ho let's kill the bastards and I wonder, do they actually know what these people are doing and why. Has the been any “bootie”? I think they just want those ships to go away. So why don't you go away?

So screw them, the govt says they cant go ashore ecause they dont know who is apirate and who isnt. So how about bomb strafe and destroy every boat in every village that support pirating. Cant fish? Too bad! There are only 3-5 villages where all these gus are based. No boats n way to hijack.

I think if you want to stop whats going on you should just wait along the coast for them to come out or in and do away with those who are not out there really fishing.Any boat with more than 4 crew carrying guns give em what they need and thats an everlasting life in hell.End the confussion and be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

You idiot. They aren't becoming pirates to “stop the exploitation”. Their own countrymen are screwing them, it isn't the “first world countries.” AND the ship that was captured with the U.S. captain was taking FOOD AND AID to those third world countries. Why don't you educate yourself before you post. you moon bat.

Its really simple! I cant tell you how many subs we have in this region. With highly developed intel this would be a no brainer to destroy these retarded pirates! However, the price for one torpedo is very expensive. If these individuals are making $150 Million per year I would suggest taking out the hubs…Ooops! I may have just given out what Nato is going to do….So goodluck JACK SPARROW…..I leave the pirates with pointer……Stop, Drop and Roll…..but it wont help…….

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he had ordered a review of the U.S. military's strategy on piracy after the Maersk Alabama incident.

He told ABC television's “Good Morning America” show on Tuesday he had asked senior officers to look “broadly and widely and deeply at the overall strategy.”
[quote]
“One of the big challenges, quite frankly, is when we capture pirates, what do you do with them? What criminal court do you take them to? … It's a very big challenge.”[unquote].
And this star-studded morron is one of ours !!
Take a lesson from history…….dunce! Blow there worthless carcases to hell and gone.
Problem solved…….it's called defence.

If hornets attack you destroy the nest. These boats don't come from inland; and they don't fly. Let every ship owner make the best deal they can for the present ships and hostages; then embargo the ports with a few ships and aircraft; if that doesn't work erase the ports.

why can't the international community with shipping interests in the area create a naval embargo around all somali ports where the 'mother ships' sail from and once in international waters stop them, board them and if arms are found arrest and prosecute them. if they resist, fight back. it amazes me how afraid we have become to use our naval power for preventative measures. it makes us look weak and unresolute. Look at the Taliban in Afganastan and Pakistan for a recent lesson in waiting too long. Before this is over these guys are going to execute every sailor on one of these ships just to make a point.

I sympathize with most of these comments but ultimately they are knee-jerk reactions. Sure, it would be nice to blow these criminals out of the water, but then if you escalate the problem – using shock and awe – then the problem suddenly becomes a lot bigger. It does not go away! That's why the Americans are so reluctant to get involved unless it is a case of one of their own. Already they, the Americans, by shooting the pirates the other day, have escalated the problem in terms or increased attacks, more threats and the eyes of the whole world on the issue. And they know got their butts seriously kicked in Mogadishu / “Black Hawk Down” last time, with dead soldiers dragged around in the sand, (just like Achilles dragged Hector, for the Trojan Horse theorist above) so they are very reluctant to get too heavily involved again. Sure they could overwhelm the pirates as far as weaponry and nous is concerned, but if they escalate the problem into another Iraq or Afghanistan, which would be the natural course of events in the present state of the world, then the stakes are suddenly a lot higher. There is nothing the Osama Bin Laden's and fundamentalist Islamic zealots of this world would like more than to drag the Americans and Nato forces into yet another conflict on foreign shores where the postmodern terms of engagement are so difficult to handle. This becomes like a kind of reverse domino theory – the idea that was used to defend the American involvement in the Vietnam War – whereby more and more of these failed Islamic states descend into chaos and madness one after another like dominos with Pakistan obviously already on the brink and others just waiting to topple if the momentum picks up. And then it's on for young and old as they say! So this is not a case of knee-jerk solutions by jerk-off sand boys. And any serious reaction will define the brave new American presidency too. So it's going to need a lot of thought by a lot of clever dicks.

Human life is precious to civilized countries like the U.S. and others……..no so with the pirates.
No person wants to receive that call that 12 hostages were killed while friendly forces were trying to
rescue them. That's the bottom line in this entire series of events. The hostages killed may have been your brother, sister or other kin. End of story.

What's with the pirates now? HIjacking planes, terrorist attacks, when does it ever end?

I have an Idea that could stop the pirates. Its called a Q-ship. A Q-ship is a merchant vessel, that is armed, and staffed by the military which acts as a decoy. The vessels were used to combat u-boats and raiders during the second world war. It worked then..it would work now.

Speaking of night vision equipment and tracking of pirate ships, does anyone recall when the U.S. Navy boarded and then after, fired on the Iranian oil platform years ago? At that time if memory serves, I recall reports of the Navy tracking Iranian gun boat movements leaving the Iranian coast at night heading for the platform through superior U.S. gps. There is extremely heavy traffick around the Horn of Somalia, several nations naval componants as well as very heavy tanker traffic, all the way down to civi traffic. I really believe that with our military at full scanning posture, surely we can track pirate craft from this sea lane back to the Somalia coast. I know they couldn't all be pirate craft but I firmly believe they are able to monitor movements at all times. We could also deploy small video buoys off the coast to monitor traffic, or send spy drones flying all over the place for tactical info from their camps where hostages are held.

Traveling in places such as Africa can be a pain because of the boys and young men who frequently want to act as your tour guide. You end up having to hire one of them to shoo off the others. Perhaps ship captains could hire say 10 pirates for a couple of days and pay them $500 – $1000 each, so a total of $10 – 20k for the passage through the Gulf of Aden. The pirates will then be earning an honest living defending the ships, build up a resume of honest work and useful references in the shipping industry. Other pirates will leave those protected ships alone and maybe even join in making an honest living.

Perhaps to go in convoys with several ships with military power acting as security along the way is the answer. Perhaps employ some GOOD Somalians. This way they will have their own to police. Pay them good money. But to find such would be a challenge. Who exactly rules Somalia?

The idea of sending unarmed, untrained merchant sailors into these hostile, lawless regions is absurd. We would never entertain the idea of an army without guns. We would never rely on police who had no means of protecting the public. Some people claim there are good reasons to NOT to arm these vessels. I can't print what I think of that viewpoint here.

I don't understand why it seems so difficult to stop piracy when the answer is really simple.
Remember our history books regarding the “TROJAN HORSE”. Get five to ten ships, fill them with
armed and trained militia soldiers and sail the waters where the pirates work the waters and capture
those that try to hijack the ships, and shoot those that shoot back. Make a few arrests and shoot a few
pirates see if this won't deter them or make them think twice about whick ships to hijack.

Why not put sercurity aboard ? So when there is an attemted hijacking they are there to stop it. It would not take much to throw a granade or a sniper shot to end it before it begins.

Would it not be cheaper to send armed sercurity on these ships then to pay ten of millions for ransom? I would sign up in a heart beat. There is only one reason why a small boat would approach a big ship. They khow its easy pickings thats why. Well i say show them what will happen when you come to close for no reason.

I completely agree.

Certainly unless something is done they will keep doing it. Why not, its easy, they pay up, and no one is doing anything about it. Is this the only time they were stopped? Well some will think twice next time. SOME.

With one good shot from a granade launcher it would`nt matter how many.

YES,YES,YES.

It`s not rocket science.

It is incredible to me that with all the the paid eggheads in Washington and all our military experts that we cannot secure ships off the coast of Somalia. All our expert knuckleheads can say is that there is too much ocean to cover. Well here is a brain storm for you experts. Have armed men on all ships sailing the area. A half dozen correctly armed men could spoil all pirate efforts. I will even give you the weapondry and rules of engagement. Weapons besides the standard assualt type rifles and sidearms would include ideally two portably mounted General electric gattling guns or if you want to go cheap and not as safe fifty caliber machineguns( I prefer the G E's) as the standard. A couple of M203 grenade launchers would be the icing on the cake. Rules of engagement are simple .Let any approaching vessel that approaching within so many meters will illicit overwhelming force with no prisoners taken thereby ending the dilemma of how to bring these criminals to justice. The only other observation is that we chose to abandon Somalia in 1991 despite the blood of our brothers so who cares what happens internally just contain their violence on land and clear the shipping lanes.

I guess they would rather pay up.Hell I would protect the ship for a lot less then what there paying those fools for all that drama.

I noticed that there was a slight mention of the Somali pirates are acting out because of their waters being decimated of fish by first world countries, that their waters are a dumping ground for toxic waste. If this is actually true and I don't doubt it, I myself would become a pirate to stop this exploitation. Who the heck do we think we are? I read these blogs from gung ho let's kill the bastards and I wonder, do they actually know what these people are doing and why. Has the been any “bootie”? I think they just want those ships to go away. So why don't you go away?

So screw them, the govt says they cant go ashore ecause they dont know who is apirate and who isnt. So how about bomb strafe and destroy every boat in every village that support pirating. Cant fish? Too bad! There are only 3-5 villages where all these gus are based. No boats n way to hijack.

You idiot. They aren't becoming pirates to “stop the exploitation”. Their own countrymen are screwing them, it isn't the “first world countries.” AND the ship that was captured with the U.S. captain was taking FOOD AND AID to those third world countries. Why don't you educate yourself before you post. you moon bat.

Its really simple! I cant tell you how many subs we have in this region. With highly developed intel this would be a no brainer to destroy these retarded pirates! However, the price for one torpedo is very expensive. If these individuals are making $150 Million per year I would suggest taking out the hubs…Ooops! I may have just given out what Nato is going to do….So goodluck JACK SPARROW…..I leave the pirates with pointer……Stop, Drop and Roll…..but it wont help…….

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he had ordered a review of the U.S. military's strategy on piracy after the Maersk Alabama incident.

He told ABC television's “Good Morning America” show on Tuesday he had asked senior officers to look “broadly and widely and deeply at the overall strategy.”
[quote]
“One of the big challenges, quite frankly, is when we capture pirates, what do you do with them? What criminal court do you take them to? … It's a very big challenge.”[unquote].
And this star-studded morron is one of ours !!
Take a lesson from history…….dunce! Blow there worthless carcases to hell and gone.
Problem solved…….it's called defence.

If hornets attack you destroy the nest. These boats don't come from inland; and they don't fly. Let every ship owner make the best deal they can for the present ships and hostages; then embargo the ports with a few ships and aircraft; if that doesn't work erase the ports.

why can't the international community with shipping interests in the area create a naval embargo around all somali ports where the 'mother ships' sail from and once in international waters stop them, board them and if arms are found arrest and prosecute them. if they resist, fight back. it amazes me how afraid we have become to use our naval power for preventative measures. it makes us look weak and unresolute. Look at the Taliban in Afganastan and Pakistan for a recent lesson in waiting too long. Before this is over these guys are going to execute every sailor on one of these ships just to make a point.

I sympathize with most of these comments but ultimately they are knee-jerk reactions. Sure, it would be nice to blow these criminals out of the water, but then if you escalate the problem – using shock and awe – then the problem suddenly becomes a lot bigger. It does not go away! That's why the Americans are so reluctant to get involved unless it is a case of one of their own. Already they, the Americans, by shooting the pirates the other day, have escalated the problem in terms or increased attacks, more threats and the eyes of the whole world on the issue. And they know got their butts seriously kicked in Mogadishu / “Black Hawk Down” last time, with dead soldiers dragged around in the sand, (just like Achilles dragged Hector, for the Trojan Horse theorist above) so they are very reluctant to get too heavily involved again. Sure they could overwhelm the pirates as far as weaponry and nous is concerned, but if they escalate the problem into another Iraq or Afghanistan, which would be the natural course of events in the present state of the world, then the stakes are suddenly a lot higher. There is nothing the Osama Bin Laden's and fundamentalist Islamic zealots of this world would like more than to drag the Americans and Nato forces into yet another conflict on foreign shores where the postmodern terms of engagement are so difficult to handle. This becomes like a kind of reverse domino theory – the idea that was used to defend the American involvement in the Vietnam War – whereby more and more of these failed Islamic states descend into chaos and madness one after another like dominos with Pakistan obviously already on the brink and others just waiting to topple if the momentum picks up. And then it's on for young and old as they say! So this is not a case of knee-jerk solutions by jerk-off sand boys. And any serious reaction will define the brave new American presidency too. So it's going to need a lot of thought by a lot of clever dicks.

Human life is precious to civilized countries like the U.S. and others……..no so with the pirates.
No person wants to receive that call that 12 hostages were killed while friendly forces were trying to
rescue them. That's the bottom line in this entire series of events. The hostages killed may have been your brother, sister or other kin. End of story.

What's with the pirates now? HIjacking planes, terrorist attacks, when does it ever end?

I have an Idea that could stop the pirates. Its called a Q-ship. A Q-ship is a merchant vessel, that is armed, and staffed by the military which acts as a decoy. The vessels were used to combat u-boats and raiders during the second world war. It worked then..it would work now.

Speaking of night vision equipment and tracking of pirate ships, does anyone recall when the U.S. Navy boarded and then after, fired on the Iranian oil platform years ago? At that time if memory serves, I recall reports of the Navy tracking Iranian gun boat movements leaving the Iranian coast at night heading for the platform through superior U.S. gps. There is extremely heavy traffick around the Horn of Somalia, several nations naval componants as well as very heavy tanker traffic, all the way down to civi traffic. I really believe that with our military at full scanning posture, surely we can track pirate craft from this sea lane back to the Somalia coast. I know they couldn't all be pirate craft but I firmly believe they are able to monitor movements at all times. We could also deploy small video buoys off the coast to monitor traffic, or send spy drones flying all over the place for tactical info from their camps where hostages are held.

Traveling in places such as Africa can be a pain because of the boys and young men who frequently want to act as your tour guide. You end up having to hire one of them to shoo off the others. Perhaps ship captains could hire say 10 pirates for a couple of days and pay them $500 – $1000 each, so a total of $10 – 20k for the passage through the Gulf of Aden. The pirates will then be earning an honest living defending the ships, build up a resume of honest work and useful references in the shipping industry. Other pirates will leave those protected ships alone and maybe even join in making an honest living.