4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue

• Navy
• weapons
• pirates
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• security

UPDATE 11/19/08: Somali pirates, once a disorganized group of bandits, have fast become a major international threat. On Monday a group of pirates boarded and captured one of their biggest prizes to date—a Saudi oil tanker carrying two million barrels of oil. The ship's owners are currently negotiating with the buccaneers, who have the ship anchored on the coast of Somalia. On Tuesday, pirates seized a Thai fishing ship, the eighth capture in two weeks. The waters around the Horn of Africa seem to grow more treacherous by the day, and the strong incentive for piracy remains—Somalia is a poor country with a weak national security force and a 2,000-mile coastline. Any ship going from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea or the Suez Canal must pass by here, but one of Norway's major shipping companies said it will now route ships all the way around Africa, adding many days to the journey, rather than risk running cargo near Somalia.

Today, India announced a rare victory over the pirates, claiming to have destroyed a larger pirate vessel and sent two smaller ones running. Despite this success, however, navies have struggled to combat the rising threat of piracy—pirates use smaller, harder-to-find ships, and any naval help would have to arrive on the scene of a hijacking within minutes to prevent it. NATO and the U.S. Navy have started to encourage any ships in the area of Somalia to arm themselves or hire private security, because the Navy can't patrol the entire ocean at once. However, the U.S. Navy and other navies around the world are enlisting new tactics and new technologies in the fight against the pirates.

We first published this story in September, shortly after pirates boarded and captured a Ukrainian cargo ship called the Faina, loaded with tanks, arms and ammunition. But with pirate attacks increasing, these four fronts in the navy-pirate battle are more important than ever. —Andrew Moseman

Deep in what this weekend became the most notorious pirate hideout since Neverland, Somali buccaneers are currently hunkered down in the Indian Ocean with the biggest pillage of their biggest year: the Ukrainian cargo vessel Faina, loaded with 33 T-72 tanks, plus small arms, rockets and ammunition—all headed for Sudan, a U.S. Navy spokesperson confirmed this morning. As its USS Howard destroyer reached the area and more foreign ships descended on the hijacked boat, however, the U.S. Navy’s response to Thursday night’s capture may signal a new stage in this cat-and-mouse game of modern-day piracy.

From ramshackle beginnings four years ago, Somali piracy has evolved into a lucrative industry, reportedly bringing in 10 times as much cash as the country’s once-thriving fishing industry. But after a year in which pirates operated with near impunity and seized nearly 60 ships for around $1 million ransom each, the international community is finally taking action by assembling a sophisticated naval force to fight back.

The fate of the Faina remains to be seen, with its captain already dead, a $20 million ransom in negotiations and would-be rescue ships awaiting orders and continuing to monitor the situation. But two high-tech and highly successful engagements so far this year—in addition to several others featuring robotic arsenals—might provide an attack plan that could finally begin to shut down the reinforced band of pirates.

One week after the April attack on French luxury yacht Le Ponant by pirates wielding AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades, a French Navy helicopter carrier, with a U.S. military drone reportedly in support, launched a daring raid to rescue the yacht’s crew of 30 and nab six pirate suspects in the process. On September 16, the French Navy launched a second raid to free a 60-year-old French couple and their yacht, with commando swimmers dropping in off a helicopter and quietly climbing aboard to arrest and kill several hijackers.

Will stealth maneuvers and current technology be enough for the international rescue squad—a collection of U.S., French, German, British, Canadian, Danish, Pakistani and other nations’ navies known as Task Force 150 (TF-150)—to fend off the next major attack? Or, with robotic ships still not set for antipirate duty, does a long held-up contract for a new fleet of war vessels hold the key to ending Somali piracy? We take a look back at the naval-criminal match-ups from the recent ramp-up on the high seas to find answers for the next round of battle.

CLICK FOR MORE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle
Introduction	Mothership Connection	Drone Race	Self Defense	Future Ship Battle

131. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
During the 2nd world war, the German Navy operated ships called "Raiders". These ships were camouflaged and altered to look like everyday cargo vessels and tramp steamers. In certain occasions they were also made to closely resemble allied ships of the era. These "Raiders" mission was to sneek along a convoy or an unsuspecting ship and then hit them with all the heavy armament that was put on board. These "Raiders" were so successful in their task, that the British Admiralty put a priority directive in sinking them. I think that a new generation of these "Raiders" should be considered patrolling these dangerous waters. They could be manned by a coalition of forces funded by the United nations where Maritime companies pay into a pool for the upkeep and maintaining of this force. It worked successfully for the Germans for a long while I don't see why with new technology and all the up today "Elint"while something like this wouldn't work.

130. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
Q Ships and air cover from drones is a good idea. Sinking and killing every pirate makes the venture unattractive. Arming large merchant ships is a bad idea, it just shifts the problem on to smaller vessels like small passenger ferries, private yachts and fishing boats. This is not a problem you can solve on the land side without a war, but you can solve it on the water by making the outcome very unfavorable. It is preferable to target the pirates before they take a ship. In such a case you just sink and kill them. If they have the ship you draw up along side and say "Surender now without harming any of the hostages, but if you kill any hostage or fail to surrender within 15 minutes you will all be put to death." Given the choice between life and death, most pirates will again quickly re-evaluate their risk v reward calculation.

129. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
Isn't it ironical that a well known Hollywood franchise has recently managed to portray the Pirates as the good guys and the beleaguered authorities as the repressive bad guys. I can see the new script: Romantic liaisons between charismatic Somali Pirate and beautiful daughter of the new President of the leading power of the day. Amid the romance, the poor likable innocent pirates are cut to pieces by .50cal toting thugs in smart uniforms sent by the daughter's menacing father! No matter how far fetched the story eventually becomes, the movie goers just flock to the silver screens.

128. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
Website: none
well, everybody else has had their words, here's mine: both edges of the trouble area get a large ship posted, cargo ship pulls up, gets a handfull of armed soldiers/sailors/seals/legionaires, sails to the other side and the boys get back off. They all bring their own food and bedding, they are full time members of their nations armed forces and are not, and cannot be seen to be mercinaries.

127. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
Website: none
well, everybody else has had their words, here's mine: both edges of the trouble area get a large ship posted, cargo ship pulls up, gets a handfull of armed soldiers/sailors/seals/legionaires, sails to the other side and the boys get back off. They all bring their own food and bedding, they are full time members of their nations armed forces and are not, and cannot be seen to be mercinaries.

126. RE:ALITY
Interesting comments here, and enough solutions for a dozen thrillers. But really, I'm sure (uh... hope) the gov has a lot of people working on this. Piracy is a HUGE, complex problem. It won't be solved with firepower alone. (sorry Carter haters) These solutions sound exactly like the 'solutions' I offer my wife (large hospital director) when she moans about her day. They sound good to me, but I have no idea of the intricacies and operations of the hospital. Doctors are Supreme Beings, nurses can't be fired - or janitors (even in Georgia!) - and all can make more money elsewhere. Dysfunctional families can make the hospital jump through hoops and the feds aren't there to help. But in a short conversation I'm positive that I can make it all better! I'm sure there are days she would like to clean the corridors out with a .50 cal mounted on a wheelchair. But the real world doesn't work that way. Criminals, terrorists and pirates have unlimited time to think of plots and countermeasures that would make us look like crazed killers of the innocent.

125. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
If George Bush had not invaded Iraq or meddled in the affairs of other countries such as somalia the world itself would have been a better place. He and the american government should be prosecuted for war crimes as their meddling is leading to situation such as the piracy

124. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
The Indian Navy seems to have the right idea. Why not let them do it and lend assistance where needed like radar info.

123. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
Send in the SEALS!

122. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
PUT A HIGHLY NIGHT CAPABLE,AUTOMATED AND FULLY STABLIZED CAL. 50 WEAPONS STATION (C.W.S.) WITH IT’S LASER RANGE FINDER ATOP EVERY OTHER VESSEL. THEY ARE READILY AVAILABLE AND IT CAN BE EASILY DISGUISED, (THEY ARE SMALL ENOUGH TO HAVE THEM ON HUMMVES AND COUGARS IN IRAQ.) THE GUNNER CAN ENGAGE REMOTELY FROM A PROTECTED POSITION IN SIDE THE VESSEL. AND THE RANGE IS WELL BEYOND TRACER BURN OUT OF:(2,250 BALL, 1,650 A.P.I.T.!) 4-5 TIMES THE RANGE OF THE PIRATES CAPABILITY! AND 80% OF EVERY ROUND FIRED HITS IT’S TARGET! AND UP TO 3,000 ROUNDS (OR MORE)CAN BE READILY AVAILABLE, WITH NO RELOADING! MY 9 YEAR OLD GRAND SON COULD OPERATE IT LIKE A VIDEO GAME! NUFF SAID? ALLONS! GUNNER BLACK WATER! M.P.R.I. YOU LISTENING?

121. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
Why not add an electric fence or electrify the railings around the perimeter of the ship deck when threatened.

120. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battles as Pirate Attacks Continue
to answer 117 on how they board and why they are a threat... An RPG can do plenty of damage to the ship. Even if they can't get through the hull they can hit the superstructure or loft RPGs onto the deck. The ships have VERY small crews (a high degree of automations) so they dont have many folks to fight fires and repel boarders. I guess the Navy has something active to do now, good on em.

119. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Merchant ships should equip with machine guns and small cannon. When small rubber raft is spotted, shot and kill. There is absolutely no "legal problem". Sharks will take care of the rest.

118. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
America's involvement in the Tripolitan War suppressed pirate terrorism in the Mediterranean only after resolute action. It also saw the development of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps with their proud traditions, and for the first time America made its presence known, not as a "fat duck" but as an eagle in the world of the old empires. In the 21st century, history now repeats itself. We are now facing the same sort of terror brought on by an African Country fraught with anarchy. The hub of ocean commerce has changed, but once again rouge vessels off the coast of Africa prey upon ships laden with precious cargo and crew, demanding tribute. And, as history shows, European and Asian countries pay for the release of their ships and hostages perpetuating this heinous act. Will this next page in piracy result in America leading the way in forcefully ending this game of high seas terrorism? Does America owe it to the rest of the world to protect the oceans of the globe from a country bent on feeding their inept economy though terror and hostage taking? If history serves, we will act only when our interests are threatened and will do so without the support of a “multi-national military force to combat pirate terrorism” as it was called in 1785, referred to today as “Coalition Forces” of TF-150. We are no longer the “Fat Ducks” on the high seas, we are the “Seahawks” our Naval presence is strong and visual in this tumultuous region of the world. Modern day pirates, like wolfs selecting a weak lamb from the flock, stay away from American vessels that would surly bring death and destruction down on their homes, and focus instead on the “Fat Ducks” that guarantee reward. So we monitor the seas, warn the lambs, and wait. For if these modern day pirates become so drunk with money and power underestimate our resolve to retaliate and target the Seahawks, make no mistake, hell will rain down upon them.

117. How do the pirates get on board?
I don't understand how the pirates get on board these supertankers. These tanker decks are a hundred feet in the air. What do they do... drop them a rope ladder? Even if the pirates had an RPG... a tanker hull should be able to withstand that. What am I missing here?

116. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I read articles about the Somali pirates in their "high-speed boats," which makes it sound as if the pirates are driving cigarette boats, and seeing photos of a bunch of barefoot peasant boys in an old tub with a 40-hp Evinrude. If the shipowners weren't so hamstrung by nervous politicians, for a lot less money than they are paying out in ransom, or at least insurance premiums, they would outfit their ships with a couple of mini-guns and/or a couple of TOW missles and just blow those idiots out of the water when they showed their intentions. Add a couple of trained Blackwater guys to the ship's complement and let them cut loose on these jerkoffs. When more and more of those floating garbage cans start disappearing on the high seas, the piracy problem will vanish overnight.

115. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
If we cant arm ourselves to protect whats rightfully ours because of political interferences or whatever reason, then we as a combined force should get rid of those fools who think disarming the general public and businesses and non violence will bring peace, just do it ourselves and bare the consequences later. Im a south african, i felt hurt and very angry after sept 11 happened, you americans are a strong nation, great superpower, but i think its time to do the same to countries who oppose peace as you did to japan, sought somalia sudan iraq out once and 4all and hopefully they will turn out as japan did. Finally, USA tx 4 being big brother 4 so long. Amartin@webmail.co.za

114. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Sorry we can not give you 35 Million, but how about a missle in midship. Just give them a 15 minute warning and fire. Problem solved.

113. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The idea of using decoy ships to lure pirates into range of their concealed guns goes back to WWI...when the Royal Navy employed so-called Q-ships designed to look like unarmed merchantmen (see Google). If a U-boat surfaced to sink the vessel with gunfire, the concealed guns would spring into action. Imagine the shock to Somali or Nigerian pirates, racing up to an easy mark, to be suddenly staring into the muzzles of a 20mm Gatling. Incidentally, has anyone heard of an Israeli or Russian ship being taken by pirates? They train crew members to fight back...and we never hear of any incidents involving these vessels as dead men tell no tales.

112. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I feel that a part of the solution would be ships similar to the raiders the Germans used in WWII. The navy can take any old merchant ship and retrofit it with hidden weapons and re-configureable deck layouts so it's "disguise" can be changed from time to time. Lure them in and blow them out of the water.

111. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Taking down pirates is easy. FIRST, though, Department of Defence is going to have to grow a pair and issue clearly-defined rules of engagement allowing the Navy to pursue, engage and extradite (or kill) the pirates. Until that happens, the Navy's hands are tied...even if you do manage to capture the pirates, what then? Hold them on board a naval vessel indefinitely? Send them back to the US? Catch and release (like what the Danes did)? "Disappear" them? I think its ironic that the ONLY country so far that's actually had the political will to engage, apprehend AND extradite the pirates is France....

110. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I feel that a part of the solution would be ships similar to the raiders the Germans used in WWII. The navy can take any old merchant ship and retrofit it with hidden weapons and re-configureable deck layouts so it's "disguise" can be changed from time to time. Lure them in and blow them out of the water.

109. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I feel that a part of the solution would be ships similar to the raiders the Germans used in WWII. The navy can take any old merchant ship and retrofit it with hidden weapons and re-configureable deck layouts so it's "disguise" can be changed from time to time. Lure them in and blow them out of the water.

108. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Just sink the pirates, what's so hard about that.

107. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Since Somalia is not technically a country...just air raid it into subsurvience. Bomb every coastal city & town out of existance...it's not like it won't remove a few headaches that gave us heck the last time we went there. You can't win "Hearts & Minds" in Somalia...just kill them until they don't have the will to fight ANYONE anymore.

106. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
photograph monitor the pirate boats as they leave land follow to motherships, document with drones. pirate face recognition data base, track there movements. the mother ships skiffs can only go so far. destroy them as they approach there victum ship as soon as they start there attack blow them out of the water. it would be a long rang goal war of attrition. air power to destoy the pirates bases and ships on land when the ships are in port.like the stratigy the japonese did it to pearl harbor or navel big guns. many simultanois attacks on there bases and methodically wipe them all out and monitor the start up of new ones to destroy their new bases, ships and put prices on the pirates heads from pirate photo data base. find the ring leaders the organizers and who supplys them. where do they get their equipment from go after them to learn there organization and destroy all aspects of it.. make sure all vessels attacked have video equipment to get visual data of pirates boats and the pirates themselves.

105. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I agree, if every ship in the world had a handful of .50 BMG's on board piracy would would be in a down turn. An armed society is a polite society, even on the high seas.

104. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
U.S.navy interests lie in protecting US ships, and free commerce in the high seas while projecting US military power. Patrolling Somali coast and nearby shipping lanes is but one of its charges. The reason why you cant' just blast at smaller unflagged vessels is because its a haphazzard way to combat piracy and likely to result in much publicized civilian deaths. They can only go on the attack after the pirates have confirmed their identity through their actions. In essence our hands are tied until Somali pirates take action. Thereafter, however a swift and immediate lethal response is needed, no ransoms just lethal and quick military action is necessary to save captured vessels crew and create enough terror in pirates that it will cease to be an econonmically feasable activity.

103. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
As for what is allowed weapons wise for protection under maritime law I am not sure. A guess on my part is that the most of the countries of origin of these vessels have been small nations. However, that is open to conjecture. The piracy itself via the image appears to be small boat tactics. No large vessel underway is fearsome of a small boat in itself. The large vessel though it is not manueverable can eat a small vessel under its hull or propellors. Essentially keel haul it. The sticking point is the rpg's their carrying.Those rpg's can cause damage to the upper super structure and crew. I guess that would be the reason ships are stopping. As for those that have mentioned the .50 cal Browning I agree and in the case of this Ukrainian vessel a 12.7mm machinegun would be in there weapons inventory and apt. A very basic choice is we (and the Russian vessel underway) continue to get sent and or intervene in Somalian piracy acts or allow the arming of civilian vessels that would travel through the region. Also, that the vessels traveling off the area travel well inside international waters and FAR from the coast. In a place where the small vessels would have to become "gasoline boats" to get to the large vessels. Yes a higher coast of doing business in fuel for the merchants but another way to shearly cut the pirates out of it. They won't be able to compete.

102. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
It strikes me as funny that a bunch of guys with machine guns are able to hold of a combination of nations that go in and destroy other whole nations. We demolished Iraqi bunkers by remote control and this little group of guys is stopping us. Yeah "hostages" that's never stopped the government before. It's called "collateral damage" and written off if there was something there America wanted. Opps! I guess there in lies the rub. On the other hand we wouldn't want anybody else having that cargo.(hint,hint.) Why don't we just have one of those "surgical strikes" the military is so proud of and start it to sinking. We all know what "rats" do on a sinking ship. Someone said earlier "rescue all the survivors, prosecute the guilty and send them back home hangin' from their own yardarm!" Since when did piracy get downgraded from anything less than a capital offense? As for those "Somali Pirate fortress's" being "too heavily fortified to attack? Pfshaw! We weren't within a fifty miles of that exploding bunker in Iraq that they showed over and over on CNN. Hell we even got to see footage from the missile as it hit the bunker door. These Pirate fortress's must have a door right? If any nation really cared about ending piracy instead of making headlines as an "international anti-piracy we're here to help rescue force" or whatever, this would be a done deal.

101. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
We seemed to always use a sledgehammer and buckets of money to fix a problem. But the sad part is when the intent is noble and the media will be the 1st to scream when a suspected pirate ship is blown out of the water. Take away their support and dry em up.

100. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
There are two major constraints here, as I see it. First, merchant craft cannot carry heavy weapons. Period. So all of you who want to mount Bushmasters or even quad .50s, think again. The tool is appropriate, but it cannot be used on peaceful merchant vessels. Secondly, there's an identification issue. Approaching craft might conceivably be friendly or neutral; most heavy weapons will be useless by the time pirates "show their colors" at close range. I'd post lookouts and mount a Barrett .50 sniper rifle. Pirates approaching even in total darkness could be spotted, identified at a distance (RPGs scanned, for instance), and then cut in half at ranges of over a mile. Many of the landbased limitations of this weapon--unclear lines of sight, target protective cover--would not matter here. More importantly, a Barrett is essentially useless against other shipping, thereby negating the prohibition on weapons of war aboard ship. I note that snipers were essential personnel on ships during the Golden Age of Sail. Perhaps it's time to bring them back.

99. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I don't know all of the Navy's or command stuff all of you talk about. However, as sad as it is under these circumstances. The U.S. Navy, Airforce or whatever force in the area. Should just sink the ship with whatever means they have and be done with it. If it happens again. Then do it again. They will get the message. I am tired of these idiotic evil people anyway. I feel sorry for the hostages. But what the heck can you do.

98. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Website: none
I believed the solution to end this Somali-piracy is to cut-off the cause from its roots, i.e., "kill the tree by uprooting it or cutting it off from its roots". What I meant is, a group of peace loving countries such as the US, Franch, UK, Russia, Canada, Germany, and Japan should bond together and conquer Somalia, confiscate all arms and munitions, capture or kill all rebels and suspected pirates, and free that country from the shackles of violence and banditry, then install democracy by declaring national elections for the presidency and national assembly.

97. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
its an easy fix,just make all vessels entering these straits pick up a force of 4 to 6 armed men provided by one of the reputable mercenarie companys they can charge the shipping companys and the whole problem is over in 6 months

96. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
"In this case, you're talking billions of American tax payer's dollars in assets and operating costs to help the Chinese and Russians sell arms to Sudan..." You've hit a hitch there, wanna know what it is? Both the Ukraine (the origin country of the ship Faina) and Kenya (the destination) have said the tanks and weaponry are going to Kenya. At least countries that are transporting weaponry like that past Somalia should spend some pocket change for on-board security.

95. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Sudan is an outlaw nation in itself. It should not receive this shipment of weapons. The ship should be sunk. Any survivors should be rescued, and prosecuted if guilty.

94. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
. Where are the Russians Now?

93. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Arm container ships, bulk oil carriers, and cargo vessels with 40mm Bofors guns and give them all the ammunition tey can carry. The dare these pirates to approach within 4000 yards of them. Blow a few of these clowns out of the water and lets see how long they will think piracy is a good idea. I also liked the idea of blasting them out of existance if they venture out past 50 nautical miles from their home shores. Like it or not, it is going to take violent measures to subdue this militant behavior.

92. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
agreeing somewhat with #11 - we need to go low tech and historical - put Q ships to sea. let the pirates attack a seemingly unarmed vessel. it will make them reconsider their line of work. the way to stop these attacks is to fight them. much like the barbary pirates.

91. RE: Baby boats against Ships!
Website: mysandiegolife.com
How do these tiny row boats hijack cargo ships?

90. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
PT - SWIFT BOATS - A joint task force of Swift Boats/PT Boats with a Cruiser or Destroyer to support such a fixed base to counter such activity by pirates and do so in a pro-active manner would be the sensible thing to do instead of always reacting AFTER a Hijacking of ships takes place is the best answer IMO. It's sad that so few can create international crises and this country of Somalia continues to go unchecked and Warlords and Jihadists continue to push their will onto these vanquished people. It's sad that we as a world give attention to politically/monetary favorable areas and ignore the worse in places that need just as much guidance. It's sad that the world cannot stand together (Civilized & Military Powerful Nations) to better help those that are suffering in many areas as they are impoverished in all areas of their societies.

89. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
starve them out. while doing that use hi pitch sound weapon to torture the kidnapers

88. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Just torpedo the damn ship, and shoot the pirates that float to the surface. The tanks can be salvaged later.

87. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Pirates can sneak on the ship but the Navy Seals and others can't? What am I missing?

86. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I agree, if every ship in the world had a handful of .50 BMG's on board piracy would would be in a down turn. An armed society is a polite society, even on the high seas.

85. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
SEND THE WHOLE BUNCH TO THE BRINEY DEEP, and pick up the survivors and criminals!!! How can we just sit by and watch a crime being committed? Tell Russia that we're going to send their tanks to the bottom and too bad if they have a problem with that!

84. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Here is my $0.02 Piracy should be combated where and when it occur whether it effect the United States directly or not. Piracy is like terrorism, if ignore will be embolden, until it becomes something that effect everyone on a global scale. I believe in the tough love situation. There should be no ground given to people who use hostage and terror to get what they want. All you do when you give in to them is show that you are willing to be used when and if they need to you for something again. For example, screw negotion, just sink the damn thing and pick up the survivors. If they realize that all you are going to get when you take a ship by force is sunk, I bet there will be less piracy there. Personally, for me, if someone was to take me hostage for ransom (if they want the $2.50 I have in the bank, hehehe), I would not expect my family to give into any negotiation or pay any ransom for me. If it was my yacht that was taken and held for ransom, I would expect that the U.S. Navy, or some other naval force, sink my boat as a message to the pirate that piracy is going to get them nothing but a lot of PITA. Or something like that.

83. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Get those guys and break their back operation

82. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Putting guns on container ships is against international law.

81. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Website: www.myspace.com/mansfieldsmostwanted
First off you could prevent the Hijackers from getting on in the first place with radar,50 cal. browning machine guns,and a trained team of surveillance guards armed with Hi-Tech weapons and you could escape the whole matter,you know save you millions of dollars and save lives.Secondly, use your Air Force not the Navy Air Force is quicker,safer,and much more effective.If the Government would man up a spend a little tiny bit of their trillions of dollars we could solve this problem with ease.

80. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The sooner they start killing these idiots the quicker it will stop. Don't play around and don't slow down...USMC.....

79. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Well, you could kill all the damned Somalians. That would certainly solve the problem.

78. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
From personal experience, the Navy is not in that area because of IRAN and IRAQ. We've been doing patrols there way before our 1st war in IRAQ. Also from personal experience. The US Navy shoots first when confronting pirates. And stating form personal experience, There is always some sort of presence off the East Africa waters.

77. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
We should not arm all the vessels. what if the pirates succeeded in hijacking the vessel, they can easily use the weapons against the commandos trying to rescue the hostages. The international community needs to get together and form a multi-national force (dragnet) to rid the waters of pirates. Shoot first and ask questions later!

76. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The Browning 50 Caliber sounds like a good idea. One shot and it would rip those little boats in half. Once all pirates were in the water the crew of the other boat should then kill the engine, start to chum for sharks. Pull up a chair, it's about to get real interesting.

75. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The thing that's really frustrating about this is that 1) it's intolerable, 2) it's being tolerated, and 3) the US Military is tied up with far less important things.

74. Thank God for Pirates
Arms smugglers to Sudan get what they deserve. I hope we don't help on this one. If anything, we should be keeping arms out of Sudan. They'll just be used to continue genocide in Darfur

73. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
on the contrary to what was said earlier. i got back from a deployment in april 7 months long. what was the purpose of our deployment? anit-piracy operations. at one point we spend 67 days straight watching one of the boats that was later released. but yes they do send warships down there all the time. at one time there was even 5 of us within 10 miles of each other watching 3 ships. during our deployment the only time we went to the gulf was to go to bahrain to get new people that couldnt get out to the ship. and we did recieve support from djibouti. cant say what type of plane but we did see them often.

72. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Several cheap ways to handle this with ease. 1) Print them fake money that looks real and contains gps tracking strips and track them home to their base and clean them all out. Dusted with disease powder would also work. 2) Set them up with a fake shipment designed to look like easy pickings and then hundreds of marines pop out of secret floor panels. Or headhunters. 3) Just continually put small holes into their boats. One skin diver could drill holes in boat bottoms with electric drill or shoot boat hulls with a small rifle round. Only one hole in right spot would incapacitate those little pirate boats. 4) Best thing is to change laws for that body of water for marine vessels to be able to shoot any small vessel who approaches too closely uninvited. 5) The very best thing is for Somalia to have a good coast guard which enforces things and give inspections. Probably Somalia should merge with Ethiopia or Kenya because they could produce a navy or coast guard and it is not fair that Ethiopia is landlocked without any coast any way...this way they would have some.

71. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Get it to port, then let all hell break loose.

70. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
It is best where all country work together to fight piracy where this will also increase the tie strenght of each nation on earth. Also nuking the country can also being consider as it just hijack other ships to pay for its weapon for continuing war inside the country killing civilian.

69. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The U.S. had them in the Somali port taking on animals and supplies...how did they get away? Is the new technology called satellites? Cause it worked on scuds headed for Israel in 1991 with no notice? Get on the ball.

68. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
If someone would just blow them out of the water hostages and all they would stop hijacking the ships. Stop paying them and start killing them and they will stop taking hostages. Russia will kill them all. That is how they so it. They ain't panzies like the US.

67. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Website: www.sugarmatchmaker.com
Anything [you've] heard" isn't particularly rigorous based on the failed-state status of the Media. As the predominant navy on Earth it's entirely possible for the US to detach a frigate or destroyer to patrol near Somalia. That's all you really need to curtail the pirates. Given the tradition of the US Navy combating piracy (breaking the Barbary Pirates so the Brits could finish them off) and the minuscule resources needed to secure shipping - I can see something being done. Now, to solve the problem, that's going to take feet on the ground and a colonial period over the Somali region (which isn't a country in any sense of the word).

66. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The answer is the same as it was during World War Two. You use q-ships, or warships designed to look like a helpless merchant ship that pack a much greater punch. The Somali pirates fight mught the way that they did against the US in Mogadishu during the early 90's, they streak what they think is weak. If they suddenly hit a vessel that starts returning fire with a 5in gun or a helicopter that suddenly takes off with a few AGN-Maverick missles, they'll stsop this nonsense.

65. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
These guys hijacked a boat and people are saying they should be shot or hung. I agree. The US has just been hijacked by its banking industry,Wall Street and its supposed leaders. The magnitude of this highjacking doesn't even slightly compare and yet folks have not even seen an indictment. It would be nice if we could hold the slime that have ripped off the American public to the same standards that we wish to hold these petty,small time thieves. Kinda makes ya think huh!!!

64. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I would think a predator whether armed or not would be more efficient regarding this problem.

63. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The trouble with adding any weapons to a private, commercial vessel, is that in so doing, you have just created a warship. Weapons would be even less possible on a privately-owned vessel. In addition, "trained merchant sailors" manning deck mounted machine guns are also called "private soldiers" or "mercenaries", and would be barred from entering most ports in most nations. Imagine Russian/Iranian/Chinese or Saudi "merchant ships" lined with grenade launchers and machine guns, filled with mercenaries parked in New York harbor...I don't think so. Lastly, it would never happen because it's not in anyone's economic interest. The CEO of a shipping company (my grandfather was one) would gladly pay a small ransom once every 5 years, then pay the extremely high costs associated with turning each and every one of their vessels into floating gun-platforms, manned by extra men with expensive extra training...and did I mention they are insured anyway?? Thy are probably happy to finally justify the premiums they have been paying all these years. It's a win-win for everybody to do nothing...except the dirt-poor bastards they find in Bangladesh to crew these monsters.

62. i don't need such a rediculous title
i wonder how cool it would be to fight pirates in a special forces unit. that would be so cool in my opinion. but i've been playing too many video games...

61. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
What are we waiting for? It's the open seas and the 21st century. When wooden ships sailed, pirates had a huge advantage. Today we have radio's, intelligence, radar and might. It is rediculous for our navies to restrain themselves. This is wartime and it's time for the pirates to feel it. It appears that the rule of decency is in play and that only the bad guys get to play un-fair. Put me in charge and I'll dispose of the problem with dispatch. Hell yes it frustrates me to see great armies show restraint and compassion. Rules of war do not apply to piracy, which is another form of terrorism. I get the feeling that having terrorism is a justification for having a robust army. Let's use for crying out loud. Who's stopping us?

60. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I simply can't understand why the patrols can't just blow the bastards out of the water. Enough of that should make them think twice about what they are doing.

59. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
For all of you that feel that you need to give out information pertaining to what bases have what aircraft ex. comment #10, do all of us Americans a favor and CLOSE YOUR MOUTH or e-mail. The terrorists don't need any help finding out what equipment we have a what bases let alone sensitive aircraft. Thanks for showing how cool you are by naming countries and what US aircraft are there, but next time just CLOSE YOUR YAP!

58. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
What is needed is a group of small fast attack craft 50-100 ft. armed with light anti-ship missile, up to 3 inch auto cannon, with radar controlled bushmaster 40mm, maw dueces. Send these with some drones, a couple of older light DEs and tenders. Invite friends to the party( in which case a cruiser nearing decommission may be needed as command flag). Orders to patrol/interdiction with extreme prejudice.

57. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
just drop a seal team in,bye bye bad guys

56. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I dont think most people realize that piracy is a 6 billion dollar industry wordwide. The problem is much more wide spread than just in the costal waters of Somalia. As a crime, when the ship captured is carrying electronics instead of tanks, your chances of being succesfull with a ransom demand is almost 100%, and your chnce of being captured or prosecuted almost nil. I'm glad that this incident has brought this issue to the attention of the the international community, hopefully it will result in a global return to the policy of " all pirates will hang" and that the local authorities that work in colusion with them will share their fate.

55. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
So, you are implying that we arm every civilian freighter that goes into the region with a .50 cal? not a viable option. Those weapons are a little more complicated than you may think. If something were to go wrong, guess who would be to blame? Send a few ships off the coast and the situation will deescalate, same as it always has.

54. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Shades of 1802. we saved the west europeans from paying a lot of protection money then. This time we have some help. Even the Russians.

53. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Well, I'm sure the pirates are aware of the Int'l fleet shadowing them and are taking the necessary maneuvers. Pirates should not be negotiated with period. those fie caught should have been dropped from a helicopter from 5000ft. You have to send a message that this sort of behavior is not tolerated.

52. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Just contract with 5/6 freighter companies to outfit some of their ships with various weapons and troops. Then sail them back and forth as BAIT. When the pirates attack KILL them. Helos off of warships can give quick support until warships can respond. Let the shipping companies pick up some of the tab!!

51. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Website: none
It is amazing that this whole piracy thing has even been allowed to exist for 'only'four years. The U.S.A. spends billions of dollars in weapons and you mean to tell me that we could not have resolved this piracy thing 3 years and 11 months ago? How could we have allowed this rag-tag Somalia nation to even make ransom demands? This would be laughable if it were not so embarrassing.

50. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Why cant they just blow this ship up? Why cant they use Helicoptors and fire 60 or so missiles at it?

49. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Good thing the pirates caught that ship! As if Sudan needed any more war machines

48. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Whats holding the us back from sending in some commandoes loaded with tear gas, flash grenades, machine guns and night vision? After that the show is over.

47. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
This is a simple problem to solve. Send in well armed and alert ships similar to the ones the pirates have seized. Attract and shoot the pirates. Not having done this is what has led to the current problem.

46. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
It goes without saying,these "pirates" should be stopped in their tracks.Blast anything that even remotely appears to be a threat to the free world. We need to stand tall,with these people. They need to understand that those "crazy Americans" are a force to be reckoned with.STOP,with the kid glove treatment.Damn these people and their old woman philosophies,

45. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
International law always provided that piracy on the high seas be punished with death. Assuming that hasn't changed, pirates should not be captured; they should be shot down. Any who survive the action should be summarily shot or hanged on the spot, and their bodies left for the Somalis to find. Once it becomes known that this is the agreed-upon policy, piracy in this region will become unknown. Of course, in today's international political climate, where murder suspects are not extradited to the U.S. if they might be sentenced to death, this is a pipe dream. Additionally, the [sound] idea of arming merchant ships and yachts and allowing them to have a chance at defending themselves when the "cops" (read navies) can't be there probably won't pass the political correctness test, in a time when the U.N. is clamoring for world-wide gun control (which, of course, won't affect the pirates any more than it affects the gangsters in our major cities). Therefore piracy will continue and increase in boldness and brutality.

44. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
You're ideas are serious? You think the Pentagon doesn't have boardrooms full of officers and researchers working on this problem? A couple of good 'ol boys on a website are going tp help?

43. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
It is hard to believe in this day and age of technology we still have pirates. The problem is that non-military ships are not allowed to be armed. If every ship and boat were armed and we killed a few of those pirates it would not take long before they would stop or we would kill them all out.

42. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The problem with most of your ideas is that they assume a pirate ship looks different from the shipping it preys upon. The article states that the pirates routinely hijack new ships to use as motherships. The trick is figuring out which ships to attack, then saving the crews of those ships while dealing with the pirates. I am thinking it might be best to simply say screw it and destroy anything that floats in the pirate base. It unjustly harms the fishermen, but it starves out a nest of pirates too. No, it isn't right to kill someone innocent or destroy the fishermen's livelihood, but the alternative is other innocent lives being lost. Chose which you which way you want to go.

41. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Quote..."But after a year in which pirates operated with near impunity and seized nearly 60 ships for around $1 million ransom each, the international community is finally taking action by assembling a sophisticated naval force to fight back." Human rights may be need to be waived for a year in order to make a major impact on the pirates. They should shoot and kill everyone of them. Remember the term, Take NO prisoners. Why can't we apply it to these guys? Sometimes the libs around the world are just plain, old fashion SUCKERS at our expense!

40. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Why not just arm each freighter crew with about 10 hunting rifles with scopes. This will provide sufficent accurate fire to drive away pirates who cannot return accurate fire due to no scopes and their small bouncing boats.

39. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
This is not junk. Look at the map. Northern Somalia is on a major shipping route. Get serious, a ship load of weapons in the hands of terrorists certainly is the US Navies concern.

38. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
There has always been pirates and always will be. At best our Navy should contain the ship in one area by force and not allow it's weapons to be unloaded without blowing it away first, then while contained, tell the owners---(Russia) Come and clean up your mess, or if we have to we will use this to shame your Nation and your Military in the eyes of the world forever more. (eventually we blow the thing away, weapons and all) Those on board knew what they were carrying and knew the risks. They also knew not to be so close to that area of water.

37. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
There has always been pirates and always will be. At best our Navy should contain the ship in one area by force and not allow it's weapons to be unloaded without blowing it away first, then while contained, tell the owners---(Russia) Come and clean up your mess, or if we have to we will use this to shame your Nation and your Military in the eyes of the world forever more. (eventually we blow the thing away, weapons and all) Those on board knew what they were carrying and knew the risks. They also knew not to be so close to that area of water.

36. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
the weapons are going to kenya then something else happend they said southern sudan. did anyone understand these weapons are going to the wrong place to (SPLA) Movement to fight the Sudanese government to make it worse. and why US goin to kill the pirates coz to get a piece in the sudan's oil gas. if u think i was wrong to a reaserch sudan is on the indan sea why send it to kenya then sudan

35. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
It would seem to me that turning the town of Eyl into a crater of glass would solve 90% of the problem.

34. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Let me see, I'm a rocket scientist and I think I can solve this problem for you. You see, the pirates board the vessels by climbing up ladders, either leaned against the ship or once that is welded to the sides. Rather than expand the defense budget another billion or so, install razor wire on the perimeter of the cargo vessels, authorize the crews to carry their own weapons, at least the officers, and pick them off as they try to manuver through the razor wire. If your quesy about shooting someone, use rubber bullets. I'm not really a rocket scientest, but would you have read this far if I wasn't? An ounce of prevention would work, but then, who is getting those shiny new tanks anyway?

33. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I believe the solution might be the one suggested where cargo ships mount some type of defensive weapondry, be it the aforementioned 50 cals or the ones mounted by a cruise ship using high pitched sound waves set to lethal level.

32. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Many of you postes are americans I am assuming, who probabily do not have a clue what is happening in somalia. The U.S. navy actually works with the pirates, a puntland minister admitted that pirate small boats go by huge U.S. ships without the slightest fear of being attacked. The only reason why this ship has gotten so much attentions is the amount of weapons on the ship,whom some fear might fall into the hands of the resistance.

31. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Somalia does not and has not had an operating government since 1999. As such there is no real country, no government, no sovereignty, no international waters. TF-150 could go up and down any inland port sieze any ship or boat that is not truely verified as commercial or fishing and confiscate or destroy the vessels as well as imprison any crew and seize weapons and or hi tech equipment. If what is left are slow moving fishing boats which would be no threat to any vessel and could be outrun....problem solved. Any vessel foolish enough to resist boarding or to try to outrun TF-150...BOOM!!

30. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Give me a break, you have a huge cargo ship being pulled over by a fishing boat?? Install guns, train the crew, police yourselves. Stop depending on others for your safety.

29. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
With all this talk about high tech solutions, I cant help but laugh that the UIC (Union of Islamic Courts) effectively handled the issue of piracy using the same weapons the pirates themselves are using, AK-47s and RPGs. It is a shame that diplomacy couldnt have been used to help the UIC develop the country... it is such a funny thing that Somalia's only functioning government in the last 18 years was not democratically elected or appointed. Yeah for intervention in the name of democracy!

28. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
With all this talk about high tech solutions, I cant help but laugh that the UIC (Union of Islamic Courts) effectively handled the issue of piracy using the same weapons the pirates themselves are using, AK-47s and RPGs. It is a shame that diplomacy couldnt have been used to help the UIC develop the country... it is such a funny thing that Somalia's only functioning government in the last 18 years was not democratically elected or appointed. Yeah for intervention in the name of democracy!

27. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Well way I see it is this way, like ground forces it it legal for a vehicle to drive over a placement with or without enemy combatants in it if any of these commercial cargo ships had a set swinging they would simply ram the pirates small vessels sinking the pirates. The hulls on those commercial vessels are thick enough that a RPG is not going to put a hole in it nor is a AK-47. As for the yachts and private vessels, if you dumb enough to sail your vessel within close enough proximity of the pirate coast then you most likely dumb enough to get taken hostage. These pirates are nothing new, this has been a problem in that region for many, many years. My suggestion is the commercial ships need to get skippers with a swinging set to ram and sink the pirates considering that AK-47's and RPG's are not going to sink a commercial vessel. Private vessel owners, if your stupid enough to sail those waters you better either have a faster vessel then they do or one that is more heavily armed then they are with a better effective range then they have. If you cant use those simple common sense rules of thumb then you get what you most likely deserve for not taking the time to plan better routes of safe passage.

26. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
A very cost effective way to get rid of all the pirates are their boats are simple. Have a team of navy seals plant explosives to every single floating wood. When the pirates leave the port to attack ships, just blow them up. No more boats, 4-5 dead pirates per boat, end of problem.

25. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Being a member of the US Navy and having done my share of research on this topic on top of what I know is being done on our part from experience, I can tell you with the upmost certainty that we do indeed specifically task units for these reasons. The Navy is not stretched thin due to this war. The fight is on the ground. Not at sea. The carriers are performing foward power projection and are on standby to handle ground support as needed. There are many repercussions to piracy. Ever wonder why prices in the stores have gone up for everything. It's not all due to the downsloping economy. Shipping them from one side of the world to the other requires clear and safe shipping lanes. One of the primary shipping lanes is up through the Red Sea to the Suez. Many companies are now avoiding that lane due to piracy and taking longer routes in turn increasing shipping costs. We of course in turn see that in the stores. The pirates don't care if one or two gets killed. They are not a tight band of brothers. They are victims of a failed government and they are doing what they can to make a living. Most of these pirates are fisherman that can no longer make money off their trade since there is no money to be spent. Sad as it may be, the only thing keeping most villages alive over there is the bounty from piracy. It's not a matter of greed for them. It's a matter of survival. But....destroy on sight.

24. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
4 Row Boats with gunmen somehow take control of a very large ship. Look at the size comparison in the photos! How does this happen????

23. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Gee, maybe Obama (the next Jimmy Carter, only tastes worse and less filling) can go and have a polite, reasoned discussion with them. Yeah, that's the ticket. This guy will be a bigger disaster than Carter.

22. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
TF 150 isn't comprised only of U.S. warships but coalition ships as well (GB, France, Pakistan, etc). While U.S. warships in the waters off Somalia fall under the chain of command of TF 150, they are often on missions and operations not directly related to deterring piracy and providing maritime security. Those are secondary missions and objectives that are often the primary missions of coalition warships. The primary objective of the U.S. is fighting the Global War on Terrorism, and the reason why this particular act of piracy has gained so much attention is the risk that terrorists (i.e. Al Qaeda in Somalia) could obtain the tanks and weaponry on the MV Faina and pose a larger threat in the region. F-18s on US aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf or even the Arabian Sea do not have the range to fly down to the waters off Somalia where these pirates have taken safe haven so there would need to be a greater reason other than just piracy for an aircraft carrier to be moved from Persian Gulf down to Somalia.

21. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Enough air bubbles under a boat will cause it to lose buoyancy and sink. Perhaps an anti-buoyancy countermeasure could be developed and installed on ships likely to be hijacked.

20. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
We should just sink any ship that deems to be a threat or doesnt properly reply when warned. We have the big stick, lets use it against these small time thugs.

19. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
I think that the US navy should just sink the ship as a message to the pirates. while they arent strong enough yet, its only a matter of time before they start seizing warships, and then what? a shoot-out between two american-made ships? sink the ships, and send the pirates a message. we arent going to take this crap from anyone, escpically not some pirates who dont have the guts to face the navies of the world-head on. i say, shoot them before they get stronger, because its the only solution.

18. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
GO us Navy beat up and jail pirates, but use sonic tech and bean bag guns,laser dazzler guns

17. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
bring in the NAVY SEALS baby

16. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
The solution is simple all you need to do is look at history. In the past cargo ships would be fitted with hidden an overwhelming firepower. And they would be fitted so that they could change their appearance and name. These 'helpless' cargo ships would be packed with trained sailors and marines would be sent to areas with pirates where they would do their best to look like prime targets. If attacked they would destroy their attackers and hunt down allied ships. After awhile they would return to port and get a new look and do it again. Old solution to an old problem.

15. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Why all this diplomacy? If it was muslims shipping nuclear arms to the US, GW would've nuked them on day 1. I have the same approach when it comes to road rage. Don't take my space and keep the peace. Break the rule and you see the front end of my Glock .45. The next best thing of course is to get a cache of AK47s from Mozambique. Apparently it only costs $100.

14. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Arg! These navies are no match for the black pearl and flying dutchman!

13. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
KILL THE PIRATES, then canvas the Somalia and surrounding Countries, killing anyone related to these COWARDS! Enough is enough, we have got to show some backbone.

12. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Whatever happened to cargo ships protecting themselves against raiders. That was how the marines got started. The captain should hire a few extra crew, .50 BMG rifles and some decent scopes. Let them handle things. No warning shots, no mercy, no survivors. shoot the motor through the pirate controlling the boat, then work your way to the next threat. Two guys should be able to clear one boat in less than a minute. The .50 BMG machine gun would be a great idea too. But lets not take prisoners. That only encourages these people. When you've finished with the pirates, sink their craft. Eventually you'll run out of either 1. Pirates or 2. Boats, or 3. Motors for said boats. How about that. No more piracy off the Somali coast.

11. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Website: http://www.isierra.net/
There's another solution using somewhat older and time-honored approach: Browning .50 machine guns, say 3-4 per container ship, along with some night vision scopes and steel plates welded to the hull to provide some protection to the firing positions. The Browning .50 has at least 3-4 times the effective range of an AK-47 or RPG. The pirates might find themselves on the wrong end of a turkey shoot.

10. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
We already have military forces based in Dijibouti, near Somalia, that are used to support Ethiopian forces within Somalia. These include C-130 gunships. The USAF forces there could perform surveillance and quick reaction strike duties in conjunction with a US Navy additional presence with little increased effort. We should be doing this. A few dead pirates will have a salutory effect on the situation.

9. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
"Yes, the US Navy lends a hand to sailors under duress according to custom but they traverse the area around the Horn of Africa to the gulf and the Indian Ocean by happpenstance." I live next door to a major naval base in the southeast and they've been sending my neighbors to patrol off the coast of Somalia for years now, 3 or more months at a time. So...you're comment just isn't supported by the facts as I've witnessed them.

8. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
This is not junk. The US Navy, while heavily invovled in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, does have a powerful vested interet in crushing Somali piracy. As the article pointed out, 10% of Middle East oil travels near Somali waters. If we do not interdict these pirate vessels, pirates will continue to seize bigger and bigger commerical and private ships. The US Navy has a mandate to keep the seas free and open. Pirates obviously contravene this concept. They should be hunted down and destroyed. Somalia is a failed state anyway. Assume any boats with the capability to launch raids (big enough for a raiding party, having large enough engines to put them out to sea and board other vessels, that attempt to avoid contact with Naval ships from real countries) off of the Somali coast hostile until proven otherwise. This can easily be achieved by UAV surveillance, and then verified by manned helicopter missions. If we can verify they are pirates while they're on the open sea, it's simple. Send in a few F-18s from the carriers meant to 'deter' Iran (and we all know how much Iran has backed down as a result of this, right?) and get the pilots some real live fire exercises... This is the 21st century; piracy (even off the coast of Africa, or the myriad archipelegos around Indonesia) should be an anachronism. I am glad to see international naval involvement to stop these criminals. Since we cannot stop the epidemic of fanatical Islam tearing Somalia apart from the inside, we can at least contain the madness within its own borders and stop these savages from interfering with (I will say it) civilized nations. Hunt them down and kill them. Give US, European, and Russian navies something to work together on and build trust. Kill the pirates.

7. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
International Forces need to shut down the Somali Coast and blow everything out of the water that isn't properly flagged and is outside 50 miles radius of the coast. That leaves plenty of room for fishermen and coastal activity, but denies the pirates access to shipping lanes.

6. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Website: http://sullysside.blogspot.com
The article mentions that five pirates were captured in a previous attack. I'd be willing to bet there would be a lot fewer attacks happening if they had been hung from the mast of the pirate mother ship and left to drift ashore in Somalia.

5. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
"Anything [you've] heard" isn't particularly rigorous based on the failed-state status of the Media. As the predominant navy on Earth it's entirely possible for the US to detach a frigate or destroyer to patrol near Somalia. That's all you really need to curtail the pirates. Given the tradition of the US Navy combating piracy (breaking the Barbary Pirates so the Brits could finish them off) and the minuscule resources needed to secure shipping - I can see something being done. Now, to solve the problem, that's going to take feet on the ground and a colonial period over the Somali region (which isn't a country in any sense of the word).

4. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Pirates would wear Ear Muffs...Suggest 25MM Bushmaster installed on Stern with trained Crew. OR 40mm Grenade Launchers with plenty of Ammo.

3. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
With all due respect, while I agree that this article is not accurate, the primary purpose of the navy being present in and around the middle east is not because of Iran. It's because we are fighting two wars there.

2. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
Sudan is an outlaw nation in itself. It should not receive this shipment of weapons. The ship should be sunk. Any survivors should be rescued, and prosecuted if guilty.

1. RE: 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship
This is junk. There isn't anything I've heard that comes close to what you're suggesting: that the US Navy is seriously going to dedicate its assets for fighting Somali pirates. Yes, the US Navy lends a hand to sailors under duress according to custom but they traverse the area around the Horn of Africa to the gulf and the Indian Ocean by happpenstance. It does NOT mean they're going to task warships, let alone entire task forces, for whole six month deployments to monitor areas that people should know better to avoid. So your "we are not defeating it" quip by STATE DEPARTMENT friends and officials falls flat. In this case, you're talking billions of American tax payer's dollars in assets and operating costs to help the Chinese and Russians sell arms to Sudan or alleviate the stupidity of French tourists. The US Navy will lend a hand to the hostages if it can but it's being downsized and it doesn't need you to try and expand its operational load. And no, the US Navy hasn't forgotten who's been selling their enemies weaponry or who their primary enemies in the region are. I also notice that you use sources that have nothing to do with the US Navy's chain of command. For God sakes, the Strategic Studies and the State Dept?! Once again, the US Navy will lend a hand but it's primary reason for being there is to maintain presence and pressure on Iran. If the politicians want to apply a name to its patrols (like TF 150, 158, "to fight pirates" etc.) that's fine, but it's not going to spend more than a few days, let alone months, dedicating itself to the Somali Coast when it has other responsibilities to attend to and prepare for.

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