Land pirates: An EU force finally gets tough on Somali bandits

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Harassing the pirates on land, before they can rob on the high seas, could be the smartest strategy yet.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/editorials/land-pirates-an-eu-force-finally-gets-tough-on-somali-bandits-636214/

[ellisonz]

1. Funny how the trend isn't to arm the crews...

...Gungeon heads explode.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. There are significant issues with civilian vessels with weapons aboard in most nations

There are teams of hired gun who ride vessels and transfer to other ships so as never to be armed in port. The logistics are horrendous or there would be more of that.

[ellisonz]

5. Okay so why not more mercs then?

I mean supertankers and their crews aren't cheap.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. So you are good with foreign troops raiding in Somalia and the use of mercs?

That is not what I would expect from you

[ellisonz]

7. I'm more academically intringued by the idea...

...that it is less costly to simply let them take the ship and/or crew than to try to fight the pirates.

I'm no Somali pirate sympathizer

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Troops on the ground is a very significant escalation that seems to be flying below the radar

since it is Somalia. Consider the blow back if the US did it in Mexico in the free fire drug zones.

The merc concept is so limited since commercial vessels cannot be armed in port. IIRC, someone was proposing a Q ships (fake merchants) designed to draw in the pirates. Then there is the purported video of a Russian ship that freed the pirates and while in transit back to their mother ship somehow the skiff blew up.

While I tend to be a strong supporter of civil rights and legal process, the only short term and practical way I see to eliminate the pirates may be the Russian approach.

[ellisonz]

9. "the only short term and practical way I see to eliminate the pirates may be the Russian approach."

So you're in favor of cold blooded murder as a deterrent to piracy?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Death is the historical punishment for piracy, either in battle or the on gallows/yardarm.

and its not murder if it happens during a battle. Also the basics of LOS do not apply to pirates. You have no obligation to rescue them from their sinking vessels.

The Russians (if it was real) were clearly beyond acceptable. IIRC the claim was that they intercepted an open boat with men and arms aboard, disarmed them, send them on their way with a hidden timed charge.

Somalia is a failed state. Any solutions from that route will be long term.

Troops on the ground are not the right answer either. The maritime patrols cost are huge.

If the rest of the world wants to stop the pirates in the short term, making it too "expensive" to be a pirate is about the only way to go...so far they have not chosen to go that route.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Look for a jump in ransom.

Like any business, the cost gets passed on to the customer.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. I do not see anyone screaming about the clear breach in national sovereignty...