DoD Defends Efforts Against Pirates

[unhappycamper]

DoD Defends Efforts Against Pirates
November 20, 2008
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon offered a spirited defense Nov. 19 of its efforts to thwart an "alarming" spate of pirate attacks off Somalia's coast, saying the world's militaries are doing more than ever against the high-seas crime.

Despite increased multinational naval patrols in waters between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, there have been eight ship hijackings this week alone.

This year, 39 ships have been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that pirates off Somalia had taken in an estimated $25 million to $30 million in ransom in 2008.

Asked if the U.S. Navy is taking an active enough role to defeat the pirates, Defense Department press secretary Geoff Morrell made an animated defense.

"This notion that there's inaction out there is just utterly false," Morrell told a Pentagon news conference.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/dod-defends-efforts-against-pirates.html?col=1186032310810



uhc comment: One would think with spy satellites, a full carrier group and UAVs out the gazoo these guys should be able to get a handle on the situation.