Navy Task Force Deters Pirate Attacks

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Navy Task Force Deters Pirate Attacks
January 30, 2009
American Forces Press Service|by Lt. Jennifer Cragg

WASHINGTON - The presence of partner nations and the newly formed task force to reduce the number of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden seem to be working, according to the commander of Combined Task Force 151.

"I think the combination of the coalition working together (with) the maritime community has decreased the pirate activity over the last couple of months," Navy Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, also the commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2, told bloggers and online journalists during a Defense Department bloggers' roundtable Jan. 29.

The task force was formed earlier this month and comprises three ships -- USS San Antonio (LPD 17), USS Mahan (DDG 72) and HMS Portland (F 79) -- that are collaborating with other nations to deter future pirate attacks.

While a number of factors -- even the weather -- can impact the number of attacks, McKnight gave credit to the European Union and the nations involved in anti-piracy operations, as well as the task force, with helping to decrease attacks since early December.

"Some things have changed that have helped us in this case to combat piracy," McKnight said. "The United Nations has come out with several resolutions ... that give us more authority to combat piracy."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/navy-task-force-deters-pirate-attacks.html