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The whole piracy at sea thing, not being about to protect themselves, has a gun control feel to it.
NAIROBI, Kenya — The EU's anti-piracy force says that Somali pirates have again attacked the Maersk Alabama, the U.S.-flagged ship hijacked last spring.
The EU Naval Force says pirates fired automatic weapons at the ship, but that guards on board the craft fired back and thwarted Tuesday's attack.
The vessel was previously hijacked in April. Pirates took American ship captain Richard Phillips hostage and held him at gunpoint in a lifeboat for five days.
Navy SEAL sharpshooters freed Phillips while killing three pirates in a daring nighttime attack.
Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Naval Force, says it's pure chance the Maersk Alabama was attacked a second time. He says every ship sailing off East Africa is at risk from pirates.
Do you think the use of military forces is warented in this situation? I realize it is a big area to cover, but this has and will continue to threaten the lives of Americans.
Do you think the use of military forces is warented in this situation?
yes
I realize it is a big area to cover, but this has and will continue to threaten the lives of Americans.
For this very reason, because Americans are being threatened.
Our ships have a right to be there. The pirates do not have a right to our ships/people/goods. We have the right to chop them in half with 20mm if they come into range.
If each boat had 2 of these I believe that would be a deterant.
Its a global problem for any ship that passes through these waters extorting Billions from the #1 country in the world on corrupt government. You are right only one way to fix this
I say whack em. There is no doubt that the pirates are armed and dangerous. Meet force with force (overwhelming force actually). It's pretty obvious these guys have figured out it's a good way to grab some money. Let it be known that it's a one way ticket and that might stop this nonsense.
Hose a few dozen of these small boats down with superior firepower and they might decide being a pirate is not such a good profession.
Disclaimer: If you see emoticons, that means the above is written in jest. It is for entertainment purposes only. It is not meant to represent any actual persons, places, or things. It is the opinion of the poster that it is funny. Your opinion may vary. No animals were harmed in the typing of this post but a few egos may have been bruised.
With everything that is going on in the world iraq, afganistan ect ect. what is the navy really doing. afganistan is land locked. Iraq has very little coast line. I can understand there transports moveing stuff back and forth from these places and the carriers supporting in the air there. but what about every thing else(I.E. subs, destroyers,ect ect). I would think that they could put about 20 ships in the area and take care of these guys.
I agree with those that say put a end to the problem when it starts. Ships radar picks these little boats up long before they are close enough to do any damage and it would only take a small amount of training to have several of the crew turn those boats around quickly. They have security on airlines dressed as normal passangers, why can't a ship worth millions have several trained personal ready to deal with these fools in that area when needed. What are the chances of the same ship getting hit twice. Darn good if your not going to stop letting them do it. Simple fix!!
__________________ Fountain 31TE...... Hydra Sports 21 Bay...... Dodge 3500 Camping unit "Gone Fishing"..... Tinker Toy..... Sunset Point Nixonton NC
Whats it gonna hurt to put a couple hundred thousand worth of guns/ammunition on these boats? The ransoms the pirates ask are multiple times that. All it would take is a good volley of bullets comming at these guys and they would go back to farming cocaine or whatever in the hell they do.
you are looking at this the wrong way. it's not the little boats that need to be taken out. put a tracking device on one of the little boats and let it go back to the mothership. then have a sub or plane take out the mothership and no more problem. without the mothership those little boats will have no place to go and will run out of fuel and the cargo ships can just run them over.
With everything that is going on in the world iraq, afganistan ect ect. what is the navy really doing. afganistan is land locked. Iraq has very little coast line. I can understand there transports moveing stuff back and forth from these places and the carriers supporting in the air there. but what about every thing else(I.E. subs, destroyers,ect ect). I would think that they could put about 20 ships in the area and take care of these guys.
I agree. Some will talk about the cost of doing this, but guess what? They are out somewhere on manuevers anyway, I say manuever off Samalia (heavily armed).
Blow the scumbag pirates out of the water if they come within a mile of a US flagged ship.
I agree! Have a couple 20mm on board to take care of the issue with some medium duty assault rifles with grenade launchers to take care of the boat and OF COURSE a few good ole boys that can pick off a deer from a half mile away would take care of the situation probably well before the pirate scum even gets close.
Send the pirate scum to the deep. Then have a special dinner afterward to celebrate the thinning of the herd of worthless scum!
__________________
"Im only comfortable with a three man brain trust." -The Janitor
USCG 100 Ton Master Captain w/ Towing Endorsement
FCC Marine Radio Operators Permit (FCC MROP License/Endorsement)
Do you think the use of military forces is warented in this situation? I realize it is a big area to cover, but this has and will continue to threaten the lives of Americans.
No, I don't.
First, deadly force has been used at least once on these pirates, and clearly, it was not a deterrent.
The mass of area is way to vast for our Navy to patrol effectively for any length of time.
Arming these ships is a dangerous proposition as well. These guys are merchant mariners, not mercineries. Also, given the sheer number of ports and various nations that these ships visit, I would envision carrying a mass of firepower would create a logistic nightmare.
Finally, why should our military keep doing the work of the rest of the world? If they pirate a US flagged ship, then the US should repsond in kind, as we did in the past. I, however, draw the line at this being a US led effort to combat the worlds piracy issues. Let the British, German's , French, whoever deal with it for a change.
Just one man's view.
__________________ Move along, nothing to see here.
Some people don't learn the first go round. The international shipping companies aught to employ trained professional's to protect their ship's, people and cargo, just like the airlines employ Air Marshalls.
They can call them Sea Marshall's..
First, deadly force has been used at least once on these pirates, and clearly, it was not a deterrent.
The mass of area is way to vast for our Navy to patrol effectively for any length of time.
Arming these ships is a dangerous proposition as well. These guys are merchant mariners, not mercineries. Also, given the sheer number of ports and various nations that these ships visit, I would envision carrying a mass of firepower would create a logistic nightmare.
Finally, why should our military keep doing the work of the rest of the world? If they pirate a US flagged ship, then the US should repsond in kind, as we did in the past. I, however, draw the line at this being a US led effort to combat the worlds piracy issues. Let the British, German's , French, whoever deal with it for a change.
Just one man's view.
I think it will take a sustained effort to solve the problem. Popping a couple of these clowns won't send a message to the rest of them. Punching holes in a bunch of them for several months straight might get their attention.
I agree, we shouldn't be the worlds police. Get the shipping companies to pitch in. Either way, I think we could get a true coalition on this one. Hell, even the French have shown a willingness to drop these dirtballs.
I don't know what the armament on the Maersk Alabama was but apparently it was enough to turn them away. Doesn't seem to be too much trouble to get them going the other direction.
Disclaimer: If you see emoticons, that means the above is written in jest. It is for entertainment purposes only. It is not meant to represent any actual persons, places, or things. It is the opinion of the poster that it is funny. Your opinion may vary. No animals were harmed in the typing of this post but a few egos may have been bruised.
I think it will take a sustained effort to solve the problem. Popping a couple of these clowns won't send a message to the rest of them. Punching holes in a bunch of them for several months straight might get their attention.
I agree, we shouldn't be the worlds police. Get the shipping companies to pitch in. Either way, I think we could get a true coalition on this one. Hell, even the French have shown a willingness to drop these dirtballs.
I don't know what the armament on the Maersk Alabama was but apparently it was enough to turn them away. Doesn't seem to be too much trouble to get them going the other direction.
No we shouldn't be the worlds police. WE SHOULD BE THE WORLDS OWNER. If other countries want to make a coalition then fine but USA needs to worry about USA boats. If another country wants in then they would need to come in a do something about it and once we see they commit then we would protect their ships just like they would protect our ships.
We need to make a two month bloodbath happen and I bet during the third month you would see a HUGE decrease in piracy.
__________________
"Im only comfortable with a three man brain trust." -The Janitor
USCG 100 Ton Master Captain w/ Towing Endorsement
FCC Marine Radio Operators Permit (FCC MROP License/Endorsement)
Actually, You DON'T disagree with me. You THINK you disagree with me, but you're mistaken. You're simply experiencing an illusion caused by the limits of your comprehension. -Dilbert
Pirates again attack US-flagged Maersk Alabama 
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