Comments on: And we sailed the seas of green in a yellow submarine

By: Herb

Herb — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:41:01 +0000

Back in the day the Yurps couldnt be bothered with the Barbary gang either. Thought it less expensive to pay the tribute. I still say Lloyds ought to step up the premiums. Even if the crew ransom is the responsibility of the Owner, the taking of the vessel hazards the vessel. Anything can happen.

This is just stupid.

By: Morenuancedthanyou

Morenuancedthanyou — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:02:58 +0000

John Bolton in an interview currently on FOX News:
“Our military talked to NATO allies about this [pirate situation] before, and many of our other [sic] NATO allies didn’t want to do anything about it because they were worried that they would be accused of violating the human rights of the pirates if they took military action.”
This reminds me of an American cigarette commercial:
“You’ve come a long way, Baby, to get where you’ve got to today!”
Is there no way back?

By: 49erDweet

49erDweet — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:36:52 +0000

Thanks, “W“, for the great edit feature. [Delete this after reading, if you wish]

By: 49erDweet

49erDweet — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:32:52 +0000

Why waste time with their comic-opera national “government”? Don’t these “Piratetowns” try to make lawful livings off the sea?
If so, do some demonstration near-destruction of maritime harbor facilities in open water from a gazillion miles away, out of the blue, and let the locals sort it out.
If not, or if the locals can’t cut it, erase “near” from the previous sentence.

Else exchange our captain for a boatload of lawyers, and then steam away.

By: Herb

Herb — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:22:15 +0000

The United States Navy made it’s bones by curing a piracy problem in the western Med in 1808.

All this is doing is showing impotence. Placing armed parties on (not even all) of the ships transiting this area and enabling them to go hot when necessary is the simple and time honored solution. If there is concern that some Somali fisherman in distress might get ignored, that can be addressed by a Spanish or Dutch or even French Safety Patrol.

In this area there are two kinds of vessels: potential victims and pirates. Size is the first sieve.

This isnt hard.

By: Brock

Brock — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:56:22 +0000

Mike said: I have a better use for the money — return a battleship to service. Also takes care of the communication problem. Nothing says “Please stop pirating” like a broadside of 16-inch landing all over Piratetown.

Mike for President.

By: Bob Murphy

Bob Murphy — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:24:53 +0000

The thing that just cracks me up is that the naval assets in the area that are constrained by lawyers and wimpiness are probably worth more than the whole of Somalia and they are incapable of putting up a chopper and destroying every fast boat out at sea full of armed men.
Trial?
Bullshit.
Kill em all.
End of problem.

Why give someone far out in sea in a speedboat full of weapons the presumption of reason.

I’m embarrassed for my civilization.

By: NahnCee

NahnCee — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:31:23 +0000

“Add Somali to my Nuke List, or at least my carpet bombing list for what good does it do mankind?”

I’m perfectly satisfied with leaving them to kill each other and starve to death just like we have been doing for the past 20 years, since they decided it was such good idea to drag the dead body of an American soldier through their dusty towns. Why waste a perfectly good bomb when famine and their own insanity will take care of the majority of them?

By: trangbang68

trangbang68 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:16:45 +0000

He’s just giving Obama an out. Why take military action when a bailout will work. As long as the warlords don’t get bonuses out of the bailout.

By: Habu

Habu — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:13:22 +0000

I was unaware ACORN was speaking for the Somali gov’t and do’in shakedowns just like here in the States.

Add Somali to my Nuke List, or at least my carpet bombing list for what good does it do mankind?