WTF, Somalia is the next snake pit!

[CalebD]

2008 Nightmare - MV Faina - Pirate Attack of The Century
This has been brewing for some time and now finally all the western nations are beginning to notice when 33 tanks go missing and captured by pirates.
I am no fan of unilateral military action but I can't quite understand why this has been left to go on for so long.
Sway, movies are movies just like the "Red October" and nobody in their right mind believes it. You just can't write stuff like this that is based in the real world.
So when will the Russkies finally exert their elbow grease and just exterminate the problem that is holding their ship with all the ordinance aboard; M/V Faina. This stuff just does not make front page headlines almost anywhere but it is pretty amazing what is going on.
Just wondering what all you 'hawks' think about this situation.

[CalebD]

I guess the 'Hawks' are not hungry so I will post this tidbit from the cargolaw.com website that I previously posted.

With Task Force One Five Zero, the NATO Group, the EU Group and the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy -- all about to be on scene -- the two questions become 1.) safety for the MV Faina crew; and 2.) what degree of political correctness will control the effort to relieve MV Faina?

It may have dawned upon the military commanders that these present circumstances have many similarities to the 17th Century. There is only one proper way to deal with this threat.

Michael S. McDaniel

Anyone care to guess what Michael S. McDaniel means by 'There is only one proper way to deal with this threat."?
Even though I am a middle of the road democrat I can't wait for someone to burn their harbours and sink their ships no matter what.
Another theory I have is that the Russkies will finally arrive and deliver some knock out bomb like they did before and the storm the ship with their commandos.
Why the heck doesn't the US do it (not that we are too far taxed by other obligations)? The only reason the Smalis have not landed those tanks and ammo is because of the US Navy, bless 'em.
Any takers, or is this story too obscure for your middle of the road background?

[CrazyRu]

Originally Posted by CalebD

[So when will the Russkies finally exert their elbow grease and just exterminate the problem that is holding their ship with all the ordinance aboard; M/V Faina. .

It is not Russian problem. It is Ukrainian problem, and there are Ukrainian tanks. Ukraine is a best friend of EU and such. Do you want Russian to fix a problem?

BTW, Russian Media is making a lot of fun out of situation.

[Rockter]

If the day comes when we don't meet piracy by slaughtering them, then what will stop them?

[sailaway21]

Caleb,
News flash...pirate activity takes place all over the world. The Strait of Malacca is probably a more serious issue than Somalia in terms of shipping value.

There are forces there; Valiente just published a chart here in the Red Sea thread and it shows the various forces.

There's this slight problem with blowing every suspected pirate/terrorist out of the water. Everyone is all for you doing so until you just happen to ventilate the wrong vessel via gunfire. I'm not sure it could be qualified as a US strategic interest either.

[retclt]

I thought Bill Clinton fixed the Somalia problem in the 90’s. I saw it in Blackhawk Down.

Seriously though . . . . . . . Somalia is a lawless arm pit. It should roped off and left to rot. Slick tried to deliver pizzas there via the U.S. Military and that didn't work. They hate us . . . and everyone else apparently . . . so I say let them rot in hell . . . I mean Somalia. Station a few gunboats off their coast and sink anything that comes off it until they learn to play nice.

[POLKA247]

I have a couple of questions;
1) How many US ships are there now? Are they supposed to be on active duty somewhere else? If so who's minding the store there?
2) Why are we there? We are not the world police(though debatable).
3) Why are food ships still being sent there if they are attacking every ship that comes by? It makes no sense to me that a ship containing food being shipped to them has to be protected to and from.
4) Where the hell is the UN anyway?
OK done ranting

[retclt]

SOMALI PIRATES SEIZE MASSIVE SAUDI OIL TANKER OFF KENYAN COAST

FOXNews.com - Somali Pirates Seize Massive Saudi Oil Tanker Off Kenyan Coast - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

I say . . . . . . . one bomb would solve the Somalian problem.


[IMG][/IMG]

[CharlieCobra]

It seems we already tried to add another stanza to the Marine hymn there and we all know how that worked out. Since Mendolev has been feeling so frisky lately, let the Spetznaz handle this one.

[retclt]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

It seems we already tried to add another stanza to the Marine hymn there and we all know how that worked out. Since Mendolev has been feeling so frisky lately, let the Spetznaz handle this one.

I agree.


I'd like to think we would do something if the oil were headed here but Dear Leader Elect wouldn't do squat. He and Al are going to have us oil and coal free in 10 years.

I just can't believe Somalia gets away with it! Whatever happened to the Ukrainian ship? Is it still being held hostage?