Pirates 'seize UK yacht couple'

[sck5]

at the risk of repeating myself, this really shouldnt be so hard. I am sorry if some Somali fishermen lose their boats but that if that is the price of dealing with the situation then so be it.

Step 1 - Declare that any boat putting out from Somalia will be boarded and sunk if it passes 12 miles from shore.

Step 2 - follow through with a few boats, sinking them and sending their crews back on land to spread the word

Step 3 - Continue to patrol with planes and helicopters, sinking any boat that goes out too far.

This should take care of the problem within weeks. Will innocent people get harmed? Maybe but they will have been warned. Will fishermen suffer? Yes, but eventually they will be able to go out again when piracy is under control. Will piracy stop? Yes, and without the need to patrol "millions of square miles of ocean"

[Architeuthis]

Originally Posted by sck5

Step 1 - Declare that any boat putting out from Somalia will be boarded and sunk if it passes 12 miles from shore.

Step 2 - follow through with a few boats, sinking them and sending their crews back on land to spread the word

Step 3 - Continue to patrol with planes and helicopters, sinking any boat that goes out too far.

No doubt that would work but who would do this? Only the West. They are the only group stupid enough to spend that kind or money and effort without a direct payback.

So the West goes into Africa and enforces some basic laws. History has told us how that will play out. We would once again be called colonial racists and compensation would be demanded.

When it comes to Africa history ties our hands. They demanded their freedom, they took their freedom and now they want us back. We can’t, we shouldn't have sent aid as we did or rather are, we really can't help like that.


Yes we would like to help but we have screwed things up so bad that we can’t. The best we can do is stop sending aid money, start treating each country as the full member of the international community it is by trading and imposing sanctions as we would anywhere else in the world.

As for piracy, yes a tough hand should be dealt but not inside Africa or directed at Africa. Globally we should encourage ships to get armed escorts when needed and to be prepared, and most importantly, be allowed to defend themselves.

We need the international laws changed so we can defend ourselves. This isn’t the 17th century, one armed ship is not going to show up in a harbour and take over a country.

[ericread]

Originally Posted by tager

Why don't Somalian ships maintain order in Somalian waters?

The real reason is that there is no government in Somalia. There is no rule of law in Somalia. So if something is going to be done, it will be a world power exrcising "Nation Building" powers. And we have all seen the "sucess" in Nation Building...

[sck5]

"the West goes into Africa and enforces some basic laws"

beyond 12 miles it isnt Africa. Its the high seas.

"We would once again be called colonial racists and compensation would be demanded."

Stopping pirates isnt racism. You would stop what we are doing because of some race baiting name calling jackass? Let them whine all they want. It isnt racist to stop pirates and they can demand compensation all they want - they arent ever going to get any.

[Ulladh]

BBC News - Freed Somali pirates 'probably died' - Russian source

The Russian navy finding they had no legal basis for holding captured pirates let them go.

In the middle of the Indian ocean, in an inflatable boat, with no navigation instruments.

[Stillraining]

Well...lets hope getting very thirsty will give them time to ponder a different way to make a living

[blackjenner]

Originally Posted by Ulladh

BBC News - Freed Somali pirates 'probably died' - Russian source

The Russian navy finding they had no legal basis for holding captured pirates let them go.

In the middle of the Indian ocean, in an inflatable boat, with no navigation instruments.

As horrible as their deaths may have been, I just cannot bring myself to feel any sympathy for them.

[kootenay]

Blackjenner I know how you feel but if you reject your humanity in dealing with crime you provide everyone else with the example that its ok to do anything you want to other people as long as you achieve your objectives. In essence you are providing the Pirates with justification for their acts not retribution. Justice would be arresting them, trying them and Punishing/executing them. Justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done. Or it isnt justice. Its revenge.

[adamsaquatics]

Originally Posted by Ulladh

BBC News - Freed Somali pirates 'probably died' - Russian source

The Russian navy finding they had no legal basis for holding captured pirates let them go.

In the middle of the Indian ocean, in an inflatable boat, with no navigation instruments.

Sure was kind of the Russians to let those men go on their way.

[blackjenner]

Originally Posted by kootenay

Blackjenner I know how you feel but if you reject your humanity in dealing with crime you provide everyone else with the example that its ok to do anything you want to other people as long as you achieve your objectives. In essence you are providing the Pirates with justification for their acts not retribution. Justice would be arresting them, trying them and Punishing/executing them. Justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done. Or it isnt justice. Its revenge.

I'm a former cop. I do believe in the rule of law. Please don't assume my statement as anything suggesting that I am rejecting my humanity. I am sure that, were they taken by Americans they would not have been set adrift.

The thing is they committed a lawless, if not a warlike, act, against the Russians for crying out loud. Do they think they are somehow incredibly lucky? They would be lucky to have Americans pick them up but, no, they jumped a Russian freighter.

While I would not wish this upon then, nor call it justice, I *still* have a hard time feeling sympathy for such violent criminals who have bad things happen to them.

And that is not me giving up one shred of my humanity.

So please don't extrapolate my balanced statement with somehow justifying *their* violence.

You see, my humanity remembers the *victims* too.

So, good points and I hope you understand mine.