US military mulls attacking Somali pirates' land bases; pirates vow revenge

Vader · 04-15-09, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laila

If you know pirates operate there and you go there knowingly and it gets hijacked and didn't pack weapons ... They are stupid and should be out of the shipping business.

What is with this sudden boom of media interest in Somali pirates, it's been happening for years .... :S

Stop defending pirate-terrorists.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

BulletWounD · 04-15-09, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new coup for you

I bet modern mines could safely deny 10 mile area off the coast of somalia.

Even if civilians occasionally hit them, it'll cause way fewer deaths then bombing cities.

I'm pretty sure mining territorial waters during a time of peace would be a blatant violation of international law. Plus, they can be defeated and they are indiscriminate killers that would kill people from Somalia as well as other countries who unknowingly stray into the minefield. They could even break loose from their mooring and destroy the ships we're trying to protect. Horrible idea...

new coup for you · 04-15-09, 09:35 AM

I don't think modern sea mines are as ****ty as they were in WWII, the last time they were used on any kind of scale.

WI Crippler · 04-15-09, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new coup for you

I bet modern mines could safely deny 10 mile area off the coast of somalia.

Even if civilians occasionally hit them, it'll cause way fewer deaths then bombing cities.

Forget that ****, get some of your patriotic dolphin/porpoise/shark things to take the fight to them.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/breaki...i-pirates.html (Thousands of dolphins block Somali pirates)

celticlord · 04-15-09, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laila

The Islamists eliminated the Pirates and piracy by making it illegal and enforcing the law .... 6 whole months before US and Ethiopia overthrew the Islamist Government allowing piracy to start again

That would be in 2006, correct?

From the International Chamber of Commerce in May of 2006:

Quote:

Despite the welcome news that the volume of marine piracy is levelling, IMB warns that international shipping is still threatened by piracy in numerous regions around the globe. Somali and Nigerian waters remain particularly dangerous. Captain Mukundan commented: “IMB is calling on law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to increase their efforts to combat piracy. Somalia has no national law enforcement infrastructure and we call upon the Coalition Naval forces in the region to continue their efforts to pursue pirate vessels and detain the pirates. Recent actions by US Naval and other units have been most helpful in bringing some of these pirates to justice.”

According to David Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University,

Quote:

Piracy has been a problem in the waters off Somalia for at least ten years. Between 2003 and 2007, there were about fifteen successful or attempted pirate attacks off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden each year. In 2008, the number of attacks jumped to well over 100; different sources use different numbers based on differing interpretations of pirate attacks. At least forty of the attacks in 2008 involving about 800 crew members were successful. This dramatic increase attracted the attention of the international community. The seizure of a Ukrainian vessel transporting $30 million worth of T-72 Russian tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition and a Liberian-flagged tanker carrying $100 million worth of Saudi oil to the United States underscored the concern. The pirate attacks shifted from the Mogadishu area to the Gulf of Aden at the end of 2007. Estimates on the amount of ransom money collected by the pirates in 2008 range from $30 million to $120 million. This may not sound like a lot as the United States distributes bail out money, but it is huge sum for impoverished Somalia. In addition, piracy has caused insurance premiums for a single transit through the Gulf of Aden to rise from as low as $500 to as much as $20,000.

So when exactly did the Islamists "eliminate" piracy, besides never?

celticlord · 04-15-09, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laila

Change the law? It seems obvious to me.

On this, we agree. Merchantmen around the Horn of Africa should be armed.

BulletWounD · 04-15-09, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new coup for you

I don't think modern sea mines are as ****ty as they were in WWII, the last time they were used on any kind of scale.

Actually, you're wrong. They have been used many times after WWII. The mining of Wanson during the Korean War comes to mind. And while mines have come a long way since WWII, this does not negate anything that I've said.

1) using them in a time of peace within the territorial waters of another country is a blatant and disgusting violation of international law

2) they are indiscriminate killers, and could kill civilians of all nationalities as well as break free and destroy our own ships

3) they can be defeated

donc · 04-15-09, 09:44 AM

Kinda looks like a growth opportunity for Halliburton/blackwater escorting merchant ships thru the horn.

winston53660 · 04-15-09, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donc

Kinda looks like a growth opportunity for Halliburton/blackwater escorting merchant ships thru the horn.

Yeah so Cheney and crew can make a few bucks.

Laila · 04-15-09, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vader

Stop defending pirate-terrorists.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

LOL

I'll defend who i please thx
They are not terrorists. Quit bandering about that word as if it holds weight to a bunch of criminals.

04-15-09, 09:35 AM	#33
new coup for you Upper West Side Jacobin Join Date: Aug 2005 Last Seen: Yesterday 09:37 AM Location: Philly, "The City that shoves you back!" Posts: 10,627 Thanks: 785 Thanked 2,296 Times in 1,550 Posts Gender:	Re: US military mulls attacking Somali pirates' land bases; pirates vow revenge I don't think modern sea mines are as ****ty as they were in WWII, the last time they were used on any kind of scale.
	__________________ And why does your tone suggest that you do not care about children?

04-15-09, 09:44 AM	#38
donc Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Last Seen: Yesterday 11:42 PM Location: west Posts: 3,029 Thanks: 651 Thanked 529 Times in 406 Posts Lean: Centrist Gender: Total Awards: 1	Re: US military mulls attacking Somali pirates' land bases; pirates vow revenge Kinda looks like a growth opportunity for Halliburton/blackwater escorting merchant ships thru the horn.
	__________________ Delay is preferable to error. Thomas Jefferson

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode