Time To Terminate The Pirate Threat

Ralph Peters notes that the only true solution to dealing with the problem of piracy in places like the Horn of Africa is to terminate the threat with extreme prejudice. Eliminate the pirates and terminate the idea that piracy is somehow justifiable or honorable, which is the position that the New York Times is taking. The Times notes how an entire industry has sprung up along the coast to support the pirates and enables the pirates, who are really nothing but terrorists operating on the high seas, to continue their tactics.

Killing the pirates will improve the safety of shipping in those waters, and can prevent ships with hazardous cargo from falling into the wrong hands. That includes the Ukrainian vessel carrying tanks and all kinds of weapons destined for Kenya, though Peters suggests that the Kenyans were simply middle men who would then send the weapons and tanks on to the Sudanese regime in Khartoum. That also includes the Iranian flagged ship carrying a mysterious cargo that has killed some of those who have come into contact with the materials.

The Russians have sent their own warship to the region to deal with the pirates who captured the Ukrainian vessel, and they aren't likely to spend a whole lot of time negotiating with the terrorists. The US Navy has been conducting operations in the region to help prevent other pirate attacks, but have not taken any action against the pirates that continue to hold a dozen ships and their crews.

It's time that this situation is rectified. These terrorists use the money to fund terrorist operations, and threaten the stability of neighboring countries.