Brazen Pirates Strike Again

The Somali pirates continue hijacking ships, despite the American operation to free Capt. Phillips that resulted in three shots and three dead pirates. Today, they captured three more boats off the coast of Somalia, including a Greek-managed bulk carrier and two Egyptian fishing boats.

The latest trophy for the pirates was the M.V. Irene E.M., a Greek-managed bulk carrier sailing from the Middle East to South Asia, said Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur.

The Irene was attacked and seized in the middle of the night Tuesday — a rare tactic for the pirates.

U.S. Navy Lt. Nathan Christensen, spokesman for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said the Irene was flagged in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and carried 23 Filipino crew. Choong reported a crew of 21, and there was no immediate way to reconcile the figures.

Apparently the pirates haven't gotten the message that their days are numbered. They continue plundering shipping that comes near the coast.

The message the rest of the world is sending is that they're not going to free all of the hostages held by the pirates, but only those whose navies are in a position to take action (the US and French for example, although the Indian Navy has also engaged and destroyed pirate shipping).

A map indicates where the pirates have struck during 2008, and 2009 looks like it's going to be a banner year despite changes in the shipping lanes away from the Somali coast. It's also not much of a surprise where the pirates call home.

Arming the crews may not be the panacea that everyone thinks since it only addresses a symptom, not the cause. Eliminating the pirates' port of calls will. Eliminate the pirates means of getting into the shipping lanes will (destroying the pirate boats). Sending out notices to all shipping in the region that any craft entering the shipping lanes that is unmarked and unregistered will be searched, seized, or destroyed depending on the actions of the pirates.

UPDATE:
Jules Crittenden has much more on the handling of the volatile situation off Somalia and the need for follow through.

UPDATE:
Make that four ships seized in 24 hours. A fourth ship was seized by pirates today, this one under the flag of Togo. Why would anyone expect the piracy to end after the US and French operations? The pirates know that unless the US or French go after all the pirates, they'll continue operating and attacking shipping under non-US or French flagged vessels.

Also, spare me the drama over how the pirates who captured Capt. Phillips were all teenagers. Outside of the West, many parts of the world routinely turn children into soldiers. Pirates are no different.

They answer to tribal leaders and militia leaders who are older and know that they can sacrifice the teens while not having to absorb any of the risk themselves. It's yet another reason to go after the pirate safe havens - to take out the tribal leaders and militia leaders spurring others to engage in the piracy to support their own situation.

UPDATE:
Hot Air also notes the capture of the four ships and 60 crew members and that it will take more than words to bring the situation to an end.

Flopping Aces notes that actions speak louder than words.

Blackfive concurs on the need to take action against the safe havens onshore.