Disney characters they ain't.  Piracy is a business in this part of the world and business is good.  Seems obvious that a few well trained and equipped security officers on each merchant ship could easily defeat these khat crazed criminals.   

Congratulations to the crew of the USS Bainbridge and the Naval Special Warfare Command for ending a hostage situation off the coast of Somalia.  Somali "pirates" harassed, boarded and then took control of the U.S. flagged merchant ship "Alabama".  The Captain of the cargo ship ended up negotiating a deal where the hijackers would leave the ship while he and four of the gunmen headed for the coast in a TELB or Totally Enclosed Life Boat.  

After one failed attempt to escape the TELB by the freighter Captain, four days adrift and the surrender of one of the pirates the problem was solved by Navy SEAL snipers set up on the fantail of the Bainbridge.  The result is that Captain Richard Phillips is safe and on his way home to see his family and his three captors are dead.

Three shots.  Three dead pirates.  The good guys win this time.  

Hopefully, this incident will lead to a change in how these situations are handled.  If it were up to me crews would be allowed to arm and defend themselves.  As it is now, laws in origination and destination ports forbid ships from carrying firearms.  Their only defense against rocket propelled grenades and fully automatic rifles is speed, fire hoses and luck.  At present there are 14 ships and their crews being held for ransom along the Somali coast. 

There are times when talking won't get the job done and a little 7.62 diplomacy is justified.  Good on the Obama administration for having the stones to give the green light.

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

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