Somali Pirates Attack the Wrong Ship

“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf”
~George Orwell

When Somali pirates attacked the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama last week they obviously never anticipated the sequence of events that would unfold. These four inept individuals quickly realized they had bitten off more than they could chew and could not spit it back out. The crew of the ship fought back and the Captain gave himself up for his crew.

After five days this high-seas drama came to an abrupt conclusion. With authorization from the President, Navy SEALs took out targets of opportunity killing 3 pirates simultaneously while allowing the Captain to escape. The fourth pirate was already onboard the USS Bainbridge and was immediately taken into custody. Job well done!

Now comes the aftermath. What happens with this continued scourge of piracy? The attack on the Maersk Alabama has brought this issue to the forefront of world attention.

Somalia is a country that remains in a state of profound desperation due to severe economic deprivation. This does not equate to a right to pillage or justify piracy. If the people of this country are not willing to conform to modern civilized society in developing their on viable government and controlling their miscreants then they must be contained. Containment in this case means rooting out pirates’ safe harborages and rendering them inert.

There was an effort during the Vietnam War that was called Operation Market Time. The U.S. Navy was tasked with intercepting enemy troops and supplies coming from North Vietnam to South Vietnam in essence providing a blockade. This operation was very successfull at disrupting the flow of enemy assets. With a joint coalition from the world community this same concept and effort should be applied to present conditions. It should not be the sole responsibility of the United States to bear this burden alone.

This is not the time for squeamish and ineffective U.N. resolutions. Bold, quick and decisive action aimed at exterminating the source of this pestilence is the only course to a long term resolution. As Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said, “It is easier to go after the wasp’s nest than swat individual wasps.”

This is the age of terrorism. Whether it is shore based or sea based, terrorism has the same devastating effects. There is a toll on human life as well as economic hardship and it is time for the world to stand up against this modern-day piracy threat.