Threat Axis

Why is this situation not getting the attention it deserves?

As long as the pirates can keep funnelling money to support the radicals destabilizing Somalia – there will be a safe haven for terror.  There is no way that the Somali government (if one still exists) can even compete when you are talking about the radicals getting millions of dollars in ransom for each ship.

Stop the pirates and you have a chance to restore order to Somalia.

Now the pirates are attacking ships farther and farther out now (beyond the patrol area’s that International navies have set-up). This week – they seized;

• a VLCC filled with Saudi oil
• a bulk cargo ship filled with grain for Iran

It has gotten so bad – that one Norwegian shipping firm has ordered its ships to go around Africa (via the Cape of Good Hope) instead of using the Suez Canal.

The Indian’s made a small dent in the pirates by taking out a pirate ‘mother’ ship the other day – but if you it won’t take long before some other smaller vessel takes its place.

Since the pirates aren’t being too particular about whose ships they seize (Russian/Ukrainian (they still have that ship load of T-72′s and RPG’s), Saudi, Iranian, Chinese, etc) – they have found a common issue for the world powers to deal with.

My advice to the incoming Administration – commit a major force to the area. Maybe an amphib ready group w/ embarked Harriers (for patrol range) and heavy on Frigate escorts to control a large area of the ocean.  If the pirates do strike – recapture the ship before it gets to Somali anchorage.  Show the world that you can be a major power for a common, unselfish goal.

My advice to the ship owners – get some balls.  Let the UN forces stage a squad or two on your ships in the area.  Yes – the paint may get chipped if the pirates lob a RPG at you – but the pirates will be a blood sample on the deck.

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Update – 2117 GMT – take a look at this CNN article that shows that the pirates are being treated like hero’s by the local population – because they have the $$$$.

“The pirates depend on us, and we benefit from them,” said Sahra Sheik Dahir, a shop owner in Haradhere, the nearest village to where a hijacked Saudi Arabian supertanker carrying $100 million in crude was anchored Wednesday.