With pirates, it's Russian roulette at sea

KALININGRAD, Russia - On a cloudless spring afternoon when the Gulf of Aden was a sheet of blue, the Somalis piled into two speedboats and drew a bead on the Lehmann Timber as the freighter, laden with 7,000 ...

[Mr D]

arm the shipping boats and blow the heads off of the pirates.

[anon]

arm the pirates and blow the heads off the shipping boats

[Mr D]

anon,

One problem with your theory. The Pirates already have guns. Why didn't you comprehend the article?

[CRC]

Lets see, your 100 miles from shore and a speed boat is coming at you. Armed pirates or not, sink the little boat, ask questions later. You can't swim carring a RPG Launcher.

[Peter]

Regarding "arming the shipping boats:" what, you think the shipping companies didn't think of that? The problem is that if they arm the freighters, then the freighters are subject to confiscation, and the crews subject to arrest, at pretty much any Western port.

Western civilization's anti self-defense hysteria has gotten to the point that we actively prevent people from fighting back against pirates. By so doing, we make the pirate's job easier, the pirates richer, and, to a certain extent, even increase the ability of terrorists to get funding.

It's the same mentality that keeps gun control strong in Chicago. Works about as well on the high seas as it works in Chicago, for that matter.

[Joey K]

Arrrrrgh! Ahoy matey...er, comrade

By sheer coincidence September 19th is "Talk Like a Pirate Day" all over the universe!

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

[melodylane]

Of course we have to say they are terrorists and can't mention who these terrorists are, nor who we suspect are involved in the fighting in Somalia or the Gulf of Aden. It would be offensive.

And, it is the fault of whom? The US and the West of course?

[Mr Biyo]

It's not so easy to imagine the situation one may have at the time of such unexpected attacks.

Ship staff are not trained to fight against pirates and terrorists.

There should be an international concern towards the issue particulary for those who pretend fighting terrorism but looking for it at the wrong places.

[Ranter]

Peter wrote:

Regarding "arming the shipping boats:" what, you think the shipping companies didn't think of that? The problem is that if they arm the freighters, then the freighters are subject to confiscation, and the crews subject to arrest, at pretty much any Western port.
Western civilization's anti self-defense hysteria has gotten to the point that we actively prevent people from fighting back against pirates. By so doing, we make the pirate's job easier, the pirates richer, and, to a certain extent, even increase the ability of terrorists to get funding.
It's the same mentality that keeps gun control strong in Chicago. Works about as well on the high seas as it works in Chicago, for that matter.

Arming the crew is an insanely GOOD idea. They don’t have to be trained it will just be an insane physiological effect. If a pirate knows he might get shot at he will be less likely to attack.

There should however be gun control. I have no objections to you owning one pistol and one rifle. It just bothers me when you own 100 handguns of the same type and a dozen assault riffles.

[Bruno Tam]

Why not do what the Germans did during the war and creat a raider . Convert a freighter add weapons maned by military and sail these treacherous waters . When pirates come at them lower the disguise and and have at them . It may not stop all piracy but it certainly will get more than a few .

[aradtke5107]

If only the world allows cargo carriers like the Lehmann Timber to carry some armaments like 5 inch guns and the authority to use them on speed boats that are spotted by the lookouts to be armed and are obviously unfriendly.

[George from outer space]

Where oh where is the U.N. in all of this. This is clearly an issue for them to do something about.

But no they will continue to accumulate parking tickets with "POLITICAL' immunity. Continue to meet at fancy U.N. receptions in all of their fancy NATIVE DRESS.

But to do something they will be as absent as they were in Bosnia. As absent as in the Sudan. As absent as in Uganda As absent as, well you get the picture.

But fear not they will continue to hold the U.S. accountable for all the wrongs in the world.

[safe in the suburbs]

Ranter wrote:

<quoted text>
There should however be gun control. I have no objections to you owning one pistol and one rifle. It just bothers me when you own 100 handguns of the same type and a dozen assault rifles.

Ranter,
Why should a collection of 100 handguns and a dozen rifles worry you? Even if I were a criminal, I could only fire one at a time. If you had only one gun you could still fire back. Not knowing if a potential victim is armed is a risk that would be enough to discourage most criminals.

[Hassan]

I think, all said so far is something, at least.
But this is entirely the responsiblity of the so called UN security council.

Somaliland Marine corps are well supported by the US, and are really doing well on their coast to stop pirates coming from Puntland and the rest of Somalia. This anti pirates capacity can be funded further to use them guards in the rest parts of Somali coast.

[Kid A]

Pirates are cool.

[Hill]

Kid A wrote:

Pirates are cool.

It takes a village to shelter a pirate. Take care of the village. Pirates are cold...dead.

[oslo59]

Leroy Jenkins wrote:

<quoted text>
They should have talk like a Liberal day, it would sound something like this:
The sky is falling, its because of Bush
Take guns away, they are evil, and bad people won't kill anyone anymore!
Humans are bad ok, thats why we have pollution, we should taxes companies because of the carbon footprint, oh wait just don't raise the price on my latte.
Bush is bad...we should tax the rich because of bush, poor people don't deserve to be poor, they should be rich

Hey Leee-Roooy! Did you do alot of drugs when you were a child? Or are you a child with access to your mommy or daddy's computer?! Stop showing the world the true definition of stupidity!

[Taxpayer]

Oh the irony! A Russian captain.

For years Russia trained and equipped these guys and every other terrorist nut job in the world.

Turnabout is truly fair play.

[White Russian Cossack]

Taxpayer wrote:

Oh the irony! A Russian captain.
For years Russia trained and equipped these guys and every other terrorist nut job in the world.
Turnabout is truly fair play.

You don't think the US did the same, for which it is paying for with our tax money. Lets see, Iraq, Panama, Israel, South Africa, Chechnia, Georgia, Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Middle America, Granada, and so on and so on.

[Taxpayer]

Last I heard, the US has not been attacked by any of the countries you listed.

Are any of those countries actively engaged in piracy?

Hi I'm Russian. I invaded Georgia. Hey, look over there, woah, not this issue, look over here. That's it, Bosnia, yeah that's right, look that way........

White Russian Cossack wrote:

<quoted text> You don't think the US did the same, for which it is paying for with our tax money. Lets see, Iraq, Panama, Israel, South Africa, Chechnia, Georgia, Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Middle America, Granada, and so on and so on.