Somali Pirates Ramp Up Hijackings

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:18:32 AM EST
Tags: Somali Pirates (all tags)

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Freed hostage Captain Richard Phillips was supposed to reunite with his crew today in Mombassa. They were scheduled to fly back to the U.S. together. The plan fell apart because Captain Phillips was on the U.S.S. Bainbridge which had to attend to yesterday's failed pirate attempt to take the Liberty Sun, another U.S. ship. While the pirates failed, they caused some damage by throwing rocket grenades at the ship.

France captured 11 pirates yesterday by preempting an attack on a Liberian ship and raiding the pirates' boat before they could launch their attack. Defense Secretary Robert Gates spoke yesterday about what's needed: Fewer expensive Navy ships. [More...]

Gates told the Air Force War College that the successful killings of three Somali pirates last week shows that the military doesn't need a billion-dollar ship to chase down a group of teenage pirates.

Here are some stats:

...brigands seized four vessels and more than 75 hostages since Sunday's dramatic rescue of an American freighter captain.

That brought the total number of sailors being held by Somali pirates to over 300 on 16 different ships — a distinct surge in the number of captives over the last few days.

As for the Pirates' future plans: not surprisingly, target American ships:

"We will seek out the Americans and if we capture them we will slaughter them," said a 25-year-old pirate based in the Somali port of Harardhere who gave only his first name, Ismail.

"We will target their ships because we know their flags. Last night, an American-flagged ship escaped us by a whisker. We have showered them with rocket-propelled grenades," boasted Ismail, who did not take part in the attack.

Bringing captured pirates to the U.S. for trial is a huge mistake and an unnecessary economic burden on the U.S. The world-wide attention to the individual pirates will make martyrs them. Handing them over to the State of Puntland or Kenyan courts, where they will receive lengthy prison terms, is a far worse fate for them.

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Somali Pirates Ramp Up Hijackings | 82 comments (82 topical)

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Mistake? Don't think so. (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by SOS on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:31:05 AM EST

Even Ghandi said it's necessary to have a police force to deal with rabid criminal elements who just don't know how to behave in a civilized way.

It's been way to easy for these people to pull off this stuff. Their not stupid. Just plain DANGEROUS.

Look! Over there! Pirates! (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Jlvngstn on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:50:18 AM EST

If you hold someone hostage off a ship you are a pirate. If you fleece the american taxpayer and hold an entire nation captive, you are a financeer.

Woody guthrie sang: (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Bemused on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:13:42 PM EST

Some rob you with a six-gun, some rob you with a fountain pen.

: That's "Pretty Boy Floyd" (none / 0) (#80)
by Peter G on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 07:49:38 PM EST

You can hear Woody sing it here.

I do not believe (5.00 / 5) (#10)
by Steve M on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:19:40 PM EST

that we will make martyrs of anyone by convicting them in a public trial according to our notions of due process. If anything, we want our civilized handling of these wrongdoers to serve as a model for the world to see.

Let's do our best to live up to the ideals of justice that have all too often been abandoned in recent years.

For good or ill... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by kdog on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:24:58 PM EST

its on now...prepare for blood on both sides.

I still say try and strike a deal where every passing ship drops a reasonable toll overboard while passing through the gulf. Not the millions they were getting, say 10 large per ship. Cheaper than a pirate hunt and everybody lives.

MOMBASA, Kenya (5.00 / 1) (#78)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 06:27:15 PM EST

MOMBASA, Kenya - The U.S. and its allies battled Somalia's pirates on two fronts Wednesday, with French forces seizing a bandit mother ship and Washington seeking to keep the marauders from their spoils. Another U.S. freighter headed to port with armed sailors aboard after pirates damaged it with gunshots and grenades.
[...]
Pirates bombarded the U.S.-flagged Liberty Sun with automatic weapons fire and rocket-propelled grenades, but its American crew of about 20 successfully blockaded themselves in the engine room and warded off the attack with evasive maneuvers.
The ship, carrying food aid for hungry Africans - including Somalis - was damaged "pretty badly" on its bridge, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record about the ship.
[...]
Meanwhile, French naval forces launched an early-morning attack on a suspected pirate "mother ship" 550 miles east of Mombasa and seized 11 men, thwarting an attack on the Liberian cargo ship Safmarine Asia, the French Defense Ministry said. No one was injured.

Not that I'd credit pirates with a whole (none / 0) (#2)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:34:05 AM EST

ton of tactical wisdom... but you'd think they'd lay low for awhile. The last thing they need is to actually bother the shipping nations enough to warrant an actual military reprisal. Because they'd lose... big time.

Seems to me they are pushing (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:44:46 AM EST

their luck and risking extermination. 25 year-old pirate taunting? Not a great PR move.


Yeah. I'd be willing to bet that every (none / 0) (#5)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:53:00 AM EST

single member of every single Navy in the world, from deckhand to 4 star Admiral would be up for a good old fashioned pirate hunt. I doubt these pirates would be so cocky with the Enterpirse breathing down their necks.


supposedly it took 5 hours (none / 0) (#7)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:56:23 AM EST

for the closest ship to get there yesterday when the attack happened on the american ship.
they are going to have to do something else. either arm the ships with rocket launchers (my preference) or use drones or something. else.


: I think even a few guys with highpowered (none / 0) (#8)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:09:18 PM EST

rifles and good aim would make a difference. We've got alot of unemployed veterans in this country. Seems like a good oppurtunity to get them some work.

yeah (none / 0) (#6)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 11:54:51 AM EST

must be fun being a pirate when have no one does anything about your piracy. I suspect that will end and he likely will not see 26.


For a number of years (none / 0) (#12)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:36:15 PM EST

the Somali thieves were able to steal the shipper's money in an almost genteel fashion, in that almost no one got hurt and the ships were returned unharmed.

Escalation of violence of the thieves' actions will, imo, soon end the gravy-train they've been enjoying.

Yeah (none / 0) (#22)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 01:53:56 PM EST

At this rate the US public will soon get behind spending a billion/month to teach the Somali anarchists a lesson. That will get them off their gravy train and the gravy train will once again flow to US Military Industrial Complex.


Sure, the US MIC, Chinese MIC, French MIC, etc. (none / 0) (#23)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:02:09 PM EST

What's your point?


Penny Wise Pound Foolish (none / 0) (#24)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:16:15 PM EST

We do not need to be occupying Somalia, despite popular demand.


: Opinion noted. (none / 0) (#25)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:18:19 PM EST

Do you know why... (none / 0) (#29)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:58:33 PM EST

... we have a navy in every civilized nation? Do you know what freedom of the seas means? I recall you are one of the big apologists for Obama's likely backsliding on his antiwar credibility, but you'll let a few pirates hijack international shipping?

lol. An extra 50,000 in Afghanistan, but god forbid the Navy fulfill their historical commission.


really (none / 0) (#42)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:13:16 PM EST

what does the navy do all day anyway.
Im sure they would love to take care of this.


: This is probably the biggest opportunity (none / 0) (#46)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:18:59 PM EST

for action that certain sectors of the navy have seen since 1945.

With the shape Somalia is in... (none / 0) (#13)
by Dadler on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:37:26 PM EST

...it is absurd to think this will stop. It is absurd to look for rationality. Desperate people do desperate things. Period. We treat so many problems like, whoop, look what just fell out of the sky.

True enough, (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:44:29 PM EST

but what are the Somali thieves who are buying the latest technology currency-counting machines, grenade-launchers, AKM's and boats desperate for besides even bigger mansions than they have already?


No shortage of Fagan type... (none / 0) (#15)
by kdog on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:50:15 PM EST

characters in this world quick to exploit the suffering and desperation of others I'm afraid.


Fagan? (none / 0) (#18)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:57:16 PM EST

I was thinking more like the Afghanistan war-lords or the guys responsible for the violence of the Mexican and Colombian drug cartels.


They send 16 year-olds... (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by kdog on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 01:11:49 PM EST

into the fray too.


: That's a naval tradition. (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:01:14 PM EST

Nelson was 12 in his first engagement.

: Yup. (none / 0) (#20)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 01:15:23 PM EST

Or just sink them. (none / 0) (#27)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:53:27 PM EST

Anyone on these pirate raids has some knowledge of the sea and its history in human affairs.


agreed dadler: (none / 0) (#16)
by cpinva on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:51:54 PM EST

With the shape Somalia is in...
...it is absurd to think this will stop. It is absurd to look for rationality. Desperate people do desperate things. Period. We treat so many problems like, whoop, look what just fell out of the sky.

it's going to require a coordinated effort by all the nations affected by this. i'm surprised an aircraft carrier, with planes able to respond in minutes, rather than hours, hasn't been stationed nearby.

as well, somalia is a trainwreck, with no legitimately functioning government. until that problem is resolved (if ever), the place will remain a haven for every brigand in africa.

conviction for piracy used to result in hanging, with your remains displayed at harbor entrances, as a warning to other, would-be pirates. they were hunted down mercilessly by the british navy, who were charged with clearing the mercantile shipping lanes of this pestilence.

perhaps a lesson to be re-learned?

: Yes. (none / 0) (#28)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:54:24 PM EST

I don't think there is a better answer. Be a pirate, be prepared to die form related causes.

hm (none / 0) (#17)
by connecticut yankee on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 12:52:36 PM EST

Handing them to Kenya is the best idea. Kenyan prisons are full of somalis and they arent viewed with much sympathy.

As for stopping piracy, i dont think its that hard if there is a will. Piracy requires large capital investments and those ships are easy to sink. Just randomly board and search somali ships. If they have rpgs or other evidence of piracy, scuttle them.

It seems hard now because we are running purely defensive tactics.

sink every single one you can find. (none / 0) (#26)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 02:52:03 PM EST

let the Navy captains try them if they survive the broadside.

Attacking Pirates is one of the reasons Navies even exist.

Not to sound like squeaky (5.00 / 2) (#67)
by Steve M on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:34:12 PM EST

but I am actually rather taken aback by your sheer level of bloodthirst on this topic. I mean, I have no problem personally with going after these pirates, but it seems like every 5 minutes you're posting something about how we need to start slitting throats right away and it just seems so out of line with the usual tenor of your postings.


: Yes it does sound a bit bloodthirsty. (none / 0) (#83)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 10:31:57 PM EST

But, I have some Royal Navy in my ancestry and they did the same things i'm talking about. Funny thing is i'm utterly opposed to ramping up the fighting in Afghanistan though. That's a disaster in the making. Something about going into the homes of hill tribes and hassling them seems wrong. Pirates in dingy's kidnapping and hijacking in international waters? Seems like an obvious answer. Anyway...

they are counting on reactions like the above (none / 0) (#32)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:03:06 PM EST

and its been working pretty damn well so far.

: They are counting on no reaction whatsoever. (none / 0) (#36)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:07:18 PM EST

I don't know about this goofy idea about letters of marque though. The Navy can handle such things by itself.

Blood Lust? (none / 0) (#33)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:04:01 PM EST

That is sick and immoral. Human beings, are still human beings even if their skin is darker than yours, their religion is different than yours and their country is a failed state.

sounds like (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:07:30 PM EST

you think everyone deserves protection except the crews of the merchant ships.


Yeah (1.50 / 2) (#38)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:08:35 PM EST

And you sound like a right wing Israeli or neocon.


You are getting batty. (5.00 / 1) (#41)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:12:35 PM EST

The sea can be easily secured if the Navy do their ordinary duties. The various American land wars in central and western asia are a lost cause though. The Pirates are completely outmatched in every single category--including the moral.


from you (none / 0) (#39)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:09:09 PM EST

I will take that as a compliment.


Bombing Somali Ports (2.00 / 1) (#45)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:17:59 PM EST

Would cause huge collateral damage. Many would die and we would start a unprovoked war. That is blood on your hands. The Israelies just did that in Gaza and the civilized world shrank back in horror.

There are laws. Bombing ports does not fall under any laws save for those of barbarians.


Salo said "bombard their ports" not (none / 0) (#49)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:21:15 PM EST

bombard Somali ports.

I don't actually think bombardment is neccessary or wise (we can take them easily on the open sea) but I don't think Salo wasn calling for a wholesale leveling of what's left of Somali infrastructure.


Their=Somali (2.00 / 1) (#51)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:23:53 PM EST

There is no distinction. It is an act of war.


actually thats not true at all (none / 0) (#54)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:33:24 PM EST

if it was it would make things considerable easier.


: Are YOu Joking? (2.00 / 1) (#56)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:45:07 PM EST

Any bombing of a Somail port is an act of war. Somalia may be a failed state but it has its own territory whether or not it is inhabited by criminals.

hey (none / 0) (#44)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:15:00 PM EST

if the merchant ships were crewed with people from underprivileged inner city neighborhoods would you want to protect them then?


Up Till Now (none / 0) (#58)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:02:42 PM EST

The crews have been safe. It is the corps and insurance cos that shell out the ransom money. Now it may be a different story with all the bloodlust and vigilanteism circulating, and on left wing blogs, no less.

Reminds me of the 101st keyboard brigade.


yeah, safe (none / 0) (#59)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:05:21 PM EST

several hundred are safely in captivity.


You suppose the Navy is going to send (none / 0) (#79)
by Inspector Gadget on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 07:40:10 PM EST

a bill to the owners of the ships they go out to save? I sincerely hope so....I'm guessing those Navy ships don't get too many inches to the gallon.


: The Navy already sent their bill, (5.00 / 3) (#82)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 09:45:29 PM EST

for most of us our payment needs to be postmarked by today...

: Should Do (none / 0) (#81)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 07:51:07 PM EST

The insurance co or owner saved $2 mil. due to the intervention. The Navy should get at least a couple hundred thousand in expenses.

First of all, what does their skin color and (none / 0) (#43)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:14:30 PM EST

religion (by the same, not every single Somalian is a muslim) have to do with it? And how is wanting to stop or limit piracy blood lust?


Bombing Somali Ports? (2.00 / 1) (#47)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:19:04 PM EST

OK, you are for that too. Wow TL has picked a lot of right wing warmongers of late.


No, I'm not for bombing their ports. (5.00 / 2) (#50)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:22:19 PM EST

We don't need to do that. But we can rather easily fight back.


Fight Back? (none / 0) (#52)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:29:21 PM EST

This is crime. There are laws to handle the crimes. It amazes me that this has reached a bloodlust frenzy over money. Last year 42 ships out of 25,000 were pirated. That is .2%.

That is the price of doing business on the high seas. The insurance companies are raking it in, no doubt at a higher rate than the pirates.

Again, to call for bombing ports where innocent people would die is insane. Must be that the poor economy and boredom of Iraqi deaths are stirring up warmongering americans.


And the price for doing piracy on the high seas (none / 0) (#55)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:39:30 PM EST

is Kenyan, etc., jails. The price for kidnapping and threatening to kill your hostage can be a bullet through your head.


Yup (none / 0) (#57)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:46:04 PM EST

Bombing ports is not part of the bargain.


I wouldn't be opposed to making the (5.00 / 1) (#60)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:15:39 PM EST

mansions the local pirate war lords live in an actionable target...


thank you (5.00 / 1) (#61)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:17:55 PM EST

for mentioning that the poor little underprivileged mistreated and forgotten pirates are raking in millions.


Why's That? (1.00 / 1) (#63)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:18:34 PM EST

Are you a shareholder of the corps that are doling out ransom money? If so maybe you should go and do the killing yourself.


heres a clue (5.00 / 2) (#65)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:25:20 PM EST

you are paying those ransoms. you think those corporations are going to shell out millions without passing the cost along to the consumer buying the goods on those ships?

: OK (none / 0) (#69)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:38:22 PM EST

No problem, I will pay with clean hands. I am not into execution or vigilanteism, or lynch mobs either. That sort of stuff usually works well to fire up the right wing. Memes like, you are paying their ransoms, they are stealing from your children, they hate your way of life, they are drinking christian babies' blood, etc.. are not either making me a bedwetter or firing me up to arms. To each his or her own.
I am fine with the law, international law, maritime law or whatever applies.
Killing pirates, their neighbors, friends and families and destroying their land and waters, over money sounds insane and barbaric to me.

Fair enough, (none / 0) (#64)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:24:50 PM EST

assuming the announced escalation of brutality by the Somali ocean-going kidnapping gangs comes to pass, I wouldn't be opposed to the military deciding to make the mansions the local pirate war lords live in actionable targets.


OK (2.00 / 1) (#66)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:28:14 PM EST

I guess you were down with going after Saddam too. What's another war among righties, although looks like you have got a few friends from the left to join your keyboard commando cheering squad.

Short war, one week, precision bombing, just like the last one, we promise.


Non sequitur, non responsive, non surprising. (none / 0) (#70)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:38:40 PM EST

Hardly (3.50 / 2) (#71)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:42:44 PM EST

What seems to be happening at TL is a veritable lynch mob ppj style. Same type of comments we used to see from the right about going after muslims, payback for WTC. The same flavor of extremism painted with a broad brush, imo.


question (none / 0) (#72)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:54:50 PM EST

how do you even know these guys are religious.
let alone muslim?


No Idea (2.00 / 1) (#74)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 05:08:53 PM EST

But the sentiment is similar to some here who were all for bombing muslims post 9/11, shooting looters who happened to be AA in NOLA disaster, and general vigilanteism sentiments that generally seems to bubble up from the right.


you assume they are religious (none / 0) (#75)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 05:11:49 PM EST

and you assume the sentiment is similar.
you know what they say about assuming?


: No I Don't (none / 0) (#76)
by squeaky on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 05:16:41 PM EST

Assume anything about the Somali pirates. If they are religious they are most likely sunni muslims at least according to this breakdown.

Hardly. (none / 0) (#73)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:57:51 PM EST

how do we even know (none / 0) (#48)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:20:26 PM EST

they are religious?


24 hrs (none / 0) (#62)
by DaveOinSF on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:18:12 PM EST

So drop in some flyers telling them exactly where the missiles will be dropped 24 hrs in advance. Much of their port infrastructure and the associated economy was derived from piracy, so it deserves to be destroyed.


: yeah (none / 0) (#68)
by connecticut yankee on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 04:36:42 PM EST

Drop fliers, then wreck the ports and ships at port.
They can they use AWACs or hawkeyes for a few months to track every ship leaving those areas, board it, search it, and sink it if needed.
Somalia doesnt have shipyards and you could place a UN restriction on sales. They can go back to wooden dhows for fishing.

quoting the pirate gooner! (none / 0) (#34)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:05:31 PM EST

"We will seek out the Americans and if we capture them we will slaughter them," said a 25-year-old pirate based in the Somali port of Harardhere who gave only his first name, Ismail.

"We will target their ships because we know their flags. Last night, an American-flagged ship escaped us by a whisker. We have showered them with rocket-propelled grenades," boasted Ismail, who did not take part in the attack."

I suggest that Somalia's ports suffer a maritime blockade if their 'big men' will not control these blowhard hooligans and murderers. Shower blockade runners with 4 inch shells and 40mm cannon. Flatten the docks in Harardhere.

This 20-something guy is definitely (none / 0) (#35)
by oculus on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:07:10 PM EST

providing bulletin board material. Kind of a St. Crispin's Day speech from a guy who wasn't even involved.


: He showered them with his RPG... (none / 0) (#40)
by Salo on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:09:38 PM EST

...yeah the reporters at the bar with his Rum Pineapple Gin cocktail.

Reminds me of a quote from The Wire (none / 0) (#53)
by connecticut yankee on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 03:29:21 PM EST

"You want it one way, but it's the other way".

I guess he wants to learn the hard way.


NATO was formed for reasons of this nature! (none / 0) (#77)
by Sailorboi on Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 06:20:15 PM EST

A NATO surface action group should be deployed to every area where piracy is a problem. America no longer has the means to police the worlds oceans as the navy has been constantly cut back for years. The size of our fleet is too small and our current ships and crews are being overextended. We can only resolve this issue with help from other countries including Somolia.

Pirates (none / 0) (#84)
by mcgeeusmc20 on Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 05:37:29 AM EST

Do we still have air marshals? How about a boat marshal? An agent that controls a stash of weapons on board. If attacked in the region he/she could arm the crew and give permission to defend the ship. Maybe something could be worked out with the insurance companies to get these guys some protection. I'm guessing anything would be cheaper than keeping our Navy in the area. On the other hand we could just spend billions of dollars fighting pirates on land. We got plenty of money right?