possible pirate counter measures

Posted By: rashid120583 (November 28, 2008 at 1:03 PM)
BTW I realize I didn't offer a solution so here are a few:

Short-term: As this article mentioned, the addition of barb wire would be a cheap and effective deterrant. Add with that some outward facing curved non-electric fencing means that hooks will have little area to gain purchase. Further, even if they do manage to gain a secure line it is very difficult to climb on a moving vessel around an outward curving fence. This idea works because no one benefits from it other then those who participate. It is relatively cheap and easy as well as non-violent.

An active crew on alert when moving through this area with the suggestion I made would significantly reduce the likelhood of sucessful attack.

As has been mentioned before there are Islamists in the reigon who did not approve when Islamic ships were attacked. Create a treaty with these people and the Pirates to ensure that no Islamic nation ship is attacked. It is very easy to swap flags when moving through the area (swallow your pride). Further, it reduces the number of targets of opportunity which reduces the cash flow of the pirates. This is a good thing.

Note: I did not say to sign some sort of alliance with these Islamists. All I am suggesting is co-opting them so that we reduce the number of ships attacked and start to reduce the profitability of attacking these ships. The Islamists will eventually have to be taken care of on their own.

I would even co-opt McLovins plan by adding some sort of convoy system in the short term. Independently the idea would not work. However, coupled with a number of other things it can be a first step to a long term solution.

Long term: The creation and development of Somalia and its goverment. Yay... nation building sucks but in this case, some sort of stability is needed. It is cheaper to provide aid to Somalia for 10 years and solve a multitude of problems and generate good will then it is to escort ships through the area for the next 50.

whoops

McCain lamented having to "withdraw in humiliation" from Somalia in 1993, but failed to mention his own role:

McCain: We went in to Somalia as a peacemaking organization, we ended up trying to be – excuse me, as a peacekeeping organization, we ended up trying to be peacemakers and we ended up having to withdraw in humiliation.

What McCain isn't saying is that he led an attempt to force the Clinton administration to withdraw more quickly. After the First Battle of Mogadishu (immortalized in the book and film "Black Hawk Down"), Clinton proposed a six-month plan for withdrawing combat troops. Then-Sen. Phil Gramm complained that the plan was an attempt to "save face," and McCain introduced an amendment to cut off funding for combat in Somalia and force an immediate withdrawal. The amendment was tabled and the Senate backed Clinton's plan. In his 2002 memoir, "Worth the Fighting For," McCain called his amendment "hasty" and wrote that he "regretted" what he came to see as "a retreat in the face of aggression from an inferior foe."