The WaPo has some good detail on the whole operation. We can’t say enough about the SEALs, and the captain and crew of BAINBRIDGE. Fine work by all hands.
This ended well. We have our man back, and we drew a little blood. But the problem persists. We can’t wait for hostages to be taken, and then expect every action to end as successfully. No, we have to do more.
Fred Ikle offers a plan. I’m with him. (Except who needs the Security Council to authorize a blockade??) One his most important points is not to become excessively legalistic, to the extent that we forget that we have an obligation to protect our interests, our vessels and citizens. This is not a case where arrests and prosecutions will answer; what are we going to do with the suspects and convicts anyway– send them to Gitmo?
We need a complete fore-to-aft policy that includes a way to arm merchant ship crews, a change in the Rules of Engagement that marks the pirates as hostile, an aggressive campaign of raids ashore and boardings at sea, and a steadfast commitment to all of those measures. Yes, there will probably be casualties, but we are talking here about our national interests. We should not be deterred.
Can’t view the WaPo article without registering…
Can’t we establish a “No Sail” zone? It would seem we could create a 5 mile buffer between the Somali “fishing grounds” and the shipping lanes. I assume these vessels are heading to/from the Suez and once they reach the narrowest part of the strait off Djibouti, which is ~17 miles, they would be safe. Put a dozen Reapers out there and establish standing orders that a hellfire will be sent into any non-registered commercial vessel that strays into the area and the problem would be over very quickly. When is the rest of the world going to get off their butts and rescue the remaining 200+ hostages these savages have taken???
The ship owners and insurers do not want to resist the pirates. It is cheaper for them to pay protection. It’s not their life and liberty on the line.
In that sense, they are enabling these criminals and will ultimately be contributing to Al Qaeda and other equally savory groups.
Make it illegal for insurers to pay ransom.
The problem will then solve itself.
Question for all you navy types.
If you are transiting a area that is known for piracy why are they not posting extra watches at night (thats when they strike) with all avaliable searchlights on and at least give an appearance that you are on the lookout and prepared to repel boarders???? And a couple of men with a M1a up on the fly bridge would help too.
What a great job the SEAL snipers did shooting at a rolling pitching lifeboat from the fantail of a destroyer! They deserve lots of praise, as do all our military folks.
And, let’s give Obama the credit he deserves for giving the on scene commander operational control and clearance to kill the pirates.