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Wallowing

By Lt Col P

The unfortunate Captain Phillips is still a captive of the Somali pirates who boarded his vessel and took him off in a lifeboat. That unpowered craft is now wallowing, drifting toward shore, while being shadowed by vessels of the US Navy.

Wallowing is the right word for it.

US prestige and national honor are also wallowing, and appear to be adrift. This is really disgraceful. I do understand the imperative to get the good man back alive, but the unmistakeable impression is that we don't have the stomach for action. Uncomplimentary comparisons are being drawn between one J. Carter (Democrat of Georgia), who held the office of President from January 1977 to January 1981, and one B. H. Obama (Democrat of Indonesia, Illinois and points in between). The highlight of Mr Carter's adminstration, if one can put aside the double-digit inflation, unemployment and general malaise, was the seizure and captivity of US diplomats in Iran for some 400 days. The demands of the crisis proved insuperable for Mr Carter, but in all fairness to him it presented quite the problem. The US military did not possess the sort of fully formed, exercised, and honed special operations forces that it has today; and despite a mighty attempt by some of our best and brightest the images of the failed rescue mission in Iran encapsulate the impotence and incompetence of that administration.

But 2009 ain't 1980. Not only do we possess the right forces to take decisive action, but we own the seas and skies in the area. We can close to within any distance we choose and can hold forces there for as long as we choose. Whereas in Iran there were precious few options, off Somalia there are many. No, the problem here appears to be a lack of will, and a crisis of leadership. Perhaps we should begin to refer to the current Commander-in-Chief as "Carter 44," but perhaps that wouldn't be fair to the esteemed former President.

So, what is to be done? First, we have to get our man back. I am certain that hard men are at this minute are refining a variety of COAs to get that done. (But how far up the chain of command does "hard" go?) Second, the four pirates who who started this mess need to die. Third, we need to unilaterally implement measures to ensure that cargo vessels sailing under the US flag can defend themselves, and need not fear an approach by any boat. Fourth, we need to recognize these pirates as hostiles, and implement the appropriate rules of engagement, including taking, seizing, burning or destroying their craft, and eliminating their nests ashore. No one who goes out to sea to attack and seize any vessel should survive to see the land again. Let their bodies wash up on shore. The last set of tasks should be done as violently as possible, in front of as many cameras as care to watch the spectacle.

The things at risk here amount to far greater than ransom money and lost cargo. There are the lives of our citizens and of the other mariners who ply those waters. There is freedom of the seas. And there is the incalculable wealth of our national honor. These things are all worth fighting for. We have the forces, we have the capability, formed exercised and ready. Are we willing? Or are we just wallowing?

April 12, 2009 09:22 AM Pirates!