It looks like the pirates are making good on their promise to exact revenge for the killing of their 3 compadres on Sunday as a U.S.-flagged cargo ship was attacked on Tuesday but the pirates were denied boarding. The ship was enroute to Mombasa, Kenya.
As was discussed in the comment thread in our post on the same subject yesterday, why aren’t we doing more to defend our cargo ships? Why not arm the crew members or stage a detachment of Marines on our cargo ships? Without getting into exhaustive detail, basically, there are 3 reasons why: the cost of training and arming your crew is quite high, international maritime law is very restrictive in its rules of engagement and we are stretched thin as it is with our uniformed combat personnel to essentially open up a 3rd front in addition to Iraq and Afghanistan.
However.... these guys may be looking for some work.
They are the very same people who are training, right here in San Diego, our sailors in force protection/physical security for our combatants at sea.
Trust us - crossing that Rubicon will have to be considered if things continue in their current trajectory.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
An idea just too awesome to not pass along.
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3 comments:
San Diego News reports "these guys" are already on top of it!
The Navy says the coalition cannot effectively patrol the 2-point-5 million square miles of dangerous waters and welcomes help from San Diego based Blackwater Worldwide and Mississippi-based Hollowpoint.
NATO, with a flotilla of warships due to arrive soon in Somali waters, is trying to work out legal and regulatory issues surrounding the use of armed contractors before adopting a position on private security companies.
Critics are concerned that armed guards may increase the danger to ships' crews or that overzealous contractors might accidentally fire on fishermen.
Oh, I'm sure they'll be accused of it, anyways.
I can hear the conversation already.... "But Somali fishermen ALWAYS pack AK-47s! And the lack of nets is because... um... they lost them, and were coming for assistance!"
'Dawg, thanks for that.
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