First they had the Costa Concordia turn on its side and sink, and now a ship is without power, adrift because of a fire breaking out on board. And oh yeah, they are right in the middle of Somali pirate territory.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/27/world/europe...html?hpt=hp_bn7

 

http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/...les-ship-adrift

 

The general region where the cruise ship was adrift — off the coast of Tanzania — has seen a rash of attacks by Somali pirates. In 2009, an Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people aboard fended off a pirate attack in the Indian Ocean far off the coast of Somalia.

 

Moretti said an armed nine-member Italian military team on anti-pirate duty was aboard the Allegra, but he insisted the maritime region where the ship was now "isn't a high risk area for pirates."

 

"If pirates attack, the armed guards on board will respond. But as far as I am aware, no pirates have been sighted in the area," said Seychelles presidential spokeswoman Srdjana Janosevic.

 

A cargo ship was due to reach the Costa Allegra early Tuesday, and Moretti said it would bring batteries and otherwise help with communications. On Tuesday morning, a helicopter is expected to arrive, ferrying in "fresh food, cell phones and walkie talkies."

 

Tugs from the Seychelles island of Mahe, the largest island in the Indian Ocean archipelago, will arrive Tuesday afternoon.

 

"Once they arrive, they will decide which port" to take the Allegra to, Moretti said. "It depends on sea conditions."

 

Moretti said one possibility was evacuating passengers from the Allegra on lifeboats to Alphonse Island, then having them fly from its small airport to Mahe island. He also said 15 Costa engineers, technicians and other officials were flying to Mahe in hope of reaching the Allegra by air to repair its generators.

Forgive my ignorance, but why the f*** are Somali pirates such a problem? Why aren't we just having the Navy sink them left and right?

Forgive my ignorance, but why the f*** are Somali pirates such a problem? Why aren't we just having the Navy sink them left and right?

 

Some of the problems are there is no legitimate government in Somalia, so they pirates have free reign. Further, it is Somalia's greatest source of cash money, so even if there was a legitimate government. there may not be a burning desire to shut them down too soon unless a lot of foreign aid could replace it. For the US Navy to get involved at that level would probably require some declaration from the President. With an election coming up, spending money and lives to protect foreign flagged ships may not be politically wise.

 

On to the logistic side if someone really wants to fight these pirates. You have to find them on land, they are good at hiding and operating inside Somalia without their consent opens up some problems, but Bush took out Bin Laden in a foreign country, so that may not be such a problem. The pirates went from small boats, attacking private yachts, to buying better weapons and bigger boats with longer range. Before they were to small and nimble to find on the open water, now they are too heavily armed.

 

And a boat floating in International waters isn't doing anything wrong until they do something wrong.

Some of the problems are there is no legitimate government in Somalia, so they pirates have free reign. Further, it is Somalia's greatest source of cash money, so even if there was a legitimate government. there may not be a burning desire to shut them down too soon unless a lot of foreign aid could replace it. For the US Navy to get involved at that level would probably require some declaration from the President. With an election coming up, spending money and lives to protect foreign flagged ships may not be politically wise.

 

On to the logistic side if someone really wants to fight these pirates. You have to find them on land, they are good at hiding and operating inside Somalia without their consent opens up some problems, but Bush took out Bin Laden in a foreign country, so that may not be such a problem. The pirates went from small boats, attacking private yachts, to buying better weapons and bigger boats with longer range. Before they were to small and nimble to find on the open water, now they are too heavily armed.

 

And a boat floating in International waters isn't doing anything wrong until they do something wrong.

Not to Filibuster this thread but, Obama took out Bin Laden.

Forgive my ignorance, but why the f*** are Somali pirates such a problem? Why aren't we just having the Navy sink them left and right?

Theres a pretty huge area to cover and many small craft that may or may not be pirates. It isn't easy.

Not to Filibuster this thread but, Obama took out Bin Laden.

 

My bad.

 

(my next comment would have filibustered this thread)

Forgive my ignorance, but why the f*** are Somali pirates such a problem? Why aren't we just having the Navy sink them left and right?

$$$$

Forgive my ignorance, but why the f*** are Somali pirates such a problem? Why aren't we just having the Navy sink them left and right?

 

I think diplomatically it is better to have them arrested and tried in African countries like Kenya. That raises a whole different set of issues.

Small ships, lots of space. Really hard to find.

Forgive my ignorance, but why the f*** are Somali pirates such a problem? Why aren't we just having the Navy sink them left and right?

 

In waters that large & open, it's not that easy when they are in tiny motorboats. And you can't attack their homebase, as dangerous as it is.

In waters that large & open, it's not that easy when they are in tiny motorboats. And you can't attack their homebase, as dangerous as it is.

 

They have graduated from tiny motorboats. Now they have large "mother" ships that can create a base for the smaller motorboats. They also have rocket grenades and bigger weapons.