Saturday, November 12, 2005

Piracy in Somali waters

Is it just me, or does this sound like "the shores of Tripoli" all over again?

As mentioned here last week, and all over the media recently, piracy off the coast of Somalia is skyrocketing. The current theory is that there is one or more "mother ships" running around, launching small-boat attacks on merchant and cruise ships in the area and taking their prizes into Somali territorial waters. And, as we all know by now, Somalia has not had a working government or any type of law enforcement for about 15 years.

These guys in no way resemble Captain Blood or Jack Sparrow. There's no romanticizing of their exploits to be done. Instead, it will take an international effort led by the major maritime powers to put an end to this lunacy. Better yet, some form of order will be brought to Somalia and the Somalis can stomp it out themselves.

As long as I'm dreaming, I wish I had a 1969 GTO Judge.

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