Somali Pirates: A Lack of Political Will
USS Gettysburg
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/12/somalia.pirates/index.html
Hooray! Capt. Phillips apparently made a second attempt at escape, and Navy SEALs took the opportunity to fire on the Somali pirates. 3 were killed, and 1 was capture. A happy ending!
New reports now say that the President gave shoot-to-kill orders at least twice. Congratulations to President Obama for having the political will that I earlier questioned. Frankly, it is probably the easiest decision he will ever make.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/11/somalia.u.s.ship/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/12/somalia.pirates/index.html
This week there has been an on going saga of the pirates attacking an American cargo ship, being repelled by the ship’s crew, and the pirates running off with the ship’s captain. Apparently during the attack, several crew members hid in parts of the ship, allowing them to attack the pirates. In the mean time the cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama, has almost reached port safely in Kenya.
As of now, Capt. Richard Phillips remains with 4 pirateteers in a 28 foot covered lifeboat. Apparently he is a hero, agreeing to go with the pirates so they would leave the ship. He made at least one failed escape attempt on Thursday. But right now, it appears the the U.S. Navy is playing a wait-and-see game, and it is uncertain if there is any plan in place at this time. Pirates have been searching the waters off Africa’s coast to try to find the lifeboat, a U.S. military official with knowledge of the situation said Friday. They are using hijacked vessels and skiffs launched from larger ships, the official said. Apparently these ships have failed in their mission, and are returning to Somalia. The USS Halyburton, with helicopter capabilities, has now joined the USS Bainbridge in the area, and a third ship, the USS Boxer — with a medical facility aboard — should be there by the end of the day. Negotiations are on going, but appear to have broken down on Saturday night.
The problem is really the lack of political will. The Obama Administration has been reluctant to take a position on the Somali pirates at all. President Obama has refused to answer any questions on the subject.
There is an internal debate going on in the White House. The military is pushing for strikes against Al-Shabab, whose fighters have battled Ethiopian occupiers and the tenuous Somali government. Civilian leaders including Attorney General Eric Holder are more resistant, unsure if there is a legal construct to go after the pirates without military action. Many in Congress, including Sen. Patrick Leahy, also support this group.
What makes it more difficult is the attack against Bush era policies, including the term ‘enemy combatant’. Enemy combatant actaully is an interantionally accepted classification, but because of political expediency it has been thrown out with the kitchen sink. The problem now is that the Somali pirates don’t fall under any clear classification. That makes it very difficult to take offensive action against Somali basis.
In reality, international law is very clear on this issue. There is hundreds of years of international precedent of classifying pirates as the enemy. Thomas Jefferson was forced to declare war against the Barbary pirates in the early 1800s, which in fact was the first international war that the U.S. was involved in.
The even scarier prospect is of Somalia becoming the new Afghanistan. It has been a failed state for 2 decades, and there is no evidence that it going to change. The Al-Shabab is a Islamist organization that has been fighting an interal civil war against the Somali government, and their piracy is just a way to fund their other interests. They have been shown to have some links to Al Qaeda, and were at least partially responsible for the 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The FBI has now stated that at least 20 American nationals, primarily from the Minneapolis area, have left the United States to join the organization, which is a scary prospect.
The lessons of history are clear. The U.S. is at war with these Somali pirates, whether we recognize it or not. And this kind of terrorism (and that is exactly what piracy and hostage taking is) is a threat to our interests. The Obama Administration should treat this as a war action, no different than actions against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Now, that doesn’t mean we are going to have an invasion of Somalia. But it does mean that the military should be given leeway in dealing with the pirates. This includes military strikes against the Somali camps. When you are dealing with amorphous organizations such as Al Qaeda and the Somali pirates, political will is essential for long term success.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/08/explainer.piracy/
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuufKUFr3q0
What’s talk of pirates without a little Pirates of the Caribbean?
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The terms piracy does not apply to this group, they are actually thugs and militia groups, which they are increasing by the number. Each militia is killed or captured it is easily being replaced. Majority of the Somalis are against this barbaric act. The real masterminds of this such behaviors are in Dubai and Kenya behind the table, what the FBI and the US government really should do is track down the pattern of purchase of speedboats, specially the type that is being use by the militia group inside the sea, and large vessels purchases in any areas. Secondly, try to track down large transfer of money going to Kenya, Dubai, Italia, or even Canada. Capture the masterminds, and then perhaps the activity will slow down, because these groups are getting real Intel information; where to be and what time to be there.
Mohamed
Seattle WA
OK so Kill em all is your answer. But what about the illegal fishing and dumping of toxic waste in Somali water? Is anyone going to say or do anything about that? Probably not. ‘Cause they Black and poor.
This is the problem. If it were an American company doing it and our government found out, I think they would do something. But there is no international community willing to step in. I keep on hearing that the international community is going to do this or that…fine. It is their responsibility. But when they attack us, then it is purely our responsibility. I would favor the US backing any mission that would help halt the illegal dumping. But liberals want everything to be an international effort; well, they get their wish.
I’m dubious about these “illegal fishing and dumping of toxic waste” claims going around. For example, if these thugs are really just frustrated Somali fisherman – how come they don’t go after an illegal fishing traweler? If they hijacked one, let all the crew go free and held the vessel for evidence asking for UN intervention.. THEN I’d believe them. No, it appears that they are after booty not justice.
Agreed. Good point.