The first war our nation engaged in was against the Barbary pirates, along the northern coast of Africa. Early 1800's this was. To be followed up with another Barbary war about ten years later.Many things have changed, but much is still quite similar. Back in the early day, nations would make yearly tribute payments in order to keep the pirates from attacking their merchant fleets.
When the United States became independent, it's merchants no longer sailed under the protection of Britain's tribute payments. Tributes were paid by the young nation, but not without much controversy.
When Jefferson became President, he refused to pay tributes on behalf of his nation, claiming the right to navigate the seas and engage in trade is a basic right of a sovereign state.
Eventually, continued attacks upon American merchant vessels led us to the First Barbary War. Warships were sent, and the U.S. Marine Corps exploits were enshrined in the opening lines of Marine Corps Hymn ("...to the shores of Tripoli").
Short story shorter: the Corps kicked ass.
I find it rather amusing that today, in another run-in with North African pirates demanding ransoms, the warship first on location is the USS Bainbridge, named in honor of Cmdr Bainbridge, who was captured and held for ransom, triggering the First Barbary War. (He later had his chestnuts pulled from the fire by Cmdr Decatur, who delivered the whoop-ass.)
I agree that our right as a sovereign nation to navigate the seas is non-negotiable. And likewise, our right to conduct trade with whomever,where ever.
I suggest we send in the navy and the marines to deliver a little more whoop-ass to those coastal settlements the Somali pirates operate from. After a village or two goes up in a ball of fire, I'm sure they'll leave our ships alone.
10 comments:
I'm not much for nationalism, but I have to admit I got the warm fuzzies when I heard the first American ship attacked by these guys fought them off.
As to the negotiations for the ship's captain, they should consist of "the only way you guys are getting out of this as anything other than shark food is to give us our guy back. Now."
Interesting interviews on the ground with teenage girls angling to marry the pirates because they are the only ones in the towns with money.
'Figuring out a decent business for these guys to be in, and helping them get there, would help not just us but all the other sailors who otherwise get shot/beheaded/dumped overboard/whatever.
On the other hand, I instinctively agree with you. (But high sentences don't tend to really deter high crime, seems like ... mostly it raises the stakes?)
kr: so far, the pirates have not killed or harmed anybody. all they want is money, and reports are that their hostages, though held within their ships for months at a time, are fed well and treated well.
These guys really have some balls. After they get what they want, where are they going to hide? The navy can track a ship in middle of night....from submarine if need be.
Even if high sentences didn't deter crime (statistically speaking they do), the kind of sentence Brian endorses would certainly reduce recidivism.
Sorry, you come at a ship with AKs and RPGs, the stakes are already about as high as they get.
There is some indication that they may have machine guns as well; again, pretty hard to make the situation more tense. I recommend putting some folks from Blackwater with a few deck-mounted Ma Deuces to share the love with 'em.
If, of course, you could persuade ship owners that it was worth their while to protect their hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of ship and cargo with a couple thousand bucks for a night watch. I am not making this up. Shipowners are relying that much on "someone else" to help.
The Barbary Coast was a relatively concise and limited region of settlement, as I understand it. Now we're talking about most of South Asia (and Southeast Asia, which I believe we've taken a shot at before), parts of Africa and the Arabian Penninsula, and the myriad islands in the vicinity for these pirates to launch off from. I don't know what the answer to this problem is, but I hardly think that blowing up two or three villages (no matter how brutally) will do anything to solve the problem. Especially since the pirates won't be home at the time, unless if by some chance they're attending a tupperware party or something...
Addendum: By the way, pirating is not a hobby or a sideline, as you well know. This is their livelihood we're talking about, and unlike with most warfare, it is not the villages that are supporting the fighters, but the other way around. So to cut this problem at the root, wouldn't you have to take out every single ship, boat, pontoon or raft that's operating in this expansive region one by one?
you make a point, although indirectly.
the barbary pirates were supported by a govt, and worked for that govt.
this somali thing is different.
but, i'm not talking about wiping out piracy world-wide.
or wiping out piracy at all.
other nations' ships are other nations' ships to defend.
i just want immunity for our own ships, which is the charge of the US govt.
if US shipping becomes too costly to attack, then it wont be attacked. they'll have to take canadian or saudi ships instead.
As usual, well done, and good day!
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