Long John Silver was a pirate with a soul. Jim Hawkins even believed in Long John until he found out he was being led astray! Robert Louis Stevenson wrote vividly in “Treasure Island” of this. Captain Kidd was a swashbuckler that ran all over Port Royal, Jamaica town and has been the poster boy for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. Then there was Blackbeard, the Captain Edward Teach, who was one of the first to utilize smaller boats to engage bigger Ships of the Line. He was very effective until his English protagonists met him with similar sized boats themselves and then there was blood. Teach eventually, was offered two pardons, but refused and was tracked down, engaged and finally shot five times, stabbed 20 times and beheaded.
The Barbary pirates were a main problem for the United States shortly after the turn of 19th Century. In 1801, even Thomas Jefferson met with the Pirates of Tripoli….who wanted $225,000 to leave the US alone – “Tribute”. The English and the French had made secret deals with the Pirates…but still got attacked upon occasion. We finally had to send our Navy and Marines to the Shores of Tripoli….to dispatch these bad characters. What happened was a five year war which included both sides stealing each others ships and the United States paying a Million Dollars a year for 15 years!
Hostilities stopped in 1805 but began again in 1807…..and a deal was even struck to return some of our military and civilians for $60,000….”Ransom”! So here we are again, with Somali Pirates starting up something that hadn’t happened in about 200 years! There is little doubt that stealing for ransom any Global Vessel is an “Act of War”. Whether they are “Pirates”, or “Agents of a Foreign Power”…..how are we to know which one that might be?
“Summary Execution” was typical when Pirates were captured in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the value of human life has diminished even further that it was 200 years ago….if that is possible. Those that might blow themselves or others up….those that would kill or mutilate others without provocation are also becoming more typical..rather than the exception. We need to send a message to “someone” regarding this conduct!
What should be done with the Somali Pirates…..or any Pirates? Corrective Action should include: (1) Providing high speed ocean racing boats to track down and eradicate Pirate motherships and their kindred vessels. (2) Call for immediate execution of any and all Pirates found….wherever they are! And (3) Call for those responsible who might instigate or employ pirates for whatever reasons to be imprisoned for life without possibility of parole.
The “Pirate Issue” has been around almost as long as the oldest profession. We need to dissuade “piracy” through an active approach. Allowing this type of conduct to continue without corrective action is just asking for increased and unabated “Pirate Activity”! The United States needs to take the lead in this fight against these criminals.
One last thought: What if the owners of the products or ships involved are the ones behind and employing the pirates for reasons we don’t know? What if terrorist organizations or countries are behind these activities? Should our response to the Pirates be any different if those issues are involved!
Ron & Anna.
For a minute I thought you were writing about baseball now that the 2009 season has commenced.
I thought the only “pirates” in the news were in the National League city of Pittsburg, PA.
On a serious note, taking a ship on the high seas is an act of war against any nation whose flag it is flying. In this case we have an American registered ship with an American crew.
So Sec. of State Hillary Clinton. What’s the USA game plan for getting our captain released? Do we negotiate with terrorists?
I hear they are now out of fuel and in a few days will be out of food.
So I guess we should have Domino’s deliver a few pizza’s in exchange for our captain when they get hungry.
2 Words,
Navy Seals
This reminds me of the Treaty of Tripoli (1796, signed by President John Adams)– the breaking of that treaty in 1801 resulted in ‘the shores of Tripoli’ being added to the Marines’ anthem.
from Article 11: “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, – and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”