Problem solvedApr 9th, 2009 - 16:10:38

Just put a few well armed US Marines on each ship flying the US flag. No more pirated ships.

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TruebritApr 9th, 2009 - 18:30:12

Nice idea but not practical. Nor would it be much help to ships flying other flags, including many US, UK, and other western owned vessels registered in Panama or Liberia for example. Additionally, it would be an essentially reactive strategy. What is needed is more proactive policing of these waters by western powers, plus Russia, Japan, China, India and whoever else's trade is threatened. Small high speed craft should be challenged, made to heave to, boarded and inspected, and relieved of any weaponry on board. Resistance should result in their being summarily blown out of the water.

Yes, this would have consequences in international maritime law. So what? Who would object? There is hardly any central authority in Somalia to do so. At the end of the day, these people are pirates. What else would any small, fast, civilian craft 300 miles out in the Indian Ocean and crammed with armed men be doing? Let's take 'em out!

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