Dealing with pirates (2) . . .


Originally, I had several posts critiquing the early stages of the operation, but I've been persuaded that doing so may provide some clues to those wishing to harm others in the future.

Frankly, I don't think many pirates are going to be checking this blog out for clues on what to do, but in the one in a gazillion-billion chance that something I say might actually help anyone on the wrong side, they've all been deleted.

I do expect we'll be better prepared next time.

Just about everyone is now saying that we should go ashore and deal with the situation there. While that is certainly one way to do it - and maybe should be part of an overall solution - we can do a hell of a lot more at sea than we're doing now. As I said the other day, simply changing the rules of engagement and the tactics they imply is an important first step.

The shipping companies and the firms that insure them bear some responsibility in this mess. From their point of view, it's cheaper and safer to play pirate roulette for thirty grand or so a passage, than risk arming the crews and taking other steps to deal with the problem. Obviously their cost-benefit analysis can't calculate the loss of life, which is where this will eventually lead.

And did anyone notice that the pirate was smiling when he was brought to NY the other morning?