Editorials & Other Articles

ProgressiveProfessor

(22,144 posts)

8. Troops on the ground is a very significant escalation that seems to be flying below the radar

Fri May 18, 2012, 12:04 PM

May 2012

since it is Somalia. Consider the blow back if the US did it in Mexico in the free fire drug zones.

The merc concept is so limited since commercial vessels cannot be armed in port. IIRC, someone was proposing a Q ships (fake merchants) designed to draw in the pirates. Then there is the purported video of a Russian ship that freed the pirates and while in transit back to their mother ship somehow the skiff blew up.

While I tend to be a strong supporter of civil rights and legal process, the only short term and practical way I see to eliminate the pirates may be the Russian approach.

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Land pirates: An EU force finally gets tough on Somali bandits [View all] yortsed snacilbuper May 2012 OP

Funny how the trend isn't to arm the crews... ellisonz May 2012 #1

There are significant issues with civilian vessels with weapons aboard in most nations ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #3

Okay so why not more mercs then? ellisonz May 2012 #5

So you are good with foreign troops raiding in Somalia and the use of mercs? ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #6

I'm more academically intringued by the idea... ellisonz May 2012 #7

Troops on the ground is a very significant escalation that seems to be flying below the radar ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #8

"the only short term and practical way I see to eliminate the pirates may be the Russian approach." ellisonz May 2012 #9

Death is the historical punishment for piracy, either in battle or the on gallows/yardarm. ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #10

Look for a jump in ransom. Arctic Dave May 2012 #2

I do not see anyone screaming about the clear breach in national sovereignty... ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #4