All U.S. shipping off the horn of Africa

[samrock]

should carry a squad or 2 of US military personnel. All the ships have radar.. when they see boats approaching they should warn them off or else let the "boys" to the voodoo they do so well and blast away at any boats getting to close..

[Squatch]

1. Fuck no. Hire private security companies...

but US Servicemembers should not be used to protect corporate interests.

[Marrah_G]

4. I agree

Besides, many countries won't let foreign troops into their ports.

[samrock]

5. Doh!! You are correct Sir

.. Ummm wonder why commercial firms have not started doing that yet.. I mean this has been going on for months and I have not seen 1 story about private security teams hired by these firms fighting off pirates..

[Squatch]

7. International shipping laws, I understand, are quite complex

I'm sure some countries would forbid ships from entering their ports if armed security personnel were aboard.

[samrock]

8. Wellllllllll fine!!

We should just tell the world if you not allow US ships to dock in your ports if we have privtae security teams on board.. then I guess we will not trade with your country.. Have a nice day.. Sheesh..

[Renew Deal]

11. Doesn't that mean the military is the only option?

[Renew Deal]

10. It's not about corporations. It's about people.

I don't think the plan in the OP is legal, but it's the military's job to protect shipping in international water.

[Squatch]

12. I swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States...

my oath does not include stipulations that I must support and defend commercial shipping.

[Renew Deal]

14. You're not supporting and defending commercial shipping.

You're defending your citizens.

[NightWatcher]

2. I was listening and reading about "alternative defenses" for the ships

loud speakers on the bow and stern, powerful firehoses, barbed wire around the deck.....

I think that passive and active pirate deterents are the way to go (even though yesterday I was very pro-armed mercenaries on board) I have developed both passive and active defenses for home and businesses and think that this is the way to go.

[JHB]

13. An article on "Why Ship are Unarmed" in today's paper

AP is credited, but I cant find a link.

One reason is that some ships have volatile cargos; so surrender is probably a lot safer for the crew than a firefight.

[rucky]

3. I can't believe I'm saying this...

but maybe that's more the job of a private security firm.

Our navy should still patrol & secure the area, but for them to be the bodyguards of industry kind of reminds me of Chevron's command of the Nigerian army. http://bowotovchevron.wordpress.com/

[Mike Daniels]

6. We're probably going to see a drift in that direction

Private security boats shadow the ships from launch port to just outside of the destination port and then drop anchor until the cargo carrier is ready for the return trip.

[salguine]

9. If I ran a shipping company traveling through that area,

I believe I would equip each of my vessels with three or four of these and hire their crews to travel with us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZQR3RjXXno&feature=related

Can you imagine what this thing would do to one of those little piss-ant motorboats? Sharks would get there and go, "Huh. There's nothing big enough to eat here."

And when anyone raised the issue that it's in violation of international shipping regulations to arm merchant vessels, I would counter that piracy is also against international shipping regulations, and as long as pirates are abducting and holding crews of merchant vessels, I will continue to so arm my vessels, until the current piracy epidemic has passed. In light of the extraordinary circumstances, international regulations are superseded by my right—and indeed, obligation—to protect the safety of my crews.