Somali pirates

sailaboutvic

sailaboutvic

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Isn’t just amazing how the British and US government can invade other country in the name of human right , patrol the seas and ocean of the world to stop drug trafficking , intimidate lawful people from cruising in the name of border control , but can’t patrol and stop a bunch of thieving kidnapping thugs in a small sea area compared with the world ocean , could it be because there isn’t any oil or other commentary that is of any valve to them ? ?
 
We have a pathetic & poorly equipped Navy with few ships available and even if we had, the MoD cannot afford it. We would need a Navy the size of which we had 70 years ago to even dent the problem.
 
Couple of steel hulled motorsailers cruising the area manned by mercenaries equipped with rpg's etc. seemples ;)
 
You shouldn't be surprised. After all, the UK populace are ruled and regimented to within an inch of our lives. If you're law abiding, employed and have something to lose your fair game.

Unemployed, on drugs, benefits and don't give a flying fig about anyone or anything you're pretty much free to do as you wish.

Our law enforcement and law makers always look for the easy option. Got a problem? Just introduce a new law (irrespective of the fact the existing laws, if properly used, are sufficient). Then sit back and tell us that you've done something by making it illegal.

Can't attack the pirates, they've got rights you know.
 
pirates

70 years ago we didn’t have the technology we have to day the bottom line is there nothing in it for the US,UK government otherwise it wouldn’t be going on , I bet if it was a load of afghan smuggled arms or drugs they soon put a stop to it . Before long there be pirates all over the world if this isn’t brought to a stop .
 
Seven Spades said:
Well they could start by sinking all they find including those on board.
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I think you'll find that there's a word for sinking ships and killing their crews just for being in a particular area of international waters. Piracy. And murder. Two words.

sailaboutvic said:
70 years ago we didn’t have the technology we have to day the bottom line is there nothing in it for the US,UK government otherwise it wouldn’t be going on , I bet if it was a load of afghan smuggled arms or drugs they soon put a stop to it . Before long there be pirates all over the world if this isn’t brought to a stop .
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And look how successful the navies of the world have been at ending drug smuggling, eh?

The best way to stop the piracy happening is to make not-being-a-pirate attractive. Sure, that may include having some ships which can fight back, but supporting the rebuilding of Somalia and ending the illegal fishing and dumping in Somali waters would probably be much more effective.
 
Why we do not just block the pirate ports so they cannot get their hostages and ships to port I don't know - if Somlia is that lawless they are hardly going to get a lot of diplomatic complaints and its about time they used more that kid glove force against them
 
orbister said:
I think you'll find that there's a word for sinking ships and killing their crews just for being in a particular area of international waters. Piracy. And murder. Two words.



And look how successful the navies of the world have been at ending drug smuggling, eh?

The best way to stop the piracy happening is to make not-being-a-pirate attractive. Sure, that may include having some ships which can fight back, but supporting the rebuilding of Somalia and ending the illegal fishing and dumping in Somali waters would probably be much more effective.
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PLEASE.. wake up and smell the coffee... this is an organised crime ring cashing in on easy pickings, it's got nothing to do with rebuilding somalia, but you are very right on one point...
and that is like you say "make not-being-a-pirate attractive"...........by killing the b*st*rds. then they will all know that if you want to be a pirate you end up very dead.
 
gerry99 said:
Why we do not just block the pirate ports so they cannot get their hostages and ships to port I don't know - if Somlia is that lawless they are hardly going to get a lot of diplomatic complaints and its about time they used more that kid glove force against them
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Because they can operate small boats out of just about any piece of 1500km of coastline. Blockading ports wouldm't make the slightest bit of difference.
 
Not so hard....

It is not so hard to stand off shore and board all "significant size" boats putting out... "pirate motherships" have arms and small, high speed craft.

When you find those items... sieze the boat - drop the crew off on shore if you wish...

inspect and search is not rocket science.. there aren't that many small - significantly useful craft, anyway.

--jr
 
sailaboutvic said:
Before long there be pirates all over the world if this isn’t brought to a stop .
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My plan if ever captured by Somali Pirates is to strike a deal............I will sail 'em to the UK to claim assylum / benefits - in exchange for the Youtube rights of when the Border Agency MIB attempt a boarding :D
 
gerry99 said:
Why we do not just block the pirate ports so they cannot get their hostages and ships to port I don't know - if Somlia is that lawless they are hardly going to get a lot of diplomatic complaints and its about time they used more that kid glove force against them
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Well, for a start they have roughly 3,000km of coastline. How many ship do you think it would take to blockade that lot effectively? How do you think innocent Somalis would feel about it? How do you think the rest of Africa and the Arab world would feel about it?
 
ironmaiden said:
PLEASE.. wake up and smell the coffee... this is an organised crime ring cashing in on easy pickings, it's got nothing to do with rebuilding somalia, but you are very right on one point...
and that is like you say "make not-being-a-pirate attractive"...........by killing the b*st*rds. then they will all know that if you want to be a pirate you end up very dead.
Click to expand...

Piracy and kidnapping do not, in civilised countries, carry the death penalty. And no, we can't make an exception if the pirates and kidnappers are black.
 
It would be wonderful and oh so simple to pop a cap in their asses (technical term used by all under 21s I believe) at every given Opportunity. I'd have my name down to help for messing with my future plans to sail aound the world.
However the sneaky little scum bags have hostages but as yet have never wasted anyone. Which is why the authorities, being the un or nato or something similar (not the British Navy) are pussy footing about. Personally if I were sitting where that English couple are right now I'd be quite glad of that fact and even more so when the ransom doesn't get paid.
There's also several commercial ships and their crews sitting off the Somalia coast which were hijacked months and even years ago. Another cause for concern for the powers that be. The shipping companies could though take more responsibility and employ armed guards on vunerable ships. This would though reduce their ability to make huge claims for cargo losses (even on an empty ship) or for the whole ship for that matter. Some ship owners would gladly she one of their vessels sitting off Somalia. Of course if they do make commercial ships less pirateable private yachts are going to look even more attractive.
If the ships had their own guards though the authorities could then concentrate on protecting private yachts.
 
orbister said:
Piracy and kidnapping do not, in civilised countries, carry the death penalty. And no, we can't make an exception if the pirates and kidnappers are black.
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I take offence at your assumption that I am racist; It makes no difference what race, colour or creed a pirate is, it is still an offence by who ever commits it.
It is also irrelevant what race, colour or creed the victims are, what the Somalia’s are doing is abominable and has to be stopped in what ever way is effective to ensure that the likes of the Chandler’s and the large commercial operators are safe to go about their travels without having to go through this horrific experience.

Might I suggest that as you seem so pro-Somali and support what they are doing then you offer yourself and you’re family up as exchange hostages for the Chandler’s …are you going to? Let us all know how you get on!
 
sailaboutvic said:
70 years ago we didn’t have the technology we have to day the bottom line is there nothing in it for the US,UK government otherwise it wouldn’t be going on , I bet if it was a load of afghan smuggled arms or drugs they soon put a stop to it . Before long there be pirates all over the world if this isn’t brought to a stop .
Click to expand...

You can pretty much guarantee that a shoot out with the pirates would not stop the activity and would almost certainly ratchet up the level of any response from them. So far no one has been killed but that could change quickly and result in needless slaughter.

Orbister is right, the long term solution is to sort out Somalia, but that is going to take some time. Meanwhile, I would suggest that the way forward is to make it tough for the pirates to take ships and that would mean convoys with armed escorts and no lone yachts.

OK that's another restriction and we go cruising to get away from restrictions, however I think it is the only realistic solution for the time being.
 
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