This is a very cogent analysis of why pirates are resurgent. The world's navies have shrunk. When Britain, the U.S., Japan, France and Russia have hundreds of war ships traversing and patrolling the globe and showing the flag its hard out there for a pirate. When the entire world relies on the U.S. Navy for peace on the seas and that navy has 200 vessels pirates can make a comeback. Add in the end of nation states in Africa and you have the base for it as well.
I say nations should return to granting Letters of Marque and allowing pirate hunters to keep a third of the vessels, equipment and guns captured, as well as a bounty per pirate.
7 comments:
...why pirates are resurgent...
I thought it was because of Johnny Depp.
I am surprised Blackwater has not already diversified into this field.
Further news: LGM proposes Q ships. More to Commentary's point, USS Constitution is still in commission and has the relevant experience, having fought the Barbary pirates.
The world naval crisis is even worse than Commentary suggests:
Australia Temporarily shuts down navy
And what's a pirate to do, after all? Their 401(k)s are in shambles. Elevated distribution costs and wildlife export regulations are making both parrots and parrot food prohibitively expensive. Not to mention, who's going to insure pirates? Uninsured exams on their one good eye and care for their prosthetic peg legs don't come cheap, you know.
The pirates are victims, and I know that Obama has a plan. Didn't he mention that he has a great-aunt who's a pirate?
JWT
We don't actually have to build new boats or send the US Navy out there. Just purchase a few freighters and equip them with a couple of mini-guns.
Dave P.
As with so much else, looks like pirate-fighting has been outsourced to India.
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