World history is replete with Piracy. It has been an act of statecraft from medieval
times, used to extract concessions from an opposing power, or simply to rob weaker nations of booty. At times it was used to capture hostages of strategic value in
inter-nations affairs. From time to time the exercise of piracy got out of hand. The
pirates began to operate as free agents. When that occurred sovereign nations responded by taking armed action to punish those involved, and keep the enterprise
"honest".
Modern piracy, as practiced in the Atantic off the coast of Somalia is simply a
criminal affair involving hostages for ransom. It flourishes in countries with
non-functioning governments which cannot exercise control over populations scattered over large areas, and with ruling authorities who share the loot. The powerful
maritime nations cannot permit it to continue. It disrupts international commerce and increases the cost of products. Inevitably the consequences escalate as happened today when four American citizens were executed in an attempt by the pirates to prevent boarding of the hostage vessel by U. S. Navy troops.
That tragedy compounds what began as an act of war, and demands a forceful response.
Somalia is one place diplomacy won't work.
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All through U.S. and western European history piracy has always been considered an act of war handled by the full might of the offended populace.
Now, we first test the political waters before responding to the issue because of a single consideration; oil.
So much of the Middle East is integral to international trade which the U.S., western Europe and the more sophisticated nations of the Far East covet that chancing a break in those advantageous arrangements has become a huge risk. Paying an occasional ransom seemed like nothing more than an annoyance (paid by some private resource) but the completely dysfunctional governments of nations like Somalia demand new thinking and a bigger stick.
This, most recent attack on a private leisure craft and its passengers clearly demonstrates how badly this blatant abuse of respect needs to be resolved in a strong, definitive fashion.
At the most radical extreme the U.S. which seems to be bent on empirical force these days, should seriously consider adopting Somalia and screwing it up just like we have done so many times in the past, e.g. Puerto Rico, Guam, Japan, The Philippines, etc. The residents of that newly-acquired nation could not possibly find fault with the resulting millions they would receive indefinitely.
No Somalian pirate could possibly find fault with a community infrastructure, clean water and suitable sewage facilities, food, shelter and endless options as civil workers (opportunities not even provided in America).
Wake up, America! There is no way to negotiate with those who have no national affiliation and no obvious scruples.
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