INTERNATIONAL

Treasure Ship

Seizing the Sirius Star was an audacious raid for Somalia's emboldened pirates.

By Barrett Sheridan | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Nov 19, 2008

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  • Posted By: the snipers @ 12/28/2008 4:24:27 PM

    well....i am somali and i understand what thsi pirate talking about...indeed there should be strong gov in somalia....and somalia wil be with out pirate's.
    and i also would advise the french nationals stay away from somalian waters...the current president is not part of the peace!!! and he should resign.
    and thoese police (thugs)from abdi qeybdiid should be on court asap.
    they are the one who couz all the mess in mogadishu and around.
    sh.sharif and the copy should work together and they should do their best.

  • Posted By: sschenckny @ 12/07/2008 5:51:00 AM

    The U.S. Navy could blockade the Somolian coast, but the US taxpayer should not be expected to foot the bill. The costs should be covered by the ships needing the protection. I believe It would be more cost effective for the shipping companies to pay a protection surcharge, than to sail around the Cape of Good Hope.

  • Posted By: martialguy @ 12/06/2008 9:11:55 AM

    Will someone
    Pay Somalians to get rid of the problem (Could be expensive)
    OR
    Pray for a tsunami to wipe them off the real world and keep them in Johny Depp movies ( Less expensive) ?

  • Posted By: J12120 @ 11/20/2008 8:47:47 AM

    Doing nothing is unacceptable, and with the exception of the action by India in destroying a mother ship, that is largely what has been happening. Paying ransom only encourages more of the same. A military response, even if it means that the captive crews may be killed, is the only response that addresses the problem and will put an end to the piracy.

    As for the military action, patrol more and do what the Indian navy did when encountering a mother ship. As for the ships in port that have already been hijacked, start sinking the captured ships. Systematically destroy one a day, starting with the ships viewed as least likely to cause environmental damage, and work your way up to the last one. Scuttled ships in port make a port useless and in no time there will be no ports available to the pirates in which to anchor their booty. While the pirates may enjoy widespread local support now, it is because what they are doing is working and it is driving the local economy. Go so far as to destroy the homes of the pirate leaders to bring the message home to the pirates that their business model will not be tolerated.

    While the hijacked ships have value, there are plenty of others to replace them, so it is not as if the ship itself is needed. As for the cargos, they too can be replaced, and in instances like the capture of the Ukranian ship with tanks and munitions aboard, destruction of the cargo is almost a necessary act. The crews present a more difficult problem, but this is kidnapping, and responding by paying a ransom is only going to result in the next kidnapping. Should the pirates begin killing the crew members, or should they fail to remove them from harms way after it is announced that certain ships will be designated for destruction, the pirates have sealed their own fate and world opinion will condone a military operation on land designed to ferret out and kill the pirates. I doubt however the pirates would go that far, but if they do, putting the crews in danger by not removing them from the targeted ships seals the pirates fate.

    Will all of this cause environmental havoc. Almost certainly yes. But the pirates are able to do that also as it is now and this would not be the first time that environmental destruction results from military action, whether the destruction is caused by those attacking, or by those destroying things to escalate the damage, as in the case of setting the Iraqi oil fields ablaze. In the end the most immediate effect of the destruction is going to be felt by the pirates and by the Somalian's living in the area that are now embracing the pirates.

    • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 9:40:33 AM

      Hmm. You advocate: invading a sovereign country; killing the bad guys, maybe, but with certain collateral damage; land warfare in a hostile country. (Did you read or see Blackhawk Down? That was Somalia); and environmental damage?
      Seems a little rash considering this is a problem of less than a hundred million dollars or so. Besides, we have been there and done that, right?... With mixed results, to be kind.
      I believe that the pirates have killed none or few of the captives they have taken over the years. Is a full scale war necessary here? Is that the only tool America has in its toolbox these days? Hey, why risk our soldiers?

      Identification of the pirate ships among all boats, of many nations, in the area is a difficult thing to do. Destroying one pirate ship a day might be nice, but I doubt it is possible. And doing so in port just increases the risk of collateral damage and unintended consequences. Destroying homes? Hey. There are people there. That reckless destruction has got to stop: it really really complicates things. As we learned in Somalia, killing almost all of them is not really that difficult, but it just makes things worse in the long run. Those brown people are the future of our planet. They have value. Plus the fact that it is morally reprehensible. Not even the pirates have shown that kind of barbarism in the past.

      The Saudi tanker has cargo worth 100 million, I hear. The earlier vessel had tanks and munitions. Those things need to be recovered, not destroyed or written off. The real damage here is money... ransom.... it is galling, but it is a game. So we should play the game to win.
      We know that they will probably not kill people. We know that they look for targets of opportunity. We know that they negotiate and usually take large amounts in ransom, but usually only a small fraction of the value of the cargo. Their business model works. ...

      So.... the correct response is to increase their costs and decrease their revenues. At the same time, to sustain the program, the cost benefit for the good guys must be good. Strength is not killing. Strength is creating the will to resist. Strength is a plan with clear objectives and sustainable effort, fostering courage and confidence and getting those ships through. If the pirates get a ship, it will be a small one. Meanwhile, they will be running and waiting and waiting for an unguarded ship. Then they will have to wonder if it is a decoy... with a diesel sub waiting nearby.

      Sure, the Indians were lucky enough to identify the bad guys correctly AND get close enough to take decisive action, but they cannot be everywhere at once. Nobody can.

      Convoys. Drones. Protection and Interdiction. Simple. Cheap. Coordination and Collective action. If we get one of them out in the open, then we send them to the bottom. Otherwise, if we do it right, then time is on our side. PLUS, we learn and make some friends in the process.

      • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 11/20/2008 9:59:30 AM

        Decoys would be a joke. When I was in the Navy, every prostitute in Fance knew our ship's shedule. They knew more about us than we knew ourselves. Your assumption than the pirates aren't sophisticated is based on your evaluation of the scum that take the ship and is flawed. The scum doing the deed are a dime a dozen and expendable. Just like the cocaine cowboy, they have the latest information, electronics, vessels and arms. they must be convinced that taking a ship will fail and the only way that can be imparted to them is by showing the willingness to lput the cargo on the bottom before paying the ransom.

        • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 10:57:15 AM

          I disagree.
          The only deterrent is destroying cargoes?
          You really believe so strongly in your use of ONLY there? Really? Then we are doomed.
          Because sending a 100 million dollar cargo "to the bottom" to avoid a 10 million dollar ransom is stupid. Who wants to step forward and show a willingness to do that?
          Stupid is really the only word for it, no matter how much testosterone one sprinkles on it.
          Oh, and just to clarify... you said
          "put the cargo on the bottom before paying the ransom"
          but surely you mean
          "put the cargo on the bottom INSTEAD OF paying the ransom", right?
          Because, you know, paying the ransom after you have destroyed the cargo would be even stupider than say, destroying a 100 million dollar cargo to save 10 million dollars, is what I am saying....
          So... we straight there? You meant the latter, right? Good.

          I never said the pirates were not sophisticated, but you are calling them a dime a dozen and expendable, but my reasoning is flawed? Well, which is it? Scum or sophisticated? They have the latest this and that, which makes them sophisticated or scum? I am not really following you there. My assumption is that they would soil their pants if a submarine came up right next to them and started blasting. That seems like a safe assumption.

          Decoys would be a cheap way of raising their costs. Send out a lone freighter with a squad of Seals hiding in the galley. Or just set gas booby traps or something. Give it a full manifest and history, and then make it look like it is having engine trouble. Like a roach motel, the pirates would check in, but not check out. Not sure a French prostitute could see that coming a mile away. ooo la la
          Oh ...forget the Seals... if it is the galley, it could be Steven Segal. That would be enough.

          But in all seriousness. . Rambo is not the best solution to this problem. Or blackwater. Considered action and teamwork can make this work through a variety of means and strategies that would not kill a lot of people, cost very much, or harm much property. If the best America can do is ground invasion, airstrikes, killing civilians, and wanton destruction of property to prove a point, maybe we had best just leave it to India, Iran, and Saudi Arabia and hope for a better world than Americans are willing to offer.

          • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/20/2008 1:23:34 PM

            "Decoys would be a cheap way of raising their costs. Send out a lone freighter with a squad of Seals hiding in the galley."

            Marines would be a better choice in this case, but yeah, that's a good idea.

            • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/20/2008 5:00:23 PM

              That and set up intel in new rich citys on the coast to find out who the groups, leaders, etc

              • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/20/2008 5:28:03 PM

                Absolutely. That's actually, IMO, the most important part.

                • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/20/2008 6:51:27 PM

                  However, not everything can be resolved with logical reason lol. I just see these kind of activities increasing or staying consistant in those waters.

                  • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/21/2008 8:46:23 AM

                    You can solve the problem with logic...backed up with a few dozen frigates.

                    Preble proved that 200 years ago.

                    • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/21/2008 1:29:07 PM

                      I didn't mean this couldn't be resolved with logic, however right now, it's clearly not being resolved with logic or any other means from what I've seen or read.

          • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/20/2008 1:24:19 PM

            "You really believe so strongly in your use of ONLY there? Really? Then we are doomed.
            Because sending a 100 million dollar cargo "to the bottom" to avoid a 10 million dollar ransom is stupid. "

            You only have to do it a few times.

      • Posted By: DeJay @ 11/20/2008 10:55:36 AM

        I have one problem with your reply. You are basing it on the preposition that Somalia is a sovereign country. It isn't, because sovereign countries do not allow their citizens to act like these "pirates" are acting. And your reference to Blackhawk Down is off the mark. No one is talking about invading Somalia, just bomb the hell out of it. After getting bombed daily, maybe somebody in Somalia will decide "Hey, this pirate crap just isn't worth the aggravation being brought down on our head". Right now, the tail is wagging the dog.

        • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 11:36:52 AM

          Oh yeah, you're right.
          After picking up the rubble and bodies of babies, they can vote in a new government. Why didn't I think about that?

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 11/20/2008 9:06:35 AM

      A perfect analysis and solution.Add in instant retrobution for a Pirate who takes the life of a crew member.

      • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/20/2008 1:25:25 PM

        Hang them either way. There's a reason modern Naval vessels still have a yardarm.

  • Posted By: mebre @ 11/21/2008 2:16:51 AM

    It ia bad to stand with illegals but u Americans are crying whenever ur interst touched..please think more than ur comfort to others ...at least with their countries.....people in the world complain about America becouse of their selfish desires...don't cry about ur job or finance here in the issue of somalia.

    • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/21/2008 1:18:21 PM

      Isn't it a bit early to start drinking?

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/21/2008 8:43:40 AM

      I am sure that made sense to you when you typed it.

  • Posted By: scanfish @ 11/21/2008 10:02:53 AM

    The Western powers have enhanced satellite coverage and GPS military applications to locate precisely where the boats the pirates use are hidden, not discounting the ones out in the open. The logical solution therefore is to destroy all the boats anchored at ports like Eyl, blockade those ports and sanction out the cretins. Make sure no supplies except food are allowed through the blockade.



    Somalia

  • Posted By: Hakim M.Dermish @ 11/19/2008 9:21:03 PM

    Wow! so India is a world-class police force? wake up you all, wake up!
    before you know it Indians are normal, you know, like 'most' of us.
    Wake up you morons before "it's" to late.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/21/2008 8:48:59 AM

      What are you talking about? The Indians have a solid, professional Navy, and have for years.

    • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 5:15:11 AM

      Congratulations on the moon mission and congratulations on smoking some pirates.
      Way to go India!

  • Posted By: sallyjane @ 11/20/2008 7:48:15 AM

    hey, the boat belongs to Iran...let them worry about it, not our problem!

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/21/2008 8:47:07 AM

      Piracy is EVERYONE'S problem.

    • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 8:38:58 AM

      I thought it was Saudi. They have recently taken SKorean and Russian ships too, I think.
      Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
      As they get more and more money, better boats, and better weapons, it will just become a bigger problem.

      Just a little bit of Jimmy Stewart's "looking out for the other guy" could go a long way in this situation.

  • Posted By: MET9 @ 11/20/2008 10:04:01 PM

    America, America, America............shame on you. Your greed and bullying ways are showing again and the whole world is watching. Here you people are suggesting that once again we send our children off to die so that some companies can continue to turn a profit that the majority of us will never have any share of. Now we want to be the "police of the region"? What happened to our now offended senses of right and wrong when the Somalians were comlpaining of other nations coming into their waters and destroying their way of feeding their families? Lets face it, people we turned a blind eye because of the profits needed to be made by the fishing industries in those countries and because everyone knows that Africa is just the place to be exploited. Everything was fine until the "blacks" found a new way to live and feed their nation. Make no mistake, I DO NOT SUPPORT PIRACY OR CRIMES COMMITTED BY ANY NATION AGAINST ANY OTHER. At the same time, though,I would have thought that those among us with the ability to exercise sound reasoning would realize the foolishness of sending our soldiers to protect companies that care nothing for our citizens. Iraq, wall street, and our auto makers are prime examples of which I speak.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/21/2008 8:44:21 AM

      "Everything was fine until the "blacks" found a new way to live and feed their nation. Make no mistake, I DO NOT SUPPORT PIRACY OR CRIMES COMMITTED BY ANY NATION AGAINST ANY OTHER."

      Rubbish. That's exactly what you're doing.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/21/2008 8:42:28 AM

      "America, America, America............shame on you. Your greed and bullying ways are showing again and the whole world is watching. Here you people are suggesting that once again we send our children off to die so that some companies can continue to turn a profit that the majority of us will never have any share of. Now we want to be the "police of the region"? "

      Piracy affects EVERYONE. Where is your outrage against the British, the Indians, the Russians, etc, that are also opposing piracy in the area?

  • Posted By: oneaday @ 11/21/2008 1:32:52 AM

    THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PIRACY IN SOMALIA OR ANYWHERE ELSE BUT HERE IN AMERICA. WE HAVE FALTERED ON THE ECONOMIC SCALE TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE IT WILL BE CORRECTED. WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON NOW IS THE LATEST THING IN LOANSHARKING: PAYDAY LOANS!!!! YES YOU LOOK AT IT THIS WAY; PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL THE MONEY CRUNCH IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS. HARD FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS TO DEAL WITH. THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE NICE THINGS THEY ONCE COULD. SO JOHN DOE WHO IS IN DEBT UP TO HIS ASS BUT STILL HAS A JOB DECIDES HE WANTS TO TAKE HIS BUDDIES OUT ON THE TOWN. ONLY ONE PROBLEM; NO MONEY. BUT HEY THERE'S A PAYDAY LOAN SHOP DOWN THE STREET SO WHY NOT WRITE A CHECK FOR 300.00? NOW I CAN GO OUT. GREAT!! BUT WHAT HE FAILS TO REALIZE THAT HE WILL PAYBACK 1300.00. I WAS STUPID ONE TIME AND GOT A 200.00 LOAN AND GUESS WHAT THE S.O.B.'S GET YOUR D.D. NUMBER AND WHAMMO THERE GOES 76.00 OUT FOR THE FIRST PMT AND THEN IT JUST KEEPS GOING. I FINALLY HAD TO FILE PAPERS WITH MY BANK TO STOP PMT. BECAUSE THE BANKS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE THE MONEY TO A QUALIFING INSTITUTION. IT TOOK 7 WEEKS TO STOP PMT BUT IN THE MEAN TIME 76.00 WAS COMING OUT MY ACCOUNT EVERY WEEK. SO I GUESS I AM STATING THAT AS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS ALREADY THIS CAN GET REAL BAD FOR SOME WHO CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET. AND SHITHLOES LIKE PAYDAY LOANS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED ALTOGETHER. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DOESN'T QUITE FIT IN THIS SEGMENT BUT THINK OF IT LIKE THIS: PIRACY OF OUR OWN PEOPLE BY OUR OWN PEOPLE.

  • Posted By: newsrain @ 11/20/2008 6:12:15 PM

    Actually, I think we do know exactly where the pirates coastal hideaways are. I think even the Somalia government is asking us to do all we can to being them down. It has something to do with the possible repercussions of such an attack though, both on the Somalia central government and on its own citizens. But a couple of predator attacks would certainly teach them a lesson. I know it's a big place out there in the sea, but we really need to gather our allies and show them we mean business. Also we need to ramp up security around the ships crossing the area. Deterring them with water hoses as I've heard on the news isn't going to stop them. If I got hit by a water blast from a hose, I would come up laughing as if this was all a big game and be right at it tomorrow again.

  • Posted By: Bona Phide @ 11/20/2008 5:52:29 PM

    I think it's time to find out where a few of these pirate leaders live, and send a few Predator Drones to drop in to visit them. I think a few well aimed strikes would be a nice deterrent to these guys. The more we pay ransom, and do nothing, the more brazen they will become. If we keep funding them, then their means of carrying out piracy will only improve...

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/20/2008 6:11:22 PM

      Yep. A couple of hundred years ago, we had to send Preble over to deal with the Barbary Pirates.

      Time to do it again. But none of this "exporting democracy" crap. Go over and teach them a lesson they'll never have a chance to forget.

  • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/20/2008 11:35:35 AM

    The Indian Navy had it right. Catch 'em out in the open, and sink them.

    If you catch them, string them up (literally).

    When they take a ship hostage, do what you have to do to get the crew back, but see if you can get some photos of the pirates for later arrest, trial, and execution.

  • Posted By: Davidebert @ 11/20/2008 10:43:36 AM

    The best answer to all this is to harden the security on these ships so they can stop the pirates a good distance from the ships. This means sophisticated surveillance and modern weapons. There are sonic beam, (maser) laser and microwave weapons which might do the job for tankers who can't fire missles off the deck because of explosions. These weapons are unwieldy on land, but mounted on a tanker, they could be very big and very mean. In the 1800's England and The United States flooded the Carribbean and the Mediterranean with warships, tracked and destroyed pirates until they were almost non-existent. We're going to have to mount an international effort again. I think the Russians will be on board- certainly the Indians are, and I'm sure the Saudis will kick in bucks for expenses. It's a shame, but they will probably have to raze the pirate towns and destroy their bases, as well. On land they will be be protected by warlord armies, so this won't be a cake walk. One way or the other, it has to stop, even if the pirates are gentlemanly Robin Hoods.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 11/20/2008 8:55:52 AM

    The answer is to never pay the ransom and never let the cargo be off loaded. Starve them out, if you can't do that, take the ship by force using mercenaries. if you can't do that, blow them up! Sooner or later that will impact the persons financing the operation. To keep paying is the same as financing further operations. The choice is tough because the cargos are worth so much, but in the long run it's less costly

  • Posted By: saegc7 @ 11/20/2008 7:32:18 AM

    Have Blackwater patrol the seas! These ships are in international waters so what happens at sea, stays at sea. Blackwater never lost a DV when they were in Iraq conducting protection missions, so let's see if they can extend that record to ships.

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 11/20/2008 8:45:33 AM

      If all of the Navies can't patrol the seas, what would landlubbers like Blackwater do.. Interception pirates on the way to a hijacking would be as ineffective as trying to stop drug running. These guys are standing in line for a chance to be pirates. They have nothing and life is cheap to them. Until some Government is willing to sacrifice a ship the problem will continue. Blow up one of your own ships rather than pay a ransom and large scale piracy of this type will end.

    • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 8:28:59 AM

      Well, they will anyway, if someone pays them to.

      The problem is a coordination and collective action problem. No one shipper can afford to pay for it. No one shipper could use enough services to make it worth their while to hire blackwater. No one service provider such as blackwater, could effectively provide services for all ships. I have heard that they have one small carrier with one helicopter? Would that be enough?
      However, collectively, commercial vessels could move in convoys on a pretty casual basis. Collectively, several nations could provide basic escort service to the ships in that zone just by moving with them and coordinating the commercial vessels.
      WIth shared costs and burdens, it would not be too much for any one nation to do something to help, and little would be necessary really. The commitment and the participation are the most important requirements, really.
      The idea of including Iran is a great idea. This kind of undertaking can really underscore our common interests in security.

      Many years ago, the United States solved the problem of the Barbary Pirates and truly became a world citizen. It gained respect for doing things that no one else was willing to do. The US could fill that role again, and then hand it off to other countries to let them have a chance to keep peace in that area. This could be a constructive project for regional security.

  • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 5:13:19 AM

    Something that was even more successful in WWII was convoying. I have heard that one problem is that the various navy vessels in this situation cannot be everywhere at once. Still the attacks happen in a reasonably defined area with commercial ships going both ways.
    You could have schedules and nav points for escort vessels. Get a group of 20 or 30 commercial vessels gathered together and just herd them on through the area with an escort every day or two. When the warship escort gets to the end of the route, it can meet up with other vessels and take them the other way.

    It seems to me that this could work with some coordination. It would be efficient and would prevent duplicated efforts.

    • Posted By: McLovinB @ 11/20/2008 7:25:29 AM

      I am pretty sure this is why war is so attractive to creative people who want to solve problems.
      You could combine the convoy idea with a small aircraft carrier armed with drone aircraft, or why not drone boats?
      AWACS technology is useful to coordinate air forces. You could do something similar with a regional floating command center just coordinating the movements of international armed forces. You could probably do it on the cheap if you had clever people. A few averted ransoms would cover the costs, and you could test new technologies and modes of operations to solve the problem.

      Convoys could also help you mask valuable cargoes from pirates using many ships with less valuable cargoes, like a bootleg in football. Some ships could be designated as rammers and could be paid a bounty for ramming pirate vessels. Everyone could get in on the act. Having a diesel submarine on the team would make for great fun. Hey.... they are pirates.... no holds barred.

  • Posted By: tommycustom @ 11/20/2008 5:20:44 AM

    hit em at home
    we owe them
    when are we gonna snuff them out?

  • Posted By: tommycustom @ 11/20/2008 5:16:28 AM

    convoy is a great idea

  • Posted By: tommycustom @ 11/20/2008 5:11:40 AM

    Lets drop a blackhawk air to ground missile into the new villas these guys have builit
    Lets hurt em at home
    And its time to shadow every ship in the pirates zone
    Its time to arm each ship to repel these sumbitzches

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