Monday, April 13, 2009

The Pirate Problem

Defense officials said the U.S. military is considering attacks on Somali pirate bases on land and aid for the people there to help stop the hijacking of ships off Africa's coast, Bloomberg.com reported.



The plan would include helping Somalia create their own coast guard and train security forces, the officials, who requested anonymity, told Bloomberg.com.



Officials said the plan would be submitted to the Obama administration as they decide how best to tackle the increase in pirate attacks off the Somali coast.



The only way to make shipping routes safe from pirates would be to disrupt their support network on land, security analysts have said.



Any actions against the pirates, defense officials said, would require the support of the Somali people, who are usually not in favor of foreign intervention.



Frankly, I don't care what the Somali people want.  This is a country run by warlords with no structured government in place.  We must do what is in the best interest of the USA and the rest of the free world.



The pirates have promised to ratchet up violence against US flagged ships in a retaliatory effort against our actions.  I don't think they have thought this through very well.  Our military will be very resolute in quashing the dangers these thugs are causing.  Their only hope is that the administration holds back the military response in favor a a weaker response, perhaps involving the UN.



I must give credit to Obama and the administration.  Up to now, they seem to be taking the advice of the military in these kinds of matters.  Hopefully, that will continue.

10 comments:

James' Muse April 13, 2009 at 11:23 AM  

This is why I blogroll you, Miss Shore.

While I disagree with you, you aren't nutty like many of those that agree with you.

There are many, many right-wingers out there mad at Obama for...well nothing. They are now saying he isn't responsible for this victory, even though he ordered the military and FBI out there to take care of this. I like the fact that Obama hasn't been all over TV saying "I've done this or that" but he merely said "Our military is brave."

THAT'S the kind of leadership we need. And I'm happy to see you acknowledge it, even though you aren't happy with the President on other matters. Honestly, people like you are the hope of future conservatism.

Red April 13, 2009 at 11:47 AM  

Why pat the POTUS on the back at all for doing his job albeit five days later?

America needs leadership and better be grateful to have Navy Captains and Admirals who are entrusted with making these sort of split-second decisions out in the field rather than wait on a phone call for the 'go ahead' while a fellow countryman's life hangs in the balance.

That should have been the first order of business but instead it took the media breathing down his back to even garner a reaction. I'm not a nut job and I'm not impressed.

There are many rational conservatives mad at the election of Obama and his performance for plenty of valid reasons.

Stop being such a wishy-washy kiss-ass, James.

Anonymous,  April 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM  

While your point is valid, and mostly likely the response. I guess I am just one of those right wing nuts.

I just don't see the UN doing much in helping with this. They are good at sending out letters or speaking with condemnation, but not action. We need action to let it me known the actions of these terrorist pirates will not be tolerated any longer.

Anonymous,  April 13, 2009 at 12:23 PM  

I agree with you. Hopefully Obama will keep listening to the military and not the United Nothing.

Red April 13, 2009 at 12:47 PM  

My apologies to James for letting my emotions get the best of me. I was out of line.

James' Muse April 13, 2009 at 1:02 PM  

Apology accepted, Red. But Obama did more than Bush would've.

Bush listened to the UN and wouldn't let a US warship continue chasing pirates:

June 3rd, 2007: Bush wouldn't give the USS Carter Hall authority to continue to chase Somalian pirates that had hijacked a freighter into Somalian waters. It was the French that finally negotiated the release of the crew.

In 2003 Americans were held hostage by Colombian Cartels. Bush did NOTHING.

Obama did something here and sent out a warship right away. He also sent out the FBI.

Obama, like it or not, is the Military's Commander in Chief and made a decision that saved American lives. The French went in right away and lost one of their hostages.

There are valid concerns about Obama. This wasn't one of them. He did a great job and no American lives were lost.

And at the end, Obama didn't take credit. He applauded the US Military for their bravery. That's leadership behind the scenes.

Red April 13, 2009 at 3:37 PM  

Please don't make the assumption that because I didn't vote for Obama, don't care for Obama's socialism or narcissism that I'm all about Bush.

Bush did (or didn't do) a lot of things that have lent to the disenfranchisement of many true conservatives. His last four years were quite the disappointment and speaking as someone who voted for him after his first term I can certainly cop to the fact that lame duck isn't just a dish in a Chinese restaurant.

And in case you were wondering, I did not vote for Grandpa McCain either—a RINO and someone with deplorable solutions to the present day slavery situation known as illegal immigration.

I still say that Obama took way long to act on something that should be high priority in this day and age especially knowing how popular Americans are abroad. I am grateful the situation ultimately saw Capt. Phillips home safe and I have no sympathy for those terrorists who caused the situation in the first place .

Red April 13, 2009 at 3:40 PM  

And incidentally Bush was damned if he did and damned if he didn't where the UN was concerned.

I don't put a lot of stock in the UN's authority or abilities to do anything other than bloviate and speculate in the name of diplomacy.

James' Muse April 13, 2009 at 3:59 PM  

I agree, Red. On most accounts. Bush pushed me away. I'm registered Republican, but I feel betrayed by the party and Bush specifically. McCain wasn't that great of a candidate. And as Handbasket posted earlier, let's get out of the UN! Seriously. Its not worth it anymore.

I do disagree with you on how Obama handled this. I think he handled it quite well, as results go. The French rushed in and ended up with a dead hostage on their hands. We waited for the perfect moment and only ended up with dead pirates instead of dead Americans.

Red April 13, 2009 at 4:36 PM  

I still think you are looking for the silver-lining regarding Obama.

I'm a registered Independent and find oftentimes that candidates I agree with politically end up having to change the letter by their name in order to garner any credible attention from the majority of voters. I think it's because folks have become reactionary in a Pavlovian sense when it comes to picking a political party or candidate. That and we don't have a very strong third party at the very least (not that I think that's the entire remedy to solving our problems in government).

With Obama's handling of the pirates: in all fairness it's probably too early in the game to really call what kind of chess player he is yet we disagree on this one. I think an American president needs to come out stronger in acknowledging and acting on any situation involving American hostages. You come across as thinking he did a bang-up job.

Right now it looks like luck.
I guess only time will tell.

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