"'Ow do you know 'e's a pirate?" "'E LOOKS like one!"

[unixronin]

Since the end of August, Gortney said, there have been 50 instances where coalition ships have disrupted potential pirate attacks, throwing guns overboard and sinking small skiffs.  But in many instances they had to release the people on the ships because of the legal hurdles.

I put it to you that there is a simple solution to this:

"If we find you loitering with apparent intent in the shipping lanes, in a small boat with weapons, we will presumptively assume that you are a pirate.  Game over."

Comments

[databeast.livejournal.com]

excellently put.As someone's who's been nearly blown up (I exaggerate of course, they mostly always gave warnings) by the IRA on two occasions now (once by a matter of 30 minutes difference in travel times, the other by putting off my usual saturday plans for the first time in weeks), my first reaction to the cooldown/acceptance of the reality of Tuesday, 9/11/01, watching everyone around me adjust to their 'everythings changed' world, was to think to myself..

"...now they know what It's like to live outside the US..."

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I can understand most people's first reaction being shock.

What I can't understand is the people whose second reaction was fear. Mine was fury.

I submit that one of the binary divisions by which people can be classified is the ones who say "ZOMG we're all gonna DIE!" vs. the ones who say "Fuckers. ... Pass the ammunition."