The Beeb Beeb Ceeb on stopping Somali piracy

[unixronin]

“International efforts to thwart Somali piracy would appear to be floundering. Perhaps words from the 19th Century could offer a solution [...]”

A pretty good historical retrospective comparing the Somali piracy problem with the Barbary pirates and the suppression of the slave trade.

With Somali piracy still threatening shipping, it sounds as if modern navies need a few Captain Robert Denmans, or the like-minded American, Commodore Stephen Decatur.

...And I can’t find it in myself to argue with that.

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I think the cost in terms of ships expended per pirate killed would be prohibitive. One ship per gang of four to eight pirates is a pretty lousy ratio.

[rbos.livejournal.com]

Gas. Doors go down, Sarin goes out.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I think the political consequences of having robotic ships loaded with nerve gas sailing around on remote control off the Horn of Africa would be just a little more than even Bush would have wanted to get anywhere near.