When you don't actually have any excuse, spout jingoistic nonsense. It'll fool some people.

[unixronin]

radarrider pointed out that Somali pirates have seized two more ships and two Egyptian fishing boats, and claim that they’re “defending their waters from the enemy”:

“Our latest hijackings were meant to show that no one can deter us from protecting our waters from the enemy because we believe in dying for our land,” Omar Dahir Idle, a pirate based in the coastal town of Harardhere, told The Associated Press by telephone.  “The recent American operation, French navy attack on our colleagues or any other operation mean nothing to us.”

Now, as it happens, IF the two Egyptian fishing boats were actually fishing illegally in Somali waters, something which — to be fair — is a known problem, then they may be the first two vessels the pirates have seized that they might actually have something resembling a legitimate claim against.  However, the claim that they’re “protecting [Somali] waters from the enemy” by seizing unarmed merchant ships in international waters and holding them for ransom is completely ludicrous. If they were ONLY seizing fishing vessels, and ONLY ones that violated Somali fishing grounds, then the “protection” claim might hold some water; but as it is, it’s clearly nothing but empty bluster intended to convey some semblance of respectability and rightfulness upon what their actions to date have clearly shown to be nothing more than what it appears — simple thuggery, piracy on the high seas motivated by no nobler motive than easy profit.

But if they “believe in dying for their land”, I’m sure it can be arranged.  Somalis who don’t indulge in piracy have already spoken out against their piratical neighbors lest they bring the wrath of more powerful nations home with them.  That time may come sooner than the pirates expect:

Pentagon planners are preparing a variety of options for dealing with Somali pirates, and a United Nations resolution gives them the authority to conduct operations inside Somalia.

“The ultimate solution for piracy is on land,” said Vice Adm. William Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the Combined Maritime Forces.

Comments

[luxobscura.livejournal.com]

Yesterday, I was on the fence.

Today, I say arclight.



gotta crack a few eggs to make a souffle...

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

I suppose, if one wants to take direction from Josef Stalin, that's a good point.

[luxobscura.livejournal.com]

Empire is ugly business, and not for the faint of heart. Life seems extremely cheap in Somalia, and besides, it'll be refreshing for them to get beat on by exciting foreigners, instead of by each other, which seems to be the business as usual model there.

But in all seriousness, it's the Red Sea Trade Route. It can't be allowed to be fucked around with, plain and simple.

Object Lessons Shall Be Taught.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

I have absolutely no problem killing pirates. I have big problems indiscriminately bombing entire fishing villages flat.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

+1.