Ridiculous Item #0003
Pirates
So, for those not playing along at home: certain parts of the world have a small pirate problem. Yes, pirates. We are still in the 21st Century, yes? It’s nothing new to have pirates harassing shipping in this particular part of the world (primarily Africa, land of issues). One need look no further than the Marine’s Hymn to realize that, at the very least, the US has had previous spats with certain marauding characters from this part of the world. While most of the modern pirate issue is located in the waters surrounding Somalia and the Marine’s Hymn addresses the Barbary States (specifically, Tripoli), the overarching problem remains the same: African Muslims. Apparently they just can’t get enough of the whole pillaging thing. At least they aren’t enslaving European Christians in large numbers…anymore.
Well, back to the issue at hand: modern day pirates. How is this still a problem for the civilized world? These buggers load up speed boats with a bunch of guns (sometimes explosives, too) and then hijack ships (usually cargo ships, sometimes others). The name of the game for the pirates isn’t necessarily the goods in the vessel, it’s usually far more lucrative to ransom the crew (it’s also easier, goods have to be sold or bartered, ransoms are readily spent). Shipping companies and the governments of the various countries from which the crew and ships originate or in which the ships are registered need to stop paying ransoms. Paying a random simply encourages further hostage situations, it does not discourage them.
Additionally, the historical punishment for piracy is quite clear: summary execution. By engaging in acts of piracy, these loot-happy, heavily armed psychopaths are clearly committing, regardless of how small, acts of war. They should be treated as enemies and dealt with appropriately (read: liquidated). Playing footsie with pirates won’t get the modern world anywhere. Shooting them, however, has proven rather effective.
The more I think about the situation, the more ridiculous it seems to me. Modern shipping companies (and some cruise lines) headquartered in civilized countries with ships registered almost exclusively in the First World are being harassed by pirates. Some of these same companies have even been forced to pay ransoms. High seas (or shallow coastal waters) pirates should not be a concern for the modern seafaring captain and crew. Station a destroyer or two off the coast of Somalia and see if they get the point. If they don’t, there are many unmistakable statements that could be made.
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