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What law prevents that?
Do you think the ships that are taking FOOD to Africa near Somalia should be armed to protect themselves from pirates?
What law prevents that?
Yep - sure do! We should've blown those pirates right out of the water! Then maybe they'd think twice about messing with the United States of America.
But it seems with this new administration, all we're going to do is talk to them and wait for the rest of the world to tell us what to do.
Do you people actually have an idea what you are talking about, or is this all brain stem twitching?
None. Thanks for answering the question.
Probably any cargo ship sailing in known pirate waters should think about some type of security.
Agreed.
This came from an article on msn.com
Fending off attacks
Ship owners often do not arm their crews, mainly because of the cargo. A Saudi supertanker hijacked last year was loaded with 2 million barrels of oil. The vapor from that cargo was highly flammable; a spark from firing a gun could cause an explosion.
There is also the problem of keeping the pirates off the ships — once they're on board, they will very likely fight back and people will die.
===============
Problem is - probably the pirates know this and that emboldens the attackers.
if only they didn't know this.
Is vapor from food highly flammable?
is that why these attackers were emboldened?
So if we blow the pirates out of the water, we will also blow up the cargo ships we are protecting.
You should have your own radio show.
The ships are a much bigger, slower target for the pirates, than the pirates are for any shooters on the ships.
If fired upon, the pirates could blow holes in the ships with shoulder rockets, RPGs, whatever, maybe even sink the ships. They certainly have the $Ms to buy heavy arms.
I'm sure with the amount of ship taking so far, the ship owners and operators have thought the arming question through thoroughly, and came to the conclusion that arms would risk loss of crew life, but I figure that's the PR. The real risk is loss of the ships.
Another case of asymmetrical warfare where military superiority is offset by much smaller forces.
Wow - Darrin, what a stupid ing thread. If they want guns all they need to do is be armed. For some reason though, the companies themselves be guns to be more of a liablility than anything else and find it cheaper just to pay the ransoms.
I honestly woudln't be suprised to see much of the current crew fired for fighting back.
Aren't you going to tell me the free market always comes up with the best solutions ?
what does this have to do with Obama? did he order the crew to disarm? not getting the connection.
Solid post, as usual.
I heard the Captain made an escape attempt but was re-captured.
From Boston Herald
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/reg...icleid=1164699
Sailors aboard merchant vessels should be armed and free to blast away at high-seas bandits, including the bounty-hunting Somali pirates who overwhelmed an American crew and now hold the captain hostage, experts say.
Adm. Richard Gurnon, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, said the hijacking and hostage drama could have been avoided if the pirates knew there would be deadly consequences.
“I think after this, the international community will recognize that arming crews makes sense,” Gurnon said.
His academy graduated Capt. Richard P. Phillips, 53, and Capt. Shane Murphy, 33 - the skipper and first officer of the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama, which was seized Wednesday by pirates.
Phillips still was being held hostage last night, while Murphy became captain of the ship and was ordered out of the danger zone and on to Mombasa, Kenya.
U.S. Rep. William Delahunt (D-Quincy), whose district includes the academy’s campus, also called for arming merchant mariners to deter pirate attacks.
“If at any point they are fired upon by pirates, they would face the most severe consequences available,” Delahunt said.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is planning hearings to address the pirate scourge, including whether to arm merchant vessels crews.
Shipping companies don’t arm sailors because they’re concerned about liability, insurance and training costs, Gurnon said. They also believe arming sailors would escalate an already dangerous situation, he added.
A Maersk spokesman did not return calls or e-mails for comment.
Mass Maritime began firearms training this semester as it recognized “increasing threats” in the dangerous shipping lane off Somalia.
Arming merchant crews likely wouldn’t end Somali piracy, a plague arising from the country’s descent into lawlessness after the government collapsed in 1991, but it may be a necessary step.
Americans face a menu of unappetizing choices, said Charles Dunbar, a Boston University professor, including paying ransoms or sending in soldiers.
“Do you want to pursue this unsatisfying solution of limiting damages as much as you can or bear the prospect of long-term occupation?” Dunbar asked.
I do think they should be armed. Yes indeed.
Arm each ship with two .50cal snipers and the problem would be solved.
Pussy Americans like the drama though.
Place a few Marines on board and the problem is solved and.
Pirates are officially labeled by the world, enemies of the Human race. Something terrorists do not even have the distinct privilege of being
I cannot even begin to comprehend why any country puts up with these impoverished "pirates" who can barely handle ak47 recoil with their malnourished arms.
How many troops sholuld we send over?
It is kind of depressing to see America apparently does not have any delta force to find its way to this lifeboat and take care of business Rambo style
Where are the 7 Navy Seals popping up from beneath the waves and taking the tangos down
The stuff movies are made of..It is kind of depressing to see America apparently does not have any delta force to find its way to this lifeboat and take care of business Rambo style
Where are the 7 Navy Seals popping up from beneath the waves and taking the tangos down
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