Somali Pirates Capture S. Korean Fishing Vessel

Somali pirates captured the South Korean fishing vessel Dong Won in the international waters of the Persian Gulf today. The pirates apparently gained control of the ship while US and Dutch naval vessels were enroute to lend assistance, then made it safely to Somali waters despite having warning shots fired at them, holding the crew of the vessel hostage at gunpoint, forcing the US and Dutch ships to break off contact.



Something needs to be done about these Somali pirates. They are getting out of hand with their attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf region. I know there is an issue with Somali territorial waters and the safety of the captured crew of the vessel and all, but we need to send a SEAL team in there and rescue the crew and wipe out the pirates or something. You know, teach them a lesson they won't soon forget. Otherwise, more of these jokers will think they can get away with this stuff and the problem will keep getting worse.

[edit on 4-4-2006 by Icarus Rising]

[edit on 7-4-2006 by asala]

IMO, this is major international news. First, an ally of th US has its citizens taken hostage in international waters. Second, it happens to be in the most volatile regions on Earth.

I foresee South Korea inflicting some heavy damage to Somalia and its pirates if anything happens to these fishermen.

I don't see the UN stopping them or making any effort to.

You've got to take into consideration that the ROK has been staring fanatical commies in the face for the past 50 years.

Pray that these fishermen survive this ordeal.

I don't think anyone will take Somalia as a country accountable for these kinds of things. Its one of the poorest countries in the world and they have absolutely no means to stop the militias, pirates, warlords and other criminal organizations roaming their land.

Best thing would be that Somalia grants whoever asks the permission and authority to find these pirates and these fisherman and bring this situation to a close.

It would be understandable though if they would not grant permission for this.

Whenever, in history, there has been a weak government there have been pirates on the seas.

Many people would, perhaps, say that we can't stop or fight an abstract concept like 'piracy'; that we need to address the 'root of the problem' of why someone would become a pirate. But, of course, this is wrong, and governments have previously been able to stop these marauders by fighting them.

The US itself fought an extensive pirate war in tripoli. Perhaps its time to do it around the horn.

You guys don't seem to udnerstand the situation in Somalia. There is no government. It is in true anarchy. There is no central power for which to delegate with, none with any true authority. None to provide funds to their own people or provide any kind of municipilaties. It is like pretty much like a no-mans land. I would not be surprised if South Korea just decides to send in military force to find them. There would be no reprocussions.

Whats the UN going to do? They don't care. The only thing that makes Somalia a soverign nation is the fact that its borders are the same because noone has the power to change them from the current status. Any attempt to sieze control or liberate the nation will fail horribly and miserably.

You think Iraq s bad? How about trying to stabalize a nation where nearly every citizen is armed with many heavy weapons and rockets and none of them want any outsiders to so much as be there.

But yea the Korean government can get them out by force if they need to, there would be no reprocussions, not from Somalia anyways. They don't have the power to leave the gulf and attack back,and I am sure a naval blockade will be put into effect soon anyways to quell these pirates from international waters.

Just as long as any invading force does not stay longer than they should, or they will soon find their numbers dwindling rapidly.