US options limited to prevent, fight Somali piracy

The only effective measure I can foresee preventing piracy is the waters off Somalia is a convoy system with sufficient escorts and air cover . Once the pirates can no longer practice there trade they will have to find other things to do . As I said on another thread clearly who ever dreamed up the current flawed strategy has never read about or understands the Battle of the Atlantic.

Cheers xpert11 .

What I find interesting about the resurgence of Somali pirates, is why they are back. Perviously Fear of Islamic Law scared off Pirates In Somalia, the former Islamic leaders where quick to crack down on that kind of activity and there was a serious decline in pirate attacks. Islamic Sharia Law courts were very effective in restoring law and order on shore.

Then US backed Ethiopian troops entered Somalia in 2007 with the aim of overthrowing the ICU (Islamic Courts Union). Shortly thereafter, the "pirates" began appearing off the coast of Somalia, taking merchant ships and demanding ransom. Despite an international effort on the seas, little has been accomplished to end the piracy.

The foreign existence in the Red Sea will make nothing" president Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen said, "German, U.S. Dutch and French warships have been there and could not prevent pirates" he added. If the international community does not work on rebuilding Somalia, it will remain the one of the worst spots in the Horn of Africa. He highlighted that the direct reason of the piracy phenomenon is disintegration of the Somali State, calling on the international institutions to contribute to restructuring Somali institutions. President Saleh during the conference revealed also that the arrested terrorist cell proved to be linked to Israeli intelligence and in contact with the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office (www.americanchronicle.com...).

Israel has long had ambitions regarding the Red Sea. Israel attempted their strategy to occupy Bab Al-Mandab Strait and failed. Their best hope is for the internationalization of the Red sea and it would be a huge military advantage for Israel, and a significant threat for to Arab national security. Piracy could easily be used as legal and moral grounds for the internationalisation of those waterways. It seems that may be what is happening already.

In late November, Paris submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for the creation of an international naval force to protect shipping off the Somali coast. The draft also proposed that this force mount a military campaign in December. In approving the resolution this week, the Security Council effectively mandates that the Red Sea will come under an international mandate, essentially seizing those waters from Arab sovereignty on the grounds that the Arabs have been unable to keep them secure.

There is a very interesting article on this here: Israel, Piracy, and the Red Sea. There is far more to the Piracy off the coast of Somalia, than simply criminal gangs at work.


[edit on 11/4/09 by Terapin]