Another Very Special Episode

Since it's almost November, it will soon be the time of year when in depth television news story get fancy titles, and there are the most health code violations at local eateries. So in the spirit of sweeps we present to you:


DON'T SHOOT UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES


With all the attention on the election, a major worldwide problem that will
require action and leadership from the next president is being ignored. I am sure you are all aware of the piracy currently plaguing the Gulf of Aden, extensively reported in the press. Of the 199 incidents of piracy in the world this year, about 1/3 of them occurred in the narrow confines of the Gulf of Aden, bordered by Somalia where the pirates are based, and the southwestern coast of the Arabian peninsula.

In the most recent event, a Ukranian ship loaded with tanks and weapons, was hijacked by these same pirates who are reportedly demanding a $20million ransom. Because of the sensitive nature of the cargo and in order to insure that the it doesn't fall into the hands of al Quaeda or the like, the major nations of the world, including our own, have gathered some of their naval forces into the area to, for the present, observe but also obviously as a preventive measure. In one incident reported shortly after the original hijacking, small boats (the pirates' preferred method of transportation and attack) approached a US Navy vessel at high speed. It was reported that warning shots were fired and the boats turned away. Why they weren't shot out of the water as an example to others trying the same thing troubled me and is the motivation for this discussion.

Piracy is not a new problem for the United States. The fledgling country immediately needed to deal with piracy along the north coast of Africa where the rulers of the shore settlements enriched themselves by piracy and the threat of it, demanding ransoms for ships taken as well as annual tributes from the major shipping nations. The US congress appropriated funds for this purpose and as can be imagined the tariff kept increasing as the years progressed. Thomas Jefferson, in his role as diplomat and later as president of the United States was unalterably opposed to paying ransoms and tributes and constantly attempted to form coalitions among the nations to combat this scourge by force. Unfortunately, the European nations then (not much different from now) preferred to continue paying rather than fighting
and Jefferson was unable to put together the needed coalition. When he became president, he started a war with these Barbary pirates and eventually, although many years later, the tributes, ransoms and piracies came to an end.

The slogan "millions for defense, not one penny for tribute," although appropriate for Jefferson's policies, was not his, nor was it Thomas Pinckney's nor was it even related to piracy. It was in response to some demands, probably for bribes, by some unnamed Frenchmen who could influence a treaty the US was interested in negotiating with the French government. (See XYZ Affair)

A later incident, in 1904 involved an american, Ion Pedicaris, who, while enjoying an evening in his villa outside of Tangiers, was kidnapped by a desert ruffian named Raisuli. He demanded a ransom which prompted a telegram from Teddy Roosevelt to the sultan of Morocco stating " Pedicaris alive or Raisuli dead." It made for great theater and Roosevelt sent some ships over to Tangier to enforce his threat. Of course, not wanting to follow a desert bandit into the trackless waste of the Sahara, the ransom was secretly paid, but the country was electrified by the goings on.

It is inconceivable to me that our 21st century response to this ongoing deadly game should be concerned for the well being of the murderous scum threatening our shipping. Right now, the pirates aboard the M/V Fania, the Ukrainian ship, are holding the crew hostage and have threatened that they will not give up without a fight. Admittedly the crew's lives are in danger, but the pirates must be captured and summarily executed where they are captured so as not to embolden them further and to bring order to the high seas.

Negotiations are useful in some situations. Unfortunately, it always results in both sides getting something. In international relations, industrial disputes, legislation and the like, this is useful. For instance, even when trying to convince Iran to stop its nuclear program, we realize that they have a sovereign right to continue it, so negotiations could be fruitful. Certainly better than engaging in a land war in Asia.

Piracy is different. The other side shouldn't get anything but a quick death. If we make an example of the Fania hijackers it will serve as a warning to many others who are engaged in the same nefarious practices.

As I write this, Nato naval forces are steaming towards the Gulf of Aden, ostensibly to provide escort to badly needed humanitarian supplies to Somalia under the World Food Program but probably also to solve the current standoff on the Fania. The commander in chief of Nato's naval forces has stated that the rules of engagement will be finalized within the next few days. Let's hope that they are "shoot first and ask questions later."

It seems that the pirates are ultimately land based in Somalia, a country without an organized national government although the chief of the International Maritime Bureau has stated that they work out of "mother ships" whose identities are known. If this is so it behooves Nato and other forces doing anti pirate duty in the area to bomb the ships into oblivion without warning or notice.

We need the determination of Jefferson. We need the bluff, bluster and threats of Roosevelt. It's time to get tough.


FIL