With the high profile abduction of a French Yacht earlier this month, it seems the fun never stops off the coast of Somalia, if by fun, you mean piracy. According to the AFP,
A major Japanese oil tanker was damaged Monday in a chase by heavily-armed pirates off the coasts of Somalia and Yemen but no one was injured, officials and crew members said. The attack came a day after a Spanish tuna fishing boat carrying a crew of 26 was seized by pirates in waters off Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years.
With attacks like this seemingly increasing, or at least their publicity increasing, it seems unusual that more coordinated efforts are not being proposed to deal with at least this one problem area. While piracy is indeed nothing new, its impact on global trade and security is a large one. With that in mind, I pose the following questions:
1) Will the proliferation of security companies and the outsourcing of security extend to maritime security?
2) Will the US Navy’s unparalleled role in policing the seas ever get the recognition and appreciate it deserves?
3) Will other countries finally chip in navally, or at least financially or is it not yet financially worthwhile?
While many analysts have noted nightmare scenarios like attacks in the Strait of Hormuz or of Malacca by terrorists, is it not equally likely, or at least plausible, that a similar scenario could occur due to piracy (although the ultimate effect would be unintentional)? With rising energy costs raising the cost of transportation and thus the goods which are transported, when will it make financial sense to do more? Are there any coordinated international efforts to police the seas? This is Younghusband territory, and with that, I hope he and readers can chime in.
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ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » Somalia Piracy Followup added these pithy words on May 03 08 at 4:35 am[...] I discussed the most recept pirate attack in Somalia’s territorial waters and asked a series of questions about possible responses to it. My questions have been [...]
Wagar added these pithy words on 22 Apr 08 at 12:50 amArticle 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution gives Congress the power to “...grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water…”
Letters of marque. Yep, there’s your contractors going after pirates.
IJ added these pithy words on 22 Apr 08 at 12:38 pmAre the United States near to signing the UN’s ‘Convention on the Law of the Sea’?
One reason for refusing was said to be that the United Nations agreement impinged unacceptably on the sovereignty of the United States.
Until the hostility to the UN and international rules changes, we’re likely to continue with a system of ‘might makes right’. Foreign Affairs warned of this at the start of the year.
Kurt9 added these pithy words on 22 Apr 08 at 6:13 pmWhat is the reason for the shipping companies to not hire mercenaries to protect their ships? This strikes me as an obvious market for the likes of Blackwater, Triple-Canopy, and other private military organizations. Also, I understand that there are many mercenaries available for hire in South Africa.
This seems to me the obvious solution to the problem of piracy, both off the horn of Africa as well as the Straits of Malacca, which is another pirate-infested shipping lane.
The U.S. has not signed the UN LOST treaty, but does actually abide by all parts of it, except for Part XI. The problem with Part XI is that it is relic of the cold war when socialism was still in vogue. The fact that the U.N. has failed to get rid of Part XI is illustrative of the inept bureaucracy that the UN has become.
If the UN dropped Part XI, the U.S. would sign the treaty today. The fault lies with the UN, not the U.S.
Younghusband added these pithy words on 23 Apr 08 at 1:02 amSee EagleSpeak: Planning begins to fight Indian Ocean piracy.
IJ added these pithy words on 23 Apr 08 at 8:41 amWill other countries finally chip in navally, or at least financially?
Unlikely in view of the US attitude at present to multilateralism. Younghusband links to early international progress – some African, Middle Eastern and Asian nations agree that piracy in the Indian Ocean should somehow be tackled. But security elsewhere on the high seas, especially in the Straits of Hormuz and Malacca, is also a concern.
On the suggestion that the rest of the world is socialist, the banking crisis is showing that the United States is socialist too (but selectively). And I heard last week that the US disguises its socialism by putting $44 trillion of liabilities off-balance sheet, never mind the unusual war accounting.
IJ added these pithy words on 23 Apr 08 at 9:54 amWill other countries finally chip in navally, or at least financially?
Unlikely in view of the US attitude at present. From today’s Guardian America atavistic love affair with war
Michael added these pithy words on 23 Apr 08 at 11:52 pmQuestion in my mind is, how much can actually be done to eliminate piracy without control of the land where the pirates shelter?
IJ added these pithy words on 24 Apr 08 at 8:14 amInteresting question. If the country harbouring the ‘pirates’ refuses to sign up to international order, such as the UN Law of the Seas, anything goes.
bristlecone added these pithy words on 26 Apr 08 at 3:06 amOK, IJ, we get the point. The United States is Satan.
Now, can you quit posting until you have something to say?
IJ added these pithy words on 26 Apr 08 at 8:46 amSo that’s the only defence ‘bristlecone’ can come up with. No wonder the US is in trouble.
Until the hostility to the UN and international rules changes, we’re likely to continue with a system of ‘might makes right’. Foreign Affairs warned of this at the start of the year.
bristlecone added these pithy words on 26 Apr 08 at 11:56 amNo, but it is the only defense I think you are worth.
Now shaddap and let the grownups talk.
IJ added these pithy words on 26 Apr 08 at 2:30 pmBristlecone still can’t think of a defence. Only abuse.
Until the hostility to the UN and international rules changes, we’re likely to continue with a system of ‘might makes right’. Foreign Affairs were right to warn of such an attitude.
bristlecone added these pithy words on 26 Apr 08 at 4:45 pmI can think of a defenSe, but, again, you are not worth my time. Buh-BYE.
IJ added these pithy words on 26 Apr 08 at 5:16 pmIt surely can’t be only the inability to explain US hostility to the United Nations and international rules that so disturbs bristlecone. Even the selective socialism and $44 trillion of off-balance sheet liabilities or the unusual war accounting. It must be America’s love affair with war.
Curzon added these pithy words on 27 Apr 08 at 2:37 pmIJ: Interesting question. If the country harbouring the ‘pirates’ refuses to sign up to international order, such as the UN Law of the Seas, anything goes.
I beg to differ—recent pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia were dealt with swiftly by the US navy with prejudice. Somalia’s participation or lack there of was not even on the radar screen.
Chirol: Will other countries finally chip in navally, or at least financially or is it not yet financially worthwhile?
It would seem unlikely, as long as America is happy to fill the vacuum as world policeman.
IJ added these pithy words on 27 Apr 08 at 2:54 pmCurzon, you mention the sea off Somalia. Your post on the Arctic heralded some of the international conflict likely from US hostility to international rules.
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