quote:I still don't understand it when people put themselves in harms way then expect the government to get them out of trouble.
I would agree completely if it were a pleasure vessel sailing where it shouldn't - waters known to be dangerous. The cost to extract one person is astronomical! However, this was not a pleasure craft ignoring prudent warning of known danger, but a commercial vessel using a regular commercial route - no other option in that part of the world exists.
quote:Just the same there are 2 things to think of.
1.- Many of these ships may be owned by Canadian or US companies fly foreign flags for tax purposes and have mainly 3rd world crews; if it has a Bermuda flag, Philipino crew and an American Captain is it an American ship ??
2.- These events occur in international waters which could certainly create international incidents. How far out to sea are these ships sailing if the pirates board with zodiacks.
Yeah, I thought of those things too, but didn't care to go into a lengthy analysis of the subject. Just wanted to stir the pot.
As for international waters, it may not be considered an act of aggression against a country, but rather only against the pirates. Maybe the Navy should have waited for all the additional pirate vessels coming to the aid of their comrades to arrive on scene, then sink them all. That would have considerably cut down on the number pirates and pirate vessels available to this lawless bunch to commit their crimes. But then there's the issue of the hostages of foreign allies of ours who would certainly perish in such an operation - would definitely strain our foreign relations.
And, then there are the ramifications of sinking privately owned commercial vessels (and cargo) - I'm sure a number of the companies who own these ships and their cargo would prefer to pay a multi-million dollar ransom to get their insured property back (vessel and cargo, and possibly the crew) as these would cost millions more than a ransom to replace.
There is no cut and dry answer. But, unprovoked aggression left unchecked will continue to escalate; Remember the playground bully in elementary school? He took your lunch money every day until you finally were fed up and gave him a bloody nose. Or how about Hitler? Unprovoked aggression run a muck! I could go on, but I won't. There is no easy answer, but the problem will only get worse if allowed to persist.