Attack the pirates in their lair

Arab News:

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Some years ago, piracy on the high seas was only ended when the major maritime powers decided no longer to license pirates as freelance buccaneers against each other but rather to pursue them and destroy them in their lairs. The policy worked and it seems to be what is needed today. The policy of trying to contain the threat by increasing security on board ships is all very well, but it is ultimately futile — and expensive. It is not going to stop the pirates. They will find plenty of victims. The navy patrols cannot be everywhere. As for handing captured pirates to what limited authorities there are in Somalia’s breakaway region of Puntland — which is what the French Navy did with nine last month — it is insane. The pirates are closely linked to the warlords of Puntland who take their cut of the ransoms paid. Negotiating with them and paying the ransom is also madness. It positively encourages them to strike again. This is now a multimillion dollar business. Hitting the pirates in their lairs would mean naval action against Somali ports such as Eyl and the destruction of all potential pirate vessels there. That could only be done under UN authority. Seven weeks ago we suggested the creation of a UN naval force, a maritime equivalent of the UN peacekeeping forces in order to ensure safe shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Whether it is that or providing the authority to move against the pirates, the UN has to address the issue — and immediately. It is already past time to deal with the problem before things grow even worse.

This is what I have been counseling for months and it is somewhat ironic that the first editorial embracing the idea comes from the Arab News, admittedly after a very big Saudi tanker was seized. The destruction of the pirate bases and their boats should not be that difficult if there is a will to do so. We would also have to be ready to send special forces units onto he captured ships to prevent the murder of the hostages at the same time.