Attacking a cruise ship with thousands of passengers and crew is a whole different thing from attacking a freighter with a crew of around 20 or less. If they were regular out-for-profit pirates, they were getting way too ambitious; it’s not just the extra problems they take on by trying to control such a crowd once they are aboard, but that hijacking a passenger ship is the best way I can imagine to get the US Navy involved in force – and our destroyers and carriers in the Gulf were less than a day away, I think. If they’re just pirates, they are remarkably stupid, so I think it was terrorists.

In fact, I wonder why US forces didn’t scramble aircraft to the area long before the 90 minutes were up. Maybe it’s too long range?

Anyway, best responses to pirates:

1) Clean out their bases. Once again, I think it’s time to make it clear that if a country near shipping lanes is unable or unwilling to prevent pirates from using their coasts, the US Navy and Marine Corps will come in and establish order. The section of north Africa once known as the Barbary Coast eventually learned that it was less painful to do the job themselves. The British Navy used to handle much of the rest of the uncivilized world, but they’re not up to the job anymore, while it wouldn’t be much more than a live-fire training exercise for us to clean out the worst spots.

2) Mount a few .50 BMG’s on the potential targets, if they’ve got the capability of keeping a good enough watch to call sailors to the guns before the pirates can sneak aboard. A half-mile long supertanker with a small crew might have trouble keeping watch for small boats, but cruise ships should have no problem.. Of course, ensure the law allows proper self-defense – that is, if a shot across the bow doesn’t discourage them, allow the defending ship to sink the attacking boat at a distance. The only good pirate is a dead pirate.

Pirate – one guilty of the crime of piracy.

Piracy – THose acts of robbery and depredation upon the high seas which, if committeed on land, would have amounted to a felony. Brigandage committed on the sea or from the sea. Whoever, onthe hgih seas, commits the crime of piracy as defined by the law of nations, and is afterward brought into or found in the United States, shall be imprisoned for life. 18 U.S.C.A. Sec 1651 See also Air Piracy

Air Piracy – Any sezure or exercise by cotrol, by force or violence or threat of force or violence ad with the wrongful intent, and any aircraft in flight in air commerce. 49 U.S.C.A. Sec 1472(i)

Interestingly enough – the same page that defines Air Piracy also defines “Aim a weapon.” The definition of Pistol appears on the page that has Piracy.

Not that it means anything or is surprising, but I thought it was interesting.

Read it in about 2 days. Its great. A real page turner and eye opener.

Remember, mate, pilliage before you burn…arrgggh.

<linkwhoring>Here’s some info about using guns on boats></linkwhoring>

Otherwise, they COULD have just been looking to take everyone’s wallets – but I doubt it. Not there.

Read Dangerous Waters if you want to open your eyes to a problem few people were aware of until this week.

& the attack lasted 90 minutes.

I’m thinking the pirates just couldn’t catch the cruise ship when it started hauling ass. They probably left when they ran low on fuel or ammo for the RPG’s.

& how much does this sonic weapon cost? Odds are a helluva lot more than a couple of surplus SMLE’s or Garands & 100 rounds for each – either of which could have taken care of the pirate attack decisively & permanently & most likely without having to reload.

Is there a difference?