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After the U.S. Navy killed three Somali pirates holding an American container ship captain hostage, pirates have seized four ships in 48 hours. BBC News reports the most recent was a Greek-managed ship with 22 Filipino crew members. NATO Lt. Commander Alexandre Fernandes told Reuters news agency, "There was only three minutes between the alarm and the hijack... They attacked at night, which was very unusual. They were using the moonlight as it's still quite bright."
The pirates have vowed to retaliate against the U.S., and a plane carrying Rep. Donald Payne of NJ was shelled by mortars yesterday in Somalia. However, when asked if the attack was related to the piracy incident, Payne said, "I don't know, and I don't want to speculate." He did add that his fact-finding trip to the region was not publicized. While the attack didn't hit the plane, civilians were injured; the Star-Ledger reports that a "Islamic extremist group al-Shabab later claimed responsibility."
Yesterday, President Obama said he would "halt the rise of piracy," but the NY Times notes, "With the 'Black Hawk Down' episode in Somalia still etched in the American consciousness 16 years after two helicopters were shot down and 18 American soldiers were killed, Mr. Obama and his advisers are wary of becoming deeply involved in the region again. "
It turns out the pirates who were holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage were teenagers. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said they were 17 to 19 years old, "Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons. Everybody...knows the consequences of that." He added, "There is no purely military solution. As long as you've got this incredible number of poor people and the risks are relatively small, there's really no way to control it unless you get something on land that begins to change the equation for these kids."
And there's still awe for the work the Navy Seals did in taking out the three pirates: A military source told the Washington Post, "It was pretty remarkable that these snipers nailed these guys. You think of rough seas, 75, 80 feet away, and under darkness, and they got them. Three pirates, three rounds, three dead bodies." The pirates were also reportedly suffering withdrawal from not having khat, a plant with stimulating effects when chewed (it's banned in the U.S. but legal in Britain).
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"It turns out the pirates who were holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage were teenagers. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said they were 17 to 19 years old, "Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons. The pirates were also reportedly suffering withdrawal from not having khat, a plant with stimulating effects when chewed"
Gee, just like here at home!!!
I've never been able to understand the "Black Hawk down" syndrome.
In that firefight, the US lost 18 soldiers and killed over 500 enemy combatants. At any other time and in any other place, including Iraq, that would be called a win. In fact, the Somali leaders were so freaked out by that kind of shellacking that they were getting ready for a second attack from the US, this time coordinated and massive. Instead, Clinton saw some gory pictures on TV and ran.
It was that amazing result that emboldened Bin laden. he has been quoted more than once saying that, after that, he expected the US to run away whenever it incurred casualties.
You must be too young to remember Vietnam. When the public turns against a war, it gets ugly for the politicians. The public saw the video of those Rangers not just dead, but their naked corpses dragged around Mogadishu's streets like some macabre trophies. And all the while, people asked why exactly are our people dying there. Was there any reason we needed to be there at all? Many if not most Americans are too selfish to think about humanitarian missions, part of the reason Rwanda went on for so long.
jchez brings up a valid point and the Vietnam reference is a Superman-leap from 18 dead. but at least you got your chance to pull the age card.
I think the reaction to 18 dead in the Battle of Mogadishu was of the "what the hell are we even doing there?" variety. People were questioning why we were putting US troops at risk in Somalia.
Would that be asked if a similar number were killed a single battle against Somalian pirates today? I don't know. Some might ask how many US military lives are worth protecting the profits of private shipping and insurance companies.
exactly to the point, we were not bogged down in somalia as in vietnam. so-called "black hawk down" was a complete PR failure. it is up to policy makers to clearly communicate the purpose behind their actions to the american public, and have the balls to follow through when they make a tough choice.
As usual, not much contribution from you.
jaycjay got it right. It's not about the number of casualties. It's about whether the public thinks American lives are being sacrificed in a just cause. In both Vietnam and Mogadishu, the public decided they weren't. Since you talk about an "age card," you're admitting that you're young. So all you know about how the public attitude changed about Vietnam over time comes from lessons in history class. It wasn't about being bogged down. Many people stopped believing the "barrier against the spread of Communism" excuse. Others saw the casualties, both Vietnam civilians and American military.
it is up to policy makers to clearly communicate the purpose behind their actions to the american public, and have the balls to follow through when they make a tough choice.
You mean like Dubya did in Iraq? You were never going to convince most people in 1993 that Americans had any need whatsoever to be in Somalia. They would have said, "Get our guys out now. Let the Somalis rot if they don't want our help." Don't forget that as the Ranger corpses were being dragged around, Somalis were running around, cheering and smiling in the background. That doesn't make people want to help them.
UN? UN? UN? UN? HUH?
As anti-Iraq war/force-should-be-the-last-option as I am, you have to admit one thing: the guys in that picture look pretty freaking cool.
I'm a big-time liberal, and one thing the war in Iraq has given me is a lot more respect for our military - from the soldiers on the ground to many of the top leaders. The "problem" the US has is with misguided leaders like Cheney, Rumsfeld etc.
But look at Gates' statements about the complexity of the situation. Look at the leadership and sniper team on that destroyer. All quality people we can be proud of and support.
A non-military option:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/14/content_11184581.htm
Send decoy ships into the region and then ambush the pirates with military forces.