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2008-08-23 Africa Horn
Somali pirates try again, come up empty
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Posted by tu3031 2008-08-23 11:44|| || Front Page|| [2 views ]  Top

#1 why not call in the location of the Mother Ship? Put a stop to this nonsense, now
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2008-08-23 11:52||   2008-08-23 11:52|| Front Page Top

#2 If we had a Navy we could. I would not be surprised to see this become a campaign issue. It's serious in bot the blue forces. Their strategic thought and procurement are so screwed up that it is a threat to national security.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-08-23 12:51||   2008-08-23 12:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Nimble...as a Navy guy a take some umbrage with the idea we have no Navy over there. The Navy assets in the AOR are under OPCON of JTF Horn of Africa. Commander JTF-HOA gets his orders through the chain of command from GW and the NCA. Strategic policy dictates the ROEs for the HOA AOR, and that does not include chasing down Somali pirates. If you have a beef it's with GW, not the Navy.
Posted by anymouse">anymouse  2008-08-23 13:57||   2008-08-23 13:57|| Front Page Top

#4 Unfortunately, the only way to stop this is to have a naval force on site 24/7. There's 1500 miles of coastline to cover. The best response is an ARCLIGHT strike down through the center of any town that harbors pirates. We should know by now where the mother-ship docks - if not, Intel's slipping. That town should be the first one visited. Pirates would become persona-non-grata everywhere afterwards.

Sometimes, you've GOTTA USE the big stick. Otherwise, it doesn't remain a threat.
Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot  2008-08-23 15:26|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]  2008-08-23 15:26|| Front Page Top

#5 Punish the innocent to discourage the guilty? Did it ever occur to you that the innocent may be unarmed, and in fear of their lives, just like innocent civilians in the US when in the presence of dangerous criminals? Old Patriot, your barbaric point of view is worthy of Al-Quaida. As a fellow Yank, if I could vote you off of the island, if the real world worked that way. The US is busy, but the Danes, for example, are lending a hand by sending in a navy vessel to help deal with the pirates.
Posted by BigCat 2008-08-23 17:30||   2008-08-23 17:30|| Front Page Top

#6 OP's kind of heavy on the ARCLIGHT suggestions. You'll notice he doesn't get all that many 'amen's from other regulars or from the moderators here.

That said, it doesn't help when Europeans pay large ransoms to the pirates in that area.
Posted by lotp 2008-08-23 17:33||   2008-08-23 17:33|| Front Page Top

#7 Still, I want OP on my side.
Posted by .5MT 2008-08-23 17:43|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net]  2008-08-23 17:43|| Front Page Top

#8 anymouse, The problem is the naval assets we have are not great for anti-piracy and we aren't doing anything to develop the capability. Instead we get DDG-1000. This piracy problem is going to grow if we don't start to address it. The Navy needs to get into the WoT, just as the Air Force should.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-08-23 17:44||   2008-08-23 17:44|| Front Page Top

#9 Nimble...I'll agree with you...at least 1/2 way. Interdiction of small boats is a USCG/LE function. You could argue that we should have greater USCG cutter and LE craft in the AOR working with the CIC of a DDG. But we don't fund the USCG well enough to perform there own DHS mission in US waters.

I understand what you are trying to say, and agree we should be kicking some butt over there. However, the ROEs for HOA do not support that mission at the moment...and that's the key take away.
Posted by anymouse">anymouse  2008-08-23 21:06||   2008-08-23 21:06|| Front Page Top

#10 Maybe hanging every pirate you catch might be a start.
Posted by European Conservative 2008-08-23 21:08||   2008-08-23 21:08|| Front Page Top

#11 anymouse, your response indicates to me you have been associated with the current Navy to long. What would Preble, Decatur, Bainbridge, and Truxton have thought? USCG/LE, AOR, CIC, DDG, DHS, ROE, HOA; where does hang the pirates from the yardarm fit in there?
Posted by Barrack 2008-08-23 21:12||   2008-08-23 21:12|| Front Page Top

#12 If I remember well the first and early U.S. excursion to the Barbary Coast proved to be quite successful.

I don't remember European protests then
Posted by European Conservative 2008-08-23 21:19||   2008-08-23 21:19|| Front Page Top

23:30 Jolutch Mussolini7800
23:20 Jolutch Mussolini7800
23:18 European Conservative
23:17 penguin
23:12 Sherry
23:00 European Conservative
22:57 ed
22:47 European Conservative
22:46 Jolutch Mussolini7800
22:46 ed
22:42 Jolutch Mussolini7800
22:34 European Conservative
22:33 ed
22:30 sane_european_old_white_guy
22:24 Frank G
22:22 Frank G
22:20 Jolutch Mussolini7800
22:15 sane_european_old_white_guy
22:15 European Conservative
22:11 ed
22:07 Frank G
22:05 Frank G
22:04 ed
22:01 KBK









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