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Africa Horn
Pirates hijack South Korean cargo ship off Somali coast
2008-09-11
A South Korean cargo ship with Korean and Myanmarese sailors aboard was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia Wednesday, diplomatic sources said. Eight Koreans and 13 Myanmarese were on the 15,000-ton ship when it was seized at 0700 GMT, the sources told the Yonhap news agency.
Posted by:Fred

#9  The West needs to setup a couple of dozen Q-ships and send them into the worst of the areas infested with pirates. After the first dozen or so slaughters of the attacking pirates, piracy will quiet down again. International law is quite clear on the permissible level of force against pirates -- whatever it takes to stop them is the standard that has been in operation since the 1630s.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2008-09-11 23:38  

#8  I like the idea of a transport ship full of Marines. ROK, UK, USA whatever. That would board random ships and then ride them through the straights hoping the ship is attacked.

Either that or a few forward air spotters aboard ships and a spooky gunship above. If pirate ships started disappearing in a spray of saltwater and blood it wouldn't be long before the problem sort of stopped.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-09-11 16:19  

#7  The closest I've ever come to dying in this world was the day I walked up behind a ROK Marine, and said "excuse me". My dad taught me to walk quietly in the woods back home when we'd go hunting together. It's NOT a good thing to do around ROK Marines. At least MSgt Ho had a sense of humor.

This is one of those times when there still needs to be a couple of battleships afloat. Let one of those stand off and start shelling the port where these ships are taken. It's almost as satisfying an experience as an ARCLIGHT strike - except for those on the receiving end.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2008-09-11 14:17  

#6  Are the Somali pirates just grabbing anything heading towards the Suez? Perhaps we need to either (a) blow the crap out of them (b) start convoys for safety.

Naturally I prefer option (a). It also gives a chance for a smaller nation to step up.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-09-11 13:07  

#5  ROK marines are still good.
Posted by: Pappy   2008-09-11 11:09  

#4  Pray they weren't NK sailor plants with NK cargo.
Posted by: Danielle   2008-09-11 10:33  

#3  Okay, as much money as there is in international shipping, I guess the owners aka morons have never heard of decoy ships or the trojan ships. How about sending an innocent looking boat and filling it with troops. As soon as the schmucks come on board, everyone can yell surprise!!!
Posted by: phxrav   2008-09-11 10:16  

#2  OS, I know they were 40 years ago, but are they still? SK has changed a lot - did their Marines?
Posted by: Glenmore   2008-09-11 07:57  

#1  They had better pray the South Korea doesnt send the ROK Marines to get it back. ROK Marines are some of the toughest SOBs on the planet. Ask anyone that's served with them.
Posted by: OldSpook   2008-09-11 02:43  

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