I don't mean that pirates have been in the news that people are reading, just in the news. These Somali pirates have been taking a ship or ships each day for a while, which the news agencies report but not so much because mostly, people in the U.S. don't care.
Yesterday I was monitoring the wires at work, posting stories of interest, when I came across the latest pirate stories. I knew that this story would be a well read pirate story because suddenly:
A) It had Americans in it
B) The Americans were heroic
It turns out it was popular on the site I work for and became a big story across the country. The captain of the Dutch boat in question is still a hostage and things are very serious. People are dying and killing and somehow people (including me) find it funny that pirates are in the news. Blackbeard and Captain Jack Sparrow are the romantic representations we all conjure when we hear the word "pirates."
And, as a blogger I think its my moral obligation, since every other blog in the universe has done it already, to point out that the demise of pirates is the cause of global warming. Pirates are cool you see. Hahaha. Here is the obligatory funny chart that proves it:
But, really, people are dying. Even though the Somali pirates actually have public relations spokespeople (a high thought of job here in the newsroom) they are stealing, killing and eventually will be killed.I think the pirates in the news now, made a grievous error when they involved Americans. The news coverage (yes, the press still has power) will shine too bright a light over in the waters surrounding Somalia. The area is near a shipping lane and while we Americans don't like it when our citizens are killed or taken hostage, we hate it when our business interests are threatened. Corporate America will not stand for this and, credit decent people everywhere who like to blissfully ignore the world, neither will citizens. President Obama will need to show rouge states and aggressive profiteers that there is a price to be paid for taking citizens hostage. If it needs to happen, pirate vessels will sink. The symbol of Obama not taking action would be too powerful and along with those business interests, make strong action a certainty.
More proof of the pirate - warming relationship, pirate weathermen:
If the pirates release the captain, there are now U.S. warships sitting there in the water with them. Their long term survival is highly unlikely. While the Dutch business that owns the boat might pay a ransom for the captain, the U.S. military is under no obligation not to attempt an arrest or to sink the vessel afterwards. The joke is over for Americans now that one of ours is a hostage.
Hey Larry-
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that you wrote on this. I've been reading about modern-day pirates, specifically in and around Somali waters, for years, and I've always wondered why more action hasn't been taken. You hit it right on the head- American interests are now involved, and regardless of what happens with this situation, we can be assured that the likelihood of something like this happening again will be minimal. Considering that Americas success depends largely on whether or not our Navy can keep control of the worlds waters, I think appropriate measures will be taken to secure them. So many tragedies happen every day around the world, and most of Americas self-absorbed citizens don't want to know about it, unless it risks disrupting their way of life. I don't think people realize the importance of controlling the world's oceans. Without them there is no importing or exporting. This is why the majority of our military spending goes to our Navy. Ooops....I'm rambling on.
Also, I would love to read the book that you recommended. It sounds right up my alley. If it's not a problem to you, would you send it to me? I'll send it back in really good condition :)
My address is:
1105 East 6720 South #31
Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121
Thanks again Larry- and keep the posts coming.