"The Somali pirates are businessmen."

....

Jim Wilson, Middle East correspondent for Fairplay International Shipping Magazine, saw a "business cycle" at work, after the pirates earned tens of millions last year in ransoms.

"A lot of the vessels that had been taken have been previously released, so like any other businessman, when you're out of stock, what do you do? You go and get more stock," he said."The Somali pirates are businessmen."

And the crew of the Maersk Alabama are professionals, said Joseph Murphy, who said he believed his son would continue his career at sea once this week's episode ends.

"You've got to get the job done," the father said. "This is another day at work."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glmgfimqhAuZKwq54lTM619tivUwD97ELL901



I guess he was trying to make them seem less dangerous. :shrug:

Somalia is paradise.

is going to be the only way to stop them.

:eyes:

:D

But it's perfectly all right to plunder a nation and its natural resources as long as you have people in snappy uniforms do the dirty work. The Somali pirates should invest in some nice uniforms and epaulets. Dump the scruff, guys.

trying this on for size: They're both bad. duh.

But while we get wall-to-wall coverage of Somali pirates, when was the last time we had similar coverage of where the wealth of Iraq is going? How much oil is being pumped in Iraq? Who's pumping it? Who's paying for it (if anyone)? Where is it being shipped? Who's paying for it when it's offloaded (if anyone)?

Instead, one group is derided as bandits and thugs. The other group is applauded and lionized. The difference, as far as I can tell, are those snappy uniforms and not much else. They both use the same tactics and methods to spread terror and steal what isn't theirs.

involving U.S. citizens does. And really, it's a lousy comparison anyway.

One situation gives us a chance to mock and criticize the dirt-poor desperate people of a faraway country; the other makes us feel all uncomfortable inside. And there's nothing lousier than an American's discomfort.

Jeez, you just can't agree with some people.

After the exciting Bush/Cheney liberation of Iraq, I watched skids of dollars being airlifted into Baghdad by Mr. Genius Bremer, who made them disappear like magic. He was also paying "ghost employees" to not show up & rebuild Baghdad. I volunteered to be a "ghost writer" and let them pay me to stay home and not write about the chicanery involved in building swimming pools in the desert etc. I even volunteered to call in on my cell phone every day & rattle chains & make spooky noises if they would mail me checks. No soap.

Since they've decided they can't arm the ships, or re-route them, or afford water cannons and acoustic devices, I was originally going to suggest that they simply give in & throw paper currency overboard as they traverse the area. While the pirates are using nets to scoop up the bills, they can safely traverse the area. If they use Brazilian or Italian currency it will also look like a lot more than it is (cost effective).

As a business person, however, I would now like to know who to contact to volunteer to be a pirate. The Somali Coast Guard?

I'm unemployed, love the ocean, I can handle a boat and I own an African Grey parrot who curses with gusto. I know I can do this, and I believe in business. :bounce:

PS - Are these pirates former AIG execs?

:hi:

These people used to be fisherman (well, some of them, at least). Not having the resources to protect their national waters, other countries overfished and dumped waste. Their fishing industry was wiped out.

I won't defend their piracy, but it didn't begin until they were screwed over by people against whom they couldn't defend themselves.

But the bottom line is that they are pirates, and they should be blown out of the water.

These big ships should be armed. I think you will find that most larger pleasure craft in the US have guns on board when traveling long distances in open water. I myself have been threatened on the water, and have aimed a gun (albeit a flare gun) at some guys who were threatening us.

look at the piracy those "businessmen" pulled off over the last 8 years.

Oyyyyyyyy.......