# Somalian Pirates Seize US Crew -- Is It On? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397 "2009-04-08T15:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/41 "2009-04-08T18:49:41Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Wow awesome. > > There is one particular city that is a haven for pirates in Somalia. That would be a good place to start. I don’t recall the name offhand. [Eyl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyl) ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/42 "2009-04-08T18:51:00Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Eyl Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/43 "2009-04-08T18:54:11Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > The way I heard it three pirates had been thrown overboard by the crew. Quite a difference. I wonder which one it is. The way I heard it, the Captain called his wife to say he was safe. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/44 "2009-04-08T19:00:23Z")
Arrrrrrhhhh! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/45 "2009-04-08T19:02:40Z")
Just heard on ABC, the 20 crewmen have taken back the ship but the pirates have the Captain hostage on another boat. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/46 "2009-04-08T19:05:20Z")
I wouldn’t be too surprised if there are US attack subs regulating out there and [this stuff](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/10/5-somali-pirates-drown-wi_n_156793.html) is just what we’re told. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/47 "2009-04-08T19:14:20Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > I like the sentiment - but that’s a bit of overkill. Try “deploy a frigate, wipe them out.” A bit of overkill, deploy a predator. Give each pirate ship one pass and then sink it if it doesn’t turn around. The large ships used as launch sites should be boarded and then sunk. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/48 "2009-04-08T19:25:03Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > ::sigh:: I just wish somebody would come along who could edumacate us poor neanderthals what don’t know nuthin’ ‘bout nuthin’. Nah. The most effective way to erradicate ignorance is to just kill all the ignorant. Just send a stupid-seeking missile. That’ll learn them. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/49 "2009-04-08T19:27:32Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > A bit of overkill, deploy a predator. Give each pirate ship one pass and then sink it if it doesn’t turn around. > > The large ships used as launch sites should be boarded and then sunk. Yes because they all helpfully fly the jolly roger and truthfully answer they are pirates when asked. :rolleyes: Or better yet, just kill everybody in the area even if they pretend to be fishing or just going somewhere. If they don’t speak English just kill them. Even if the speak it with an accent. Kill them just to be on the safe side. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/50 "2009-04-08T19:28:52Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > The way I heard it three pirates had been thrown overboard by the crew. Quite a difference. I wonder which one it is. See post #17 in this thread. It links to a story on MSNBC. My favorite line from the story: [QUOTE=MSNBC story] After negotiating with the pirates, the civilian crew released the one pirate they had, expecting the pirates to release the captain, the sources added, but that did not happen. [/QUOTE] What a _shock_! A group of kidnappers, thieves (and possibly murderers, don’t know about that) _didn’t negotiate in good faith_. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/51 "2009-04-08T19:33:19Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Wow awesome. > > There is one particular city that is a haven for pirates in Somalia. That would be a good place to start. I don’t recall the name offhand. Sure. Destroying a city and killing a lot of innocent people is always a good start. Fallujah was fun. Let’s do it all over again. Even better, let’s invade.. I dunno… Thailand. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/52 "2009-04-08T19:33:51Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > See post #17 in this thread. It links to a story on MSNBC. My favorite line from the story: > What a _shock_! A group of kidnappers, thieves (and possibly murderers, don’t know about that) _didn’t negotiate in good faith_. A pox on whoever invented par-lay! ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/53 "2009-04-08T19:40:53Z")
\Pirate?\ ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/54 "2009-04-08T19:47:18Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I call that the Julius Caesar Option 🙂 > > I often ask myself WWJCD? crucify the bastards!. Either that or burn their boats and have sex with their queen. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/55 "2009-04-08T19:50:26Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > Yes because they all helpfully fly the jolly roger and truthfully answer they are pirates when asked. :rolleyes: Yes, it’s SOOOOO difficult to pick out an intercoastal speedboat 200 miles from shore when it is launched from a support ship. > [@sailor](#): > > Or better yet, just kill everybody in the area even if they pretend to be fishing or just going somewhere. If they don’t speak English just kill them. Even if the speak it with an accent. Kill them just to be on the safe side. Yes, that’s what we should do, just attack everything that moves. We’ll call it the “Sailor Doctrine” in honor of you. It’s impossible to track ships with satellites and UAV’s so well just have to kill em all and let God sort it out. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/56 "2009-04-08T19:52:04Z")
I keep hearing different bits and pieces on this. Now they have the captain hostage? WTF…what an ugly situation. Is this accurate info? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/57 "2009-04-08T19:56:12Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Pay the $3 million-get these guys out, then send a cruise missile to the port the pirates use. Flatten it. This is sort of what the French did after the seizure of the Ponant. Got part of the ransom back, killed a few pirates and a few non-pirates, and brought a few guys back to be tried. That may indeed be the just course of action, but it certainly didn’t reduce further pirate attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/58 "2009-04-08T20:01:40Z")
For the historically-minded, these incidents are reminiscent of one of the first American foreign policy crises: The Barbary Pirate Wars of the early 19th century. Jefferson sent warships and Marines into the Mediterranean to do battle with pirates operating out of North Africa ("…to the shores of Tri-po-li!"). IIRC, they had some success in reducing the pirate attacks, but they didn’t go away completely, possibly not until the French conquered Algeria. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/59 "2009-04-08T20:02:51Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Isn’t there some sort of international treaty forbidding commercial vessels from arming themselves? That’s one possible solution. Put some twin-.50 cals in cupolas along the rails and some “shooters” to man them, and your pirate problem goes away, at least for a while. I had the same thoughts, but was told by a co-worker that ships are often not allowed to arm themselves. So, the pirates have the upper hand against anyone they attack. Yaarrrrr. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397/60 "2009-04-08T20:08:58Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Yes, it’s SOOOOO difficult to pick out an intercoastal speedboat 200 miles from shore when it is launched from a support ship. I guess you believe the US Navy and all the other nations who have ships in the area are just incompetent fools who don’t know their way around the ocean because it is so easy to find the pirates and they can’t find their own asses. Since you have such knowledge maybe you should offer your services to the Pentagon. I am sure they would pay well for your knowledge and expertise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/somalian-pirates-seize-us-crew-is-it-on/492397.md?page=4)