.U.S. Navy: Pirates Not Our Problem (Updated)
Galrahn blogs about naval matters at Information Dissemination.
The U.S. Navy says its mission today is to keep sea lanes open to commerce. Then pirates seize dozens of ships off the Horn of Africa -- including ones allegedly loaded with tanks. And the Navy responds by essentially throwing its hands in the air.
The U.S. Navy said the international naval force CTF-150 -- with forces from Britain, France, Canada, Germany, Pakistan and the United States -- had stopped more then 12 attacks since May. Unfortunately, there have also been six ships seized by pirates so far just in September: a French yacht, an Egyptian dry cargo ship, a South Korean cargo ship, a Greek bulk carrier, a Hong Kong bulk carrier, and now, a Ukrainian Ro Ro reportedly carrying T-72 tanks.
"The coalition does not have the resources to provide 24-hour protection for the vast number of merchant vessels in the region," Combined Maritime Forces commander, U.S. vice admiral Bill Gortney tells Reuters. "The shipping companies must take measures to defend their vessels and their crews."
Taking a historical view, it pains me to read this. One of the primary reasons he United States of America dumped the Articles of Confederation and wrote the Constitution of the United States was to gain the power of taxation. And the primary reason the founding fathers needed taxation was so the country could build a Navy for the specific purpose of fighting pirates.
I also find it very frustrating that last Thursday, the Admirals stood in front of the American people in Durham and discussed in detail the role of naval power to protect the global system to insure the free flow of trade. Yet here we have a clear example of trade disruption on the seas, and the U.S. Navy basically tells ship owners they can't solve the problem.
I'm not saying this is a simple issue. Stopping piracy in the Gulf of Aden is not easily done. But you have to ask: why the U.S. Navy is not committed to stopping piracy in the 21st century? That question is a political question, not a strategic question of the Navy, or a tactical question regarding resources. It represents one of those political issues no one ever running for national political office gets asked about. The Navy correctly points out there is no threat to global system from Somalian piracy -- that piracy represents a minor disruption that barely shows up on the big picture. At least, that's the case today. But piracy will likely grow, until our political leaders give the problem more attention.
Meanwhile, the Russians are sending a frigate to Somalia.
Wired
The U.S. Navy says its mission today is to keep sea lanes open to commerce. Then pirates seize dozens of ships off the Horn of Africa -- including ones allegedly loaded with tanks. And the Navy responds by essentially throwing its hands in the air.
The U.S. Navy said the international naval force CTF-150 -- with forces from Britain, France, Canada, Germany, Pakistan and the United States -- had stopped more then 12 attacks since May. Unfortunately, there have also been six ships seized by pirates so far just in September: a French yacht, an Egyptian dry cargo ship, a South Korean cargo ship, a Greek bulk carrier, a Hong Kong bulk carrier, and now, a Ukrainian Ro Ro reportedly carrying T-72 tanks.
"The coalition does not have the resources to provide 24-hour protection for the vast number of merchant vessels in the region," Combined Maritime Forces commander, U.S. vice admiral Bill Gortney tells Reuters. "The shipping companies must take measures to defend their vessels and their crews."
Taking a historical view, it pains me to read this. One of the primary reasons he United States of America dumped the Articles of Confederation and wrote the Constitution of the United States was to gain the power of taxation. And the primary reason the founding fathers needed taxation was so the country could build a Navy for the specific purpose of fighting pirates.
I also find it very frustrating that last Thursday, the Admirals stood in front of the American people in Durham and discussed in detail the role of naval power to protect the global system to insure the free flow of trade. Yet here we have a clear example of trade disruption on the seas, and the U.S. Navy basically tells ship owners they can't solve the problem.
I'm not saying this is a simple issue. Stopping piracy in the Gulf of Aden is not easily done. But you have to ask: why the U.S. Navy is not committed to stopping piracy in the 21st century? That question is a political question, not a strategic question of the Navy, or a tactical question regarding resources. It represents one of those political issues no one ever running for national political office gets asked about. The Navy correctly points out there is no threat to global system from Somalian piracy -- that piracy represents a minor disruption that barely shows up on the big picture. At least, that's the case today. But piracy will likely grow, until our political leaders give the problem more attention.
Meanwhile, the Russians are sending a frigate to Somalia.
Wired
posted by madtom at 8:16 PM
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