[Marxism] Somalia: There Is No Military Solution to Piracy

[nada <dwaltersMIA@xxxxxxxxx>]

I read the MR article. I'd say it's an NGO approach to solving the 
issue. Hardly leftist or anti-imperialist. I don't think it would work 
but it's probably better than what's been out there to date, which is 
nothing.

The article doesn't deal with the title it uses. It just makes the 
assumption that there no military solution. I wouldn't do that. There is 
a military solution that is not acceptable for people on most sides of 
this issue (including me) but it would work. To say otherwise shows 
ignorance of what could be done, as scary as that might be. The 
imperialists, nor the rest of the world, simply hasn't chosen to do so, 
thank goodness.

Secondly, the ability to stem piracy takeovers of civilian ships has 
already started to happen, somewhat effectively, by certain procedures 
involving everything from convoying (armed escorts or not), armed crews, 
barbwire anti-boarding fixtures (this has proven very effective since it 
physically prevents the pirates from boarding a ship) and a spot of 
militarizing the ship with cannons.

This has escalated the fight to something far more effective for the 
pirates, which is the higher use of RPGs, particular effective against 
tankers since the results are so much more spectacular. Apparently all 
they have to do is point the RPG and the captain orders the crew to 
surrender.

As part of the militarization process, I expect to see a new lease on 
life for the Mercenary security companies like Blackwater as they start 
providing 'security' for freighters and tankers. See more dead of everyone.

The danger of this is the escalations involved. This includes the 
increased use of Chinese, Russian, Indian and other ocean going 
countries to start free-firing on suspected pirates attacking their 
shipping. It astounds me this hasn't happened yet and the Somali ocean 
coast line is not littered with the bodies actual fisherman and other 
non-pirates...but I suspect this is only weeks or months away from 
happening. I didn't include the US here because I think they have to be 
more circumspect (as they have) due to world Imperialist politics. At 
least for the time being.

David



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