Pirates in Somalia

Last week a Somali pirate was convicted of piracy on the high seas. He received a 33 year sentence for his acts. In times past, the penalty for piracy on the high seas was death by hanging. What happened to that humane and appropriate response to war on the high seas where there is no law but the gun? Think about it. This man came from Somalia where the normal yearly income is less than $500. He scraped by on what little money he could get. Then he turned to piracy and started getting ransom shares that were $20,000, $30,000, or even more, more than sufficient for him to live in a rich fashion in super poor Somalia. For his crime of piracy, the United States government agreed to give him life in an American federal prison for the next 33 years. There he will have access to television, to education, to a library, to regular food, to shelter, to heat, to a bath, and to many other benefits which in his poverty stricken nation are luxuries. It will cost Americans some $40,000 per year to maintain this man in this luxury of a Federal prison. So, what does he tell his fellow pirates. Go on out and attack American ships. If they catch you, you get to live in luxury. If they don't, you get a pay day that will make you almost as well off as going to prison. There is something definitely wrong here.

Execute pirates. That is the way to stop this scourge. Execution on the spot is preferred. Then we will regain control of the seas. Consider what has happened most recently. Today, four Americans were murdered by pirates. We took 19 captives from Somalia into custody. They will now be transported to America and at the cost of $10,000 convicted, sent to luxury accomodations for 33 years, and taught how to be better at piracy. Why did the American warships not execute the Somalis on the spot? They were present. They were guilty. Acts of piracy are not governed by due process. When you catch the pirate in the act, due process is to execute them immediately.

Another thing that needs to take place is the bombing of the ports where the captured ships are taken. When a ship from another country is brought into port, carpet bombing should destroy the city where the ship is brought. You think that is extreme. Well, the economy of the city is similar to that of Port Royal in Jamaica. The people who live there depend upon piracy. So by the logic that we use so much these days of calling accessory acts the same as the act, those people are also pirates. Destroying there base is an act of war, not murder. Destroy the port.

There are no civilized nations on earth that oppose drastic measures with pirates. The people who do oppose drastic measures are sick and should be treated for their sickness. I propose instant execution for all pirates and the arming of all ships that transit the Indian Ocean.