Wednesday, June 27, 2007

RE: Pirate Answer - Part II   [Steve Schippert]

Yes, all of these conditions were presumed, including the limitations of the US vessel, which was why I was sure to add "at the risk of sounding...simplistic."

The question I raise is one of principle and not limited to American considerations.

For instance, considering the international "law of the sea," did anyone — American, Dutch or otherwise — actually request permission from the appropriate Somali authority?

The answers provided are as technically quite adequate and correct as they were presumed, in my humble view.

But as the hostages sit now without water or food, captive to barbarous pirates, it seems a massive lack of principle has been applied by all involved in order to secure their rescue and proper punishment and thus future deterrence to future acts of piracy.

It just seems to me that, like al-Qaeda terrorists, these pirates fully understand our rules of engagement and limitations and thus exploit them quite effectively. And we play by the rules while terrorists and pirates alike punish our citizens accordingly.

There are times when we either need to pursue the rules to their fullest extent (asking for permission to enter waters?) or disregard them in instances where they hurt our people more than protect.

I'm sorry, but no explanation satisfies the hard fact that we know that hostages are held, who has seized them, their dire conditions (brought about by weeks of inaction), and know where they are but still do nothing.

There's something shamefully wrong with that.

Period.

06/27 02:34 PMShare