Warships take new strategy against Somali pirates

[Chris]

NAIROBI, Kenya -An international fleet of warships is attacking and destroying Somali pirate vessels closer to the shores of East Africa and the new strategy, combined with more aggressive confrontations further out to sea, has dealt the brigands a setback, officials and experts said Thursday.

The new tactics by the European Union naval force comes after Spain — which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, and whose fishing vessels are frequent pirate targets — encouraged more aggressive pursuit of pirates and the coalition obtained more aircraft and other military assets, said Rear Adm. Peter Hudson, the force commander.

The EU Naval Force attacked 12 groups of pirate vessels, which normally includes several skiffs and a mother vessel, this month, more than last year. Half of those attacks were on the high seas and half close to shore, reflecting the new strategy to intercept pirates before they reach deep water and international shipping lanes.

Hudson told The Associated Press that the force wants to "get up close ... before they can attack some ships" and use the additional aircraft to spot pirate vessels and send warships to intercept them.

With calmer waters, March is typically a busy month for pirate attacks. But only two ships have been taken in the first two weeks of the month, down from four hijackings over the same period last year, said EU naval spokesman Cmdr. John Harbour. The number of unsuccessful attacks also dropped. About half of last year's 47 successful hijackings happened during March, April and May.

http://www.aolnews.com/story/somali-pirates-attempt-attack-on-dutch/790275

[IassaFTots]

Cool.  You know that English Couple is STILL being held hostage???

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254771/British-couple-kidnapped-Somali-pirates-kept-apart-weeks.html

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

What?

The overwhelming application of force can insure peace and order?

What?

[thundley4]

What?

The overwhelming application of force can insure peace and order?

What?

Notice , that is not the tact we seem to be following.

[Chris_]

What?

The overwhelming application of force can insure peace and order?

What?

I actually prefer the manner in which we dealt with the Barbary pirates in the distant past.....

.....Follow their vessels home, kill all aboard, burn them to the waterline, and their villages to the ground, killing everyone and everything that moves, leaving nothing but scorched earth......leave one survivor to "pass on the message".

doc

[dutch508]

I actually prefer the manner in which we dealt with the Barbary pirates in the distant past.....

.....Follow their vessels home, kill all aboard, burn them to the waterline, and their villages to the ground, killing everyone and everything that moves, leaving nothing but scorched earth......leave one survivor to "pass on the message".

doc

slacker.

we can leave a sign.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

slacker.

we can leave a sign.

If that...

In A-stan we should be broadcasting for volunteers to be the first village harboring Taliban to be burned off the face of the earth and plowed under.

Achmed: Abdul, wasn't there a village here last winter?

Abdul: (looking around) I...don't...know...but I want to go away now.

[JohnnyReb]

I actually prefer the manner in which we dealt with the Barbary pirates in the distant past.....

Yeah, that lesson lasted almost 200 years.