Radio Query:
Are YOU the pirates to whom we will be shooting?
It is being very nice for us to be killing you so very queekly!
Posted on 11/20/2008 5:21:23 PM PST by MyTwoCopperCoins
NEW DELHI: India, which is planning to send four more warships to the Gulf of Aden, has already conveyed to Somalia that it will use all necessary means to fight pirates who have targeted merchant ships passing through one of the world’s strategic shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia.
``We have conveyed through the Permanent Representative of Somalia (in the UN) of our desire to use all necessary mean to repress acts of piracy,’’ secretary (east) in the ministry of external affairs N Ravi said. The Indian Navy had sunk a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden in the first successful offensive against the pirates who have become a big menace for merchant ships.
After the Indian offensive against the pirates, the Indian government is now considering the option of augmenting forces in the pirate-infested waters. At present India has deployed INS Tabar, a stealth guided missile frigate, that has successfully defended two merchant ships against a pirate attack and ensured safe passage of many more. The proposal is to send four more warships to the region. Naval officials also met defence minister A K Antony to discuss matters related to the continuing naval operation.
But even as the Navy takes a decision at augmenting its efforts in the Gulf of Aden, there is also consensus within the Navy and the government that the menace can only be tackled effectively if there is a coordinated international effort to take on the pirates who have managed to grab the world’s attention by seizing a number of ships including Saudi owned supertanker. At the moment countries are only defending their own merchant ships.
India has been pushing for such an international effort and at a recent meeting of the International Maritime Organisation had revived a proposal to set up a UN peacekeeping force to take on pirates in the region. “These proposals are under consideration,” said Mr Ravi, adding that a concrete proposal would emerge after consultations in the UN.
Mr Ravi also pointed out that were two United Nations Security Council resolutions on piracy. UN resolution 1816, which was approved on June 2, 2008, allows foreign navies to enter Somalian territorial waters to pursue pirates while resolution 1838, which was passed on October 20, 2008, authorises the use of “necessary means” to combat piracy in international waters. India can take action under these two resolutions but there is recognition that a more substantive resolution is needed for a coordinated international effort.
However, India is not isolated in its call for an international effort. The US and other countries have also talked about the need for an international effort against pirates. The US said that it is worked in the Security Council to pass a new resolution piracy.
“It’s an international problem. You’re not going to solve this — the US is not going to solve this alone,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack was quoted as saying. Similarly, an anti-piracy watchdog, which welcomed the sinking of the pirate ship, also called for an international effort. “If all warships do this, it will be a strong deterrent. But if it’s just a rare case, then it won’t work,” Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting centre told an agency.
Go India!
Just Indians doing the job Americans no longer want to do.
You’ll notice that NOT A SINGLE U.S. flagged ship has been attacked?
That WILL change under Obama, as the Pirates KNOW thier towns would be rubble if they tried that on an American ship under Bush.
This really annoys the crap out of me! I am VERY happy about what the Indians have done and I congratulate them for being warriors on the right side in the War on Terror. They are brave sailors!
However, there is just NO excuse for Western Navies (including the worlds FINEST Navy, ours!) to not be actively pursuing these Islamic pirates.
To give an excuse that “US Interests are not threatened” is ridiculous as these Islamic pirates are using much of the ransom for funding terrorism.
I think we will be seeing a lot more of these stories in the future, we are being told day in and day out that the old one superpower world is over and the rising giants of China and India are the next big thing, well whilst I think that’s a bit premature, nonetheless it’s time for these nations to start taking care of more of the heavy lifting. The US and Britain along with one or two European nations can’t keep on shouldering the burden for ever, it’s time to let some other guys do the work for a change.
Plus the fact that the Indians and Chinese might be just a little less worried about the “human rights” of pirates than western nations.
That talking thing has resulted in the deaths of countless pirates over the centuries.
Oh wait. No it hasn't.
what an opportunity to validate our ship to ship offensive weapons before his worship, hussein takes office.
Excellent training opportunity for the Indian Navy. And unlike Western nations, they don’t give a crap about the Muzzie pirates’ “human rights.”
I wonder which scares the pirates more: The two UN resolutions with one more on the way, or the Indian warships with four more on the way. It's a tough call.
BTW, where's the need for another UN resolution? What can they do with another UN document than they can't do with a radio call, "hey, INS Tabar, our radar shows three speedboats separating from a tug 20 miles from your position on a bearing of 228 degrees and heading toward a freighter. Can you handle it?"
Radio Query:
Are YOU the pirates to whom we will be shooting?
It is being very nice for us to be killing you so very queekly!
I say BS. The merchant companies should be paying for their OWN protection (i.e., Blackwater).
What is a navy for if not for defending a countries interests at sea and protecting the trade lanes?
See pirates at sea.
Kill pirates at sea.
All of them.
You don't have to worry about where you house pirate prisoners if you take none.
Hammer,
If this was classic piracy (a la what happens in Indonesia) then I would agree with you. It is a private matter and should be dealt with privately.
However, the Somalia “pirates” are FULLY funded and backed by the Somalia Islamists that rule parts of that country. It is LESS piracy and far MORE terrorism.
Once it becomes terrorism then it is OUR duty to fight it.
Just my two cents!
That’s easy.
Midshipmen Ops!
Go India.
It’s a very low-risk, low-cost, high-reward (respect, pride, et cetera) effort. Bonus: thumbing your nose at the UN.
Scew the UN. Just go out and sink the SOB’s.
That WILL change under Obama, as the Pirates KNOW thier towns would be rubble if they tried that on an American ship under Bush.
Yeah, I agree. In fact, this rash (9 in 12 days) of recent piracies comes just after the election.
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