“When nations become weak—piracy flourishes and must be put down. This has been the case since the Roman Empire. “
When the US had a large navy, and the Brits and French actually had navies, this kind of crap simply didn’t happen. It’s simply embarrassing now.
The problem is not an inability of the world’s navies to handle these pirates.
It’s an unwillingness to do it. Don’t want to look bad on TV blowing up little brown brother’s boat.
Also a determination that the only way to handle this is as a criminal matter, complete with civil rights, attorneys, standards of evidence, etc.
The more traditional approach is that pirates are by definition at war with the rest of the world, and their attacks and retaliation against those supporting them can be handled by the laws of war. During the 19th century slavers were put into the same category, which I think is perfectly appropriate. I suggest adding terrorists to the list and we’re good to go.
Despite accusations of “You didn’t build that!”, an enterprising individual should setup a shootin’ gallery cruise with all the toys and charge big bucks for a hunting party off of Bee-yoo-tee-full west Africa.