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Africa Horn
US Navy Granted Pirate Hunting Permit
2006-04-17
US Navy vessels have been granted permission to patrol Somali waters to fight piracy in what are seen as the world's most dangerous waters. Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi told ministers he agreed the deal on Sunday with the US ambassador to Kenya.
Hunting season now open, get ready to paint a few skulls & crossbones on the bridge
Under the agreement, Mr Ghedi said the US Navy would also develop Somalia's rudimentary coastguard service. The US Navy has recently seized pirates in international waters but has been unable to pursue them close to shore.
Sounds like a little green-water Navy action. We got any Swift boats available?
Hijackings and piracy off have surged in the past year as armed groups take advantage of a lack of law and order in Somalia, which has been without an effective central government since 1991. Mr Ghedi is part of a transitional administration which only controls parts of the country.

Two weeks ago, pirates who seized a South Korean fishing vessel and its 25 crew were able to escape from US and Dutch navy vessels by entering Somali waters. The ship and crew are still being held. In February, 10 Somali men accused of piracy and arrested by the US were transferred to the Kenyan port of Mombasa for trial. Luxury cruise liners and ships carrying food aid are among those targeted off Somalia in the past year.

The maritime gangs generally use speedboats to approach ships - sometimes impounding them and their crew at gunpoint and demanding ransoms before they are released. The International Maritime Bureau has recorded 41 attacks since mid-March last year.

In November last year, Somalia's transitional government signed a two-year contract with US company Topcat Marine Security to help fight piracy. The BBC's Hassan Barise in Somalia says that despite the $50m contract there has been no evidence of patrols or interceptions made by the American firm. The piracy deal would be the first official US military involvement in Somalia since US troops were killed in Mogadishu in 1993.
Posted by:Steve

#12  Reminds me of STEPHEN DECATUR and his warships USS UNITED STATES and USS PRESIDENT, against the Barbary Pirates. Got an itch to watch HORNBLOWER on Aussie TV tonite.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-04-17 22:43  

#11  Who the hell is stupid enough to sign a 50 million dollar contract with the Somali "government"?
Posted by: tu3031   2006-04-17 20:31  

#10  Eric:

The prize money system lasted at least into WWI--I've read a couple different accounts of the cruise of the Emden (German commerce raiding light cruiser) in which it's mentioned that the captain convened prize courts.
Posted by: Mike   2006-04-17 19:31  

#9  Letters of Marque and Reprisal were given to privately-owned ships so they could go to war without being considered pirates themselves. This is where the name privateer comes from. That's irrelevant to a US Navy (or any navy) ship.

I think the prize money system ended in the 19th century, both for England and the US. Besides, how much is a Somali motor boat worth?

I'm waiting though for the first hanging. And, no, not the fictional Tom Clancy version.
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2006-04-17 19:04  

#8  
Are you blind - this is a blatant attempt by Halliburton to take over Somalia!!!

No Blood for - errr - uh Sand!!!
Posted by: macofromoc   2006-04-17 18:57  

#7  Problem with that is that the Congressional and Executive branches of our Gov. would rather the Navy be limp than be an effective renegade force.
Posted by: Mike N.   2006-04-17 17:47  

#6  I think it's too bad, myself. Now the navy will have to sign on to all sorts of rules and regs, plus the international busybody societies are dusting off their righteous indignation(tm).

And they'll be subject to the whims of this week's warlord pretending to be in charge in Mogadishu.

No thanks, I'd rather have a renegade USN, at least where Somalian pyrates are involved.
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-04-17 17:10  

#5   This could be good for the U.S. Not just in a "we signed a meaningless piece of paper from a meaningless government" kind of way. The U.S. Navy will probably make some very good scores. Unless they come up against the Black Pearl and her crew of undead. That Barbosaa, he gives me the creeps.
Posted by: Mike N.   2006-04-17 17:09  

#4  Didn't this used to be called a "letter of Marque" and shouldn't the U.S. crews expect a bounty for each pirate ship they capture? Arrrr!
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-04-17 16:50  

#3  I would think "Somali" teritorial waters would not be a barier if they were in hot pursuit anyhow.

Skull and Crossbones on the bridge indeed. Lots I hope.
Posted by: SPoD   2006-04-17 16:43  

#2  The Somali government! Who even knew there was such a thing?
It's Larry Smithe at the carwash.
Posted by: 6   2006-04-17 16:41  

#1  Arrrgh! I was hoping for Letters of Marque and Reprisal rather than an agreement with the Somali government. The Somali government! Who even knew there was such a thing?
Posted by: SteveS   2006-04-17 16:25  

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