Article

2009-02-16 Africa Horn

US uses unmanned drones to hunt Somali pirates

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Posted by Steve White 2009-02-16 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 That's more like it! Follow the ba$+ards home, wait 'til all their worthless friends come over, and nuke their hut.

Posted by gorb 2009-02-16 04:53|| 2009-02-16 04:53|| Front Page Top

#2 I'd feel better if the drones were armed with Hellfires.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia">Rambler in Virginia 2009-02-16 07:10|| 2009-02-16 07:10|| Front Page Top

#3 Pirateless Drones?

Posted by Barney Franks 2009-02-16 07:25|| 2009-02-16 07:25|| Front Page Top

#4 Go to your room.

I kinda wish they hadn't released this information. It's not like the pirates can do much to counteract, but you don't go public with your advantages.

Another case of law-enforcement mentality .

Posted by Pappy 2009-02-16 09:48|| 2009-02-16 09:48|| Front Page Top

#5 How long have we been fighting the pilates of Somalia anyway?

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-02-16 10:11|| 2009-02-16 10:11|| Front Page Top

#6 Why not just sink the skiff with its weapons, taking no prisoners? Capturing pirates and having no legal jurisdiction to do anything about them is another waste of our time and tax dollars.

Posted by Thealing Borgia 122 2009-02-16 10:38|| 2009-02-16 10:38|| Front Page Top

#7 Kinda hard to launch a Predator with a pair of Hellfire missiles from a destroyer. IIRC, it takes about 600 feet for a loaded Predator to get airborne. The drones the Navy uses can be launched from any vessel, down to Frigates, and possibly even from the Navy's new Littoral ships. I guess Djibouti nixed our using armed Predators from their territory. It's a bit out of the way, to boot. What's needed is an LHA - good-size flight deck, 20+ helicopters (including AH-1 Cobras) and some carry AV-8B Harriers. There are also landing craft of varying types and 1500 Marines on board. It also wouldn't hurt to take several of the old Fletcher-class DDs out of mothballs, refurbish and modernize them, and use THEM for patrolling. Nothing says "stop" quite like four dual-mount 4.5"/50 turrets.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2009-02-16 13:01|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2009-02-16 13:01|| Front Page Top

#8 Why not just sink the skiff with its weapons, taking no prisoners? Capturing pirates and having no legal jurisdiction to do anything about them is another waste of our time and tax dollars.

Because, unless the pirates attacked naval forces, (which a counter-attack would be self-defense) the Navy needs approval from National Command Authority to do so. Such approval would only come if there was a clear causus belli.

Keep in mind that the actions of the much cited Decatur were taken because the Barbary States attacked and captured American ships and sailors. Same for Operation Praying Mantis against the Iranians.

The Somali pirates have not attacked American-flagged or American-chartered shipping.

It also wouldn't hurt to take several of the old Fletcher-class DDs out of mothballs, refurbish and modernize them, and use THEM for patrolling.

1. There are no or few Fletcher-class left in mothballs.

2. The money spent to overhaul, modernize and train crews to run its propulsion plant and weapons systems is counter-productive. It'd be far easier and cheaper to use the remaining FFG-7 ships or subsidize a Euro or African ship(s) deployment.

Posted by Pappy 2009-02-16 13:54|| 2009-02-16 13:54|| Front Page Top

#9 How about refurbing the Kitty Hawk and have its home station be Djibouti? The Kitty can operate as the launching/landing station for the Predators, and since it is no longer active duty Navy for manned carrier duties, no big feathers get ruffled if it becomes the first drone carrier.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2009-02-16 19:28|| 2009-02-16 19:28|| Front Page Top

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