Solving the Pirate Problem

The world watched as American Captain Richard Phillips was rescued by the U.S. Navy from pirates Sunday.

NBC’s Today Show created this animated re-enactment of the hostage drama. (NBC)

While Phillips might now be safe, the crisis of commercial vessels being hijacked off the coast of Africa continues.

Today we look at media perspectives on how to solve the pirate problem.

First, an editorial in the Washington Times mocked the international community’s weak response to piracy saying it had only emboldened “lawless” states like Somalia:

“Once upon a time, we killed and captured pirates. Today it’s more complicated.
If the U.S. Navy hanged some eye-patched, peg-legged blackguard from the yardarm or made him walk the plank…judges would rule that pirates were entitled to the protections of the U.S. Constitution and that their peg legs had to be replaced by high-tech prosthetic limbs at taxpayer expense.” (The Washington Times)

Al Jazeera English quoted a security consultant who worked in Somalia.

He said the only way to end piracy was to tackle the political and economic problems that created it:

"There has been a lot of illegal fishing by international agents, toxic waste dumping on parts of Somalia, a lack of bad governance as well, all of which are the real causes of piracy." (Al Jazeera English)

(AOC)
The New York Times noted that recent attacks on the high seas had reignited debate over whether commercial ships should carry arms.

“While the arming of merchant vessels was commonplace for centuries, it faded in recent decades because of ship owners’ concerns about liability and the safety of their sailors…
But the expanding range and seafaring skills of Somali pirates are prompting some experts to start calling for changes.” (The New York Times)

On FOX News, a commercial ship owner said that you couldn’t arm vessels without first securing the entire area.

“I would love to have a great security umbrella for the region. I think weaponizing the area is OK but you have to be careful so you don’t create an escalation of violence.” (FOX News)

CNN said that ending piracy wouldn’t come on the water, but on land.

“The other thing that’s important, these are tiny towns and to shut these down with some kind of blockade or even put troops around them is a very easy thing to do. The heart of it is to go to these village leaders and say, ‘Enough is enough, it’s over’ and to get them to cooperate.” (CNN)

Do you think the United States handled the Richard Phillips hostage situation correctly? How would you stop piracy?