The pirate attack on the Maersk Alabama is unfolding in dramatic proportions.
My thoughts, in no particular order:
Mariners are wising up to the reality of Somali piracy. Americans are a bit more sensitive about letting violence happen to them. Perhaps a lesson from 9/11 and Flight 93?
America is extraordinarily restrained when it comes to exercising its powers of violence. I disagree with the tone of the NY Times article which somehow equates these events as showing a "limit" on U.S. power. NY Times here.
You, and not the Navy or any government, are your best weapon, note the escape attempt here.
Anti-piracy patrols need a small boat, beefy tactical response. If the Navy ships do not already have them, Coast Guard LEDETS or shipboard Marine Detachments could be used by patrolling vessels. Incidents requiring a more violent response would require Coast Guard MSRT or SEAL, resources which can take time to mobilize. Any forcible takedown will be very difficult, though, given the target "vessel" (lifeboat here).
The U.S. Coast Guard is getting organized to handle these missions:
Blogs and other social media are instantaneous news sources, seegCaptain's live blog here.
In the short term, negotiation provides the best option for a peaceful ending, but with the caveat that ransom payments do not deter future attacks.
Finally, the United States needs to ratify the Law of the Sea. Based on the U.N. resolutions, customary international law and robust domestic authority, the United States has every bit of legal authority to combat these pirates, but as the world creeps towards global financial crisis, criminal elements in coastal areas can take advantage of the vulnerabilities of merchant vessels for financial gain. Ratification of the Law of the Sea will assist in the U.S. efforts to address boundary disputes and these events of violence in a cogent, rational framework.
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