Piracy is not the disease. It's the symptom. The disease is the failure of the Somalis to govern themselves since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991. But sometimes the best option you have is to treat the symptom. This is one of those times.
The world needs to help the months-old government of President Sheik Sharif Ahmed get on its feet and provide structure and, someday, an economy and stability that will reduce lawlessness.
That's a years-long process, however. In the meantime, the world needs to stop the pirates from kidnapping merchants in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The world's economy is in bad enough shape as it is. We don't need thugs slowing it down all the more.
What this means is armed ships, patrols and military incursions.
The Somalis got it tough. But don't cry for these thugs. They're stopping aid from getting through and delaying Somalia's salvation.
Comments
Our previous two Dem presidents have been foreign policy morons, especially when the military is involved. Will Obama continue this trend? If so, it'd be best if he just sat back and voted "present" until 2012, when he will be able to vote "not present".
AC, I've been to Somalia. It's a ship that can't be salvaged. Sorry for the pun.
PT: And our last Pres was a foreign policy genius? Still waiting on your source and figures to prove your statements yesterday.
Thank you TECHLOVER. It is amazing how they like to skip the last 8 years as if they never took place.
Gotta agree with CH on this one...
TechLover, yes, our last president was a foreign policy genius, compared to you. He wasn't good about defending himself from the Dem party because he wouldn't play on their level. Too much class. He was great at defending our country from aggressors. Germany and France threw out the leaders that spoke of our president like you do. As far as my figures on the Fair Tax goes, I gave you the sources. Since they're not wrong, you apparently won't accept them.
Hypo, we don't skip over the last eight years, you just only focus on what CNN tells you to see and ignore all of the rest. You're missing about 75% of the news.
Why worry about Somolia. Blow the pirates out of the water if they even get close to the ships. There has never been an African government that ever lasted or amounted to anything and this one is just like the others. They just do not have the sense to govern effectively. The only one that has been any good is South Africia and they are mostly English.
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