Pirates, Russia, Somalia...Politics....

[Kadagar_AV]

there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary moralising with the usual reference to a what-if situation where the US is bad, once again, with some apparent dilemma about whether it is right that russia could act with impunity to deal with a wrong as it saw fit on the assumption that it might be seen as license by baddies (america, no?) to act as they saw fit (like invade another country).

way too much moralising.
pirate = dead .'. good

KISS

Thank you for your insights, that was deep.

[rotorgun]

I talked about this topic a few days ago with a retired Senior Master Chief of the US Navy. He told me that when he was serving in the area, the usual procedure for the Navy was to turn over all captured Somalian pirates to Nairobi. He said that they could be prosecuted there in some sort of political agreement. Unfortunately, due to corruption of the process, that many were released to go back to Somalia after officials on the take were paid off by the warlords. While aboard US Navy vessels, these pirates were accorded POW status, something that is denied to insurgents captured in the so called war on terror. That is another topic alas.

[Andres]

About the problem of jurisdiction... I think this is something that could be handled by an international court.

If only important countries like the US and Russia would become members of the International Criminal Court and recognise its' authority, then perhaps the International Criminal Court could be given the jurisdiction to try crimes committed on international waters, like piracy.

But no, for some unclear reasons, said states avoid the ICC like the plague.

[Jolt]

About the problem of jurisdiction... I think this is something that could be handled by an international court.

If only important countries like the US and Russia would become members of the International Criminal Court and recognise its' authority, then perhaps the International Criminal Court could be given the jurisdiction to try crimes committed on international waters, like piracy.

But no, for some unclear reasons, said states avoid the ICC like the plague.

Even being trialed on an International Court, the fact is that the criminals would have shelter, adequate food (To say the very least) and safety for years to come, while honest Somalians would continue to live in a poverty ridden land, scavenging for food and work, and with uncertain safety due to the civil war still going on.

[Vladimir]

Thank you for your insights, that was deep.

Not as deep as our impending invasion of Sweeden.

Oops, did I say that out loud?