Time to end standoff w/Somali Pirates

The US and anyone who abhors extortionists are past due for action. As Capfrank observed, The time for a decisive, overwhelming and permanent solution is certainly at hand. This would not require a very big cost or risk to innocent life. This is not Iraq, Afghanistan or even North Korea. There is no issue here of state sovereignty, politics or abusive economic policies. It's a bunch of thugs and murderers who say things like this:

"I lost the money I invested and I lost comrades. No forgiveness for Americans. Revenge! Our business will go on."  He adds that, so far, he spent  $110,000 in the business venture (the hijacking!), including weapons, food and salaries.

It's high time we stopped these criminals. A fairly straightforward plan:

1. The many countries affected send 15 or 20 warships to block all ports


2. Airplanes drop 5,000 paratroopers just outside the lawless zone controlled by Pirates.


3. A blitz of PR via every available channel including air drop. It informs citizens that two simple dictums will be ridgidly enforced by seafaring nations of the region:

a) The citizenry has 48 hours to turn over the Pirates, their commanders and all available information with gusto (that means with zealous cooperation). In return, the commerce consortium waives charges for anyone who does not have direct blood on their hands (for example, prostitutes and barkeeps who profited from the inflow of ransom booty. They will be forgiven).

b) During this same period, all captive vessels, hostages and cargo are to be released escorted by unarmed individuals to the Allied command at Port xxxxxxxx. If we fail to process the return of all published vessels and individuals, local citizens will be held responsible.

After 48 hours, we enter, eliminate the cancer, and clean up whatever we can. At this point, it is no longer our responsibility to secure public safety. We do what is necessary to protect innocent hostages and global commerce. We certainly don’t take prisoners. *That* just isn't necessary.

Sound like bullies? It needn't get to that. It is amazing what the locals will do when they weigh their options. My father saw this in WW2 in North Africa and during the liberation of Sicily. Locals aren't dumb. When presented with a better option, they will switch their allegiance in a heartbeat!

Ellery Davies comments on political affairs for both Yahoo and Google.