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Most people think pirates are a thing of the distant past, live in Fairy Tales, wear a patch over one eye and sport a hook on one hand. At one time, part of this may have been true. Whats even more real,  is the fact that pirates still exist. Not only that, it seems they have never been a thing of the past.

In 1980, I was deployed in the Gulf during the Iran Hostage Crisis on board the USS Wichita AOR-1. After our stay in the Gulf, we sailed towards Thailand for some liberty. During his time there were messages coming in indicating that Viet Nameses refugees were being picked up in sea lanes near the Thai coast. It was only five short years since Saigon had fallen and people were still trying to get out of the country. So much for communism.

While sailing into Thailand we encountered a boat load of refugees. Coincidentally as we were approaching their boat with the intent to rescue, they were being pushed away from a Thai fishing trawler. The Thai fisherman were not trying to assist the refugees, but had changed roles and were now pirates who were robbing the Viet Namese who were on board this small boat. The Thai Pirates had stripped the refugees of everything they had left in the world, except the clothes on their backs. So hearing of the recent piracy committed by Somali Pirates, comes of no surprize to me.

The Somali Pirates have been very busy over the last few years, and according to various news services they have triggered an entire new enconomy on the Somali coast. They have seized large cargos including oil, and the companies who have lost cargo and goods to the Pirates are more than happy to pay large sums of money for Ransoms that are in the millions of dollars to retrieve cargo and the crews of the ships that are being held hostage. It has also been reported that the hostages are being treated well and the pirates have even gone as far as hiring caterers to prepare western style food for the hostages. Not a bad idea from a political standpoint.

In an even stranger twist, right wing radio icon, Rush Limbaugh reported that he had given the pirates the idea of increasing their ransom demands. Claiming that he had mentioned this in one of his afternoon radio shows, saying that the pirates were not asking enough for the cargo that they had taken. He also alluded to the possibility that the information was  picked up by the pirates who followed his suggestion, by demanding an increased ransom on an oil tanker that they had recently siezed. This story is however unconfirmed and strictly rumor at this point.

The pirates are also using a mix of old time tactics and modern technology to complete their objectives. The Indian Navy reported that they had intercepted an sunk a “mother ship” that the Somali Pirates were using as a base of operations, and dispatching smaller vessels to intercept target ships. Once they arrive at their target, (Much like their 17th and 18th century predecessors) they use fast boats, grappeling hooks and weapons to board the undefended merchant ships which fall as easy prey against such an attack.

It is unclear at this point as to what the international communities response will be to the situation. Both international law and maritime law can become complicated when (and if ) the situation comes to an armed response. So it may be some time before the Pirates are stopped and/or brought to justice.

In another story, it was reported that Somali Pirates had also been attacking Thai fishing vessels, I guess all is fair in love, war and piracy.

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