Comments on: Update VI: Blow Them Out Of The Seas! (& No Somali Nation-Building)

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:50:45 +0000

The SEALS did it! Snipers, finally! Head shots. 3 shots, 3 kills….Congratulations to the snipers and to Captain Phillips, welcome HOME!

By: Jack Ely

Jack Ely — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:41:54 +0000

Like they said about terrorists, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. So can we say that one man’s pirate is another man’s community organizer?

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:03:45 +0000

Interesting historical reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_Perdicaris
– about a hostage situation that involved a nation which adhered to a “religion of peace”, a President who talked out of both sides of his mouth, and the Navy. Keep in mind that if the pilots of the “9/11” airplanes, mostly retired military, had been armed, things may have been vastly different. Ships obviously need self-defense and not to rely on FBI laywers, diplomats, and the goodwill of Moslem elders. If a Western life has to be lost defending freedom of the seas, so be it.

By: gunjam

gunjam — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 07:02:07 +0000

Ms Mercer: With all due respect (and I certainly respect your opinions), your spirited critiques of our military’s involvement in various overseas conflicts during the Bush years perhaps fail to take into consideration that our military is currently the most trained-up and battle-hardened force in the world today (save, perhaps, only the Israelis). I can also assure you that the Navy/Marine rank-and-file are champing at the bit to take action against these Somali thugs. Were it not for the obscene lengths to which our modern top military brass (with the obvious approval of their civilian superiors in Washington) are apparently willing to go to: a) prevent our troops from killing enemy combatants; and b) to court martial those troops who – despite all — still manage to kill some of them, these Somali pirates would be so much target practice for our Navy, and saving the captive sailor would be a fun exploit for our SEALS or Marine SpecOps troops. If our sailors (sickeningly) retreated from the pirates without firing back, you can be certain that they were complying with orders they have received (and that no doubt originated in the White House). As others have already said in other forums, this standing by and waiting is seriously sapping the morale of the troops who make up our ALL-VOLUNTEER (rather libertarian, no?) military.

By: Roger Chaillet

Roger Chaillet — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:02:36 +0000

Too bad the Somali thugs didn’t kidnap a bunch of Neocons.

Then the Navy would act.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:43:39 +0000

As a classical liberal non-anarchist, I believe with Washington, Jefferson, and the Constitution on the need to punish piracy. It is ironic that our Navy/Marines are putzing around “nation-building” in Iraq and Afghanistan rather than protecting freedom of the seas. Actually, a few good surveillance blimps could track a lot of unauthorized vessels that go far away from suspicious ports in Somalia. But this is typical of our modern government – which, as we know, does NOT do legitimate functions such as guaranteeing the integrity of contracts rather than taxing the innocent to bail out the irresponsible. I asked one guy where I worked why these large commercial ships don’t have a few guys with 50 cal rifles standing watch to blow these pirates to kingdom come if they approach too closely and was told that it was a violation of commercial insurance (huh? – it is safer to be boarded by pirates than defend oneself?) and “UN Convention” which is an obscene maritime version of gun control. Taking away the right to self-defense is equivalent to making a person a slave. “Our” government prefers we disarm and remove our shoes rather than defend ourselves against terrorists.

By: gunjam

gunjam — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:09:40 +0000

Ms Mercer: I agree: I don’t expect Obama to permit action against his Somalian “cousins.” In fact, rumor has it that plans are underway to get the President over to the scene of the drama, so that he can “bow in obeisance” to the pirates in a “progressive” attempt to persuade the pirates to release their captive American seaman unharmed.

By: Ben LaMoure

Ben LaMoure — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:49:13 +0000

Whether on land or sea it seems as if the right to self defense is permissible only by the “elite” policing powers of the State.
I was once attacked (unprovoked) by a man with a shovel. Rather than take the chance of being charged with assaulting him I elected to do a little fancy footwork and “talked him down” rather than “take him down”. When the police arrived I asked one of the officers “what would have happened if I had defended myself, officer?” He responded, “We would have taken you both to jail!”

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:31:22 +0000

Ilana,

Hope you passover is restful, peaceful, contemplative, sad and joyful. Blessings.

Steve

Too bad there aren’t any seals on that warship….they would make quick work of the thugs.

By: Andrew T.

Andrew T. — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:52:41 +0000

I wonder if we have any private ninja agencies to carry this one out. 🙂