2009-01-13 06:42:38 - Somali pirates continue their profitable reign of terror, arguing over how to spend the MV Sirius Star ransom money, while in Pirate's Alley an international navy force comes together.

The news media centered everyone's attention on the battle for the Gaza strip between the Hamas and Israel. Yet, there is another battle that is getting only minimal international television time. The ‘Pirates War Of Terrorism' in the Gulf of Aden, now known as ‘Pirate's Alley' and the coastline of Somalia.

A naval force is converging in the waters off

Somalia, under the eagle eye of the United States leadership. There are over twelve warships, include ships from Britain, Russia and the U.S., plus emerging powers such as Iran, India and China, patrolling the vast expanse of pirate-infested waters. It is intended that over 20 countries will take part in the mission. However it does have the appearance of being little more than another joint international exercise.

The naval task force has the authority to come to the assistance of any ship under threat, or fight the pirates on the open seas. However, they do not have they cannot help any ship already under the control of the pirates, or attack the pirates in Somali waters, even though the UN Security Council has passed a resolution, which allows an international force to target the pirates on Somali land.

The pirate attacks have escalated, with around 165 attempted hijackings in 2008 and 42 commandeered by the pirates. An increase of 58 from 2007. Huge ransoms are demanded from the ship owners, for the return of 17 ships and over 300 merchant seamen. The pirates, however, are having difficulty getting volunteers to willingly carry the ransom to them.

M.V.Sirius Star Update:

The $3 million ransom was paid for the .V. Sirius Star, the largest oil tanker in the world, captured by the pirates two months ago. This is a huge reduction from the reportedly $25 million originally asked for.
While racing to bypass any interference from the international naval task force, the pirate boat overturned and sank, killing five of the pirates and dropping the $3 million ransom to the bottom of the ocean.

What will happen if salvage rights are now added to an already deadly conflict?
No End In The Foreseeable Future:

Head of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center, Noel Choong, said "Right now there is no major deterrent to the continued attacks. The military may chase the pirates away, but they quickly regroup. Piracy will continue until their networks and land bases are destroyed". Under the leadership of Abdul Hassan, based in the run down and decrepit fishing village of Eyl, the new pirate capital of the world, the pirates plan further attacks.

The pirates have the assistance of a massive international network from Somali expats spread around the world, feeding them information. They collect a portion of the booty, just as in any business arrangement. A lot of people strongly believe that until the feuding politicians in Somalia, who each have their own militia, are brought under control, the raids will continue unabated.

Any shipping passing through the troubled waters are forced to ward off the pirates as best they can. An Egyptian cargo vessel was rescued on Christmas day, by a German military helicopter. On New Year's day pirates were scared off an attack on an Indian tanker by a Malaysian military helicopter. A French warship managed to thwart an attack on a Panamanian cargo ship, while managing to capture several pirates. Because of the vast area of troubled water, very few pirates are actually captured.

One pirate claims: "We are eco-warriors. Marines defending Somali waters from foreign exploitation". One is forced to ask, just who are the true exploiters, as the pirate attacks continue to escalate? It's time Somalia was treated like any other war zone and the pirates as international criminals.


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