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WASHINGTON
In the wake of the hijacking of a Norfolk-based cargo ship, Virginia Sen. Jim Webb is asking the leaders of two Senate committees to hold hearings looking into the rise of piracy off the coast of Somalia.
“Piracy should not be tolerated. It is a violation of international law, and for centuries the use of force to stop it has been supported by virtually every nation,” Webb wrote in a letter Monday to the chairmen of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees.
Webb said the Senate needs to look at the Obama administration’s efforts to strengthen the transitional Somali government and to build international cooperation to re-establish security on the seas.
The captain of the merchant vessel Maersk Alabama was held by pirates for five days until Navy SEALs shot three of the pirates and rescued him last week.
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theguy...
If you're claiming it, go ahead and show it.
For keithb
"Piracy against our allies was not our business when Bush was Prez according to you."
Keith, can you show an incident where an American ship was taken by these pirates while Bush was President? That shouldn't be too hard..
dennisp
Ahhhhh! I see.
Piracy against our allies was not our business when Bush was Prez according to you.
No forward thinking needed about the fact that our ships might be attacked because they had not been attacked.
Now you want to limit it to the 'current administration'.
Well, we know how effective Bush was about forward thinking when 9-11 occurred after Bush had ignored national security.
RE: 'Keith' & 'dennisp'
Both of your reply/comments are on-target! The piracy issue goes back many, many years, and it most definitely pre-dates any Bush Administration. It was not as prevalent as it is now, only because the Somali pirates have only recently become more brazen about their attacks, and have become better armed. There is ample historical precedent for how to deal with acts of piracy, and there is clear authority thru Article 1, of the Constitution to enable the U.S. to proceed without protracted Congressional hearings. We do not need political posturing and grandstanding; we simply need to take direct action. Further, the U.S. will undoubtedly be challenged to defend its actions; THAT'S what the politicians are for. The U.S. military is more than adequately capable of performing what is required of it. The politicians need to quit bloviating and delaying the inevitable--get out of the way, and let the military do its job!
re: keithb64840
"so what did the previous administration do about the piracy issue?"
I don't recall Bush (whom imo, by many measures was a HUGE disappointment & trampler of the Constitution) doing anything, but that may be because there were no problems w/pirates attacking OUR ships (which according to the way this game seems to be played by the partisans, can only mean Bush was an effective CIC.)
You know, we can all stay distracted & stuck in the past & fighting over whom was (is) the worst President, or we can do something really productive & channel our energies to keeping tabs on our current elected Reps & Senators performance of their duties vis-a-vis our Constitution.
By doing so, we remove your and my prejudices and "gut feelings" from the equation & will end up with an America fair & just for all citizens (including taxpayers.)
dennisp
I can't say I disagree with you. While I am opposed to guns, there is a time and place for them and this is that place.
wayne
"It is clear that our current administration has little regard, and no use for the Constitution."
So what did the previous administration do about the piracy issue?
Bureaucrats!
That's what this problems needs. A bunch of red-tape generating Senators gumming up the works. The solution is simple: 1) Direct the military to take care of the problem and; 2) Leave the military commanders alone while they do their job.
Sen Webb is just hopping on the flavor of the week. The piracy off Somalia is not a new problem nor is it a rising problem. It has been bad for a long time and we have done very little to address it. Not that it's in the news and we just had a dramatic event, he's playing the politician and trying to get himself associated with 'perceived' action on the problem.
oh good grief!
"We are no longer Americans--we're pansies. How sad."
Re: gertzpoint
I do not advocate "doing nothing" about the 2 legged sea lice problem. I merely think our Senator Webb could better use his time & our tax money in dealing with our other, larger problems (take your pick.)
As for the pirates: If I were running things, I'd randomly select (to keep the bad guys guessing)& equip our merchant vessels with heavy weapons and trained marksmen; put out the word on the Somalian waterfront that all boats and vessels will stand clear of merchantmen by whatever the effective range of an RPG's is, then blast the hell out of anyone dumb enough to violate that distance. End of problem.