Pirates hijack three Thai fishing vessels

Add another unfortunate event into the Somali Pirate escapades. Seventy-seven members of Thai fishing vessels were captured and their ships stolen by pirates. As time has worn on, the brazen acts of these pirates continues seemingly unabated. The constant threat to human life, shipping and commerce lines is continually interrupted. The United States put on trial a captured "pirate" last year and hoped to use his capture and trial as a deterrent to others that followed in his footsteps. Point in fact is, this has not worked. The United States is certainly not the world police, especially with our military forces stretched thin in the Middle East, but a multinational effort must be made by all nations that face the actions of these pirates to put an end to their deeds once and for all. No longer should these men feel that they can take what they like, when they like, practically free from most reprisals by other nations simply because a viable force has not be installed into the region. The efforts shipping companies, their suppliers and ultimately the consumers are being forced to pay to defend against these pirates is not a beneficial relationship. The goods that are being delivered through this route are being used every minute of every day and the ships that carry them should be unimpeded as they deliver them. Past efforts have not been enough, a sporadic show of force hasn't been enough to end the pirates actions and more drastic measures should be employed to end in their total demise.

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Samuel Watkins

POS 2001

Tuesday 7PM