Pirates, We Don't Need No Stinkin Pirates

Sirus Star

The Sirius Star is only one of the latest ships to be captured and held for ransom by Somalian pirates. These pirates have seized or tried to seize any ship they can get within range of including cruise ships, fishing vessels, freighters and now an oil tanker.

In March of 1794, the United States Navy was born in response to Muslim pirates operating out of Algeria. In the early 1800s, the pirates actions led to the first and second Barbary Wars.

USS Anacapa AG-49

During the World Wars, many countries used armed ships disguised as merchant ships to seize, sink or terrorize merchant ships on the high seas. The picture above is a WWII Q-ship the USS Anacapa AG-49.

I remember reading of German surface raiders used in WWII in the same manner as the Allied Q-ships. Freighters or other surface ships were provided with armament and methods of changing the ship's profile to minimize recognition. Such things as dummy funnels, repainting shipping line insignias and changing the ships paint scheme along with fake cargo that could be rearranged into various combinations. The ships also flew the flags of other countries dependent upon their mission.

Underneath all of the fakery the ship had the ability to drop panels and become a warship once the had closed within striking range of their target. Below are pictures of three German surface raiders.

HSK1 Orion

HSK2 Atlantis

HSK6 Stier

A short online check reveals there are small ships for sale around the world. I am also sure that our country has some ships in mothballs that could be brought into service and armed for patrol in areas where pirates are wreaking havoc. It would cost to either purchase a ship or rehab one in mothballs however, the pirates in Somalia are collecting millions of dollars a year in ransom. The cost of routing ships around the pirates would drive up shipping costs because of spending more days at sea.

http://www.omccthailand.com/webboard/show.php?Category=shp02&No=3272

http://www.gobizkorea.com/offer/offer_main.jsp?biz_type=&lev=2&unspsc=25110000

www.orley.de/roro.htm

I realize that these ships are not armored but the pirates weapons are basically rocket propelled grenades, and well they can cause harm, they are not accurate rapid fire weapons.

Years ago the US Navy had a mine sweeper that was propelled by huge outboard propeller drives. The ship was driven over the mines to detonate them. The ship's hull was filled with Styrofoam to provide floatation capability should the hull be breached. Something along those lines could done to a small merchant ship after it is provided enough ballast to look correct.

With the modern weapons available to governments today it would not be cost prohibitive to put out armed decoys for the pirates. Once pirates realize the easy pickings are over and that attacking ships can be painful; they will seek other occupations.

Plus these ships could also be used in other areas around the world where pirates roam. It seems pirates exist in other areas besides just Somalia.

A Troika Of Barack, Hillary and Bill

Barack, Hillary and Bill: What do you think they are thinking?

Clinton Cuts Deal for Wife to Get State Job

See the AOL story at: http://news.aol.com/main/obama-presidency/article/clinton-cuts-deal-for-wife-to-get-state/262862

Basically the story says Barack Obama will anoint Senator Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State after making a deal with Bill Clinton over his post-White House work.

To make it easier for Obama to anoint Senator Clinton the following pre-anointing conditions designed to bring transparency to Bill Clinton's activities were listed as:


Bill Clinton will disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation since its inception in 1997 and all contributors henceforth
.
Bill Clinton will refuse donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference.

Bill Clinton will cease holding CGI meetings overseas.

Bill Clinton will volunteer to step away from day-to-day management of the foundation while his wife is the Secretary of State.

Bill Clinton will submit his speaking schedule to review by the State Department and White House counsel.

And Bill Clinton will submit any new sources of income to a similar ethical review.

Soap Box Ravings has always thought if Hilary Clinton was elected President of the United States with Barack Obama the Vice President, that Hilary would be able to control Barack.

Soap Box ravings does not in any way believe that Barack Obama will be able to control Hilary Clinton. Obama may feel that Hilary will join his team and work 100% towards his goals. I do not believe that.

Furthermore for anyone to think that Bill Clinton has suddenly become honorable and will honor any future commitments more honorably than his past commitments is ludicrous.

Bill Clinton has never identified donors except when forced to, he will never submit sources of income for ethical review and if he did they would never be ethically reviewed because IMHO neither he nor the reviewers comprehend ethics.

Hilary is also noted for taking the most self serving route. She may or may not make a good secretary of State but after hearing many of my military peers discussing her behavior in the White House, I am certainly glad I am not in her employ.

Both Bill and Hillary can lie with a straight face. Well actually, Bill will work up a little tear and make a sad face when caught.

Time will tell if I am wrong but we will have to wait for the history to be written.

As a cop, I always told my boss, I can let people slide because I know that if I give them enough rope and they deserve my attention they will hang themselves.

As I was finishing this post, I realized the article title was "Clinton Cuts Deal for Wife to Get State Job" the title did not say "Obama Works Deal for Clinton to Get State Job." And I think that only helps make my point.