Somali Pirates, Pres Obama and The Barbary Wars

NyTimes

Our President may have read a little history it seems. This piece in the NY Times refers to the Barbary Pirate Wars of 200 years ago. The main issues of today's Pirate problem are similar and some good answers (below) come directly from the article (uncommon to say the least especially considering the source) :


Today's Issue #1

We can't use our military. They will kill the hostage.

Answer:

"Dr. Lambert explained how those brigands, like today’s Somalis, usually kept their hostages alive. It wasn’t out of any enlightened sense of humanity. It was simply good business."

Today's issue #2:

Shouldn't we try to negotiate for his release?

Answer:

"The United States tried to play nice with the Barbary pirates and even inked a few treaties. Eventually, though, Americans felt humiliated paying off a bunch of knife-sucking thugs in blousy pants. That’s what led to the Barbary Wars...."

"The Barbary pirates were finally brought to their knees by their encounters with the Americans, and by the French invasion of Algiers in 1830."

So we have played this game before and diplomacy failed with the Pirates. We eventually came to realize that the use of the military was the only way and we solved the problem. Any questions?

Just after I wrote this I read that Capt Phillips was freed by a raid and 3 of the 4 pirates were killed. Now it's about time!





Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD