That's what these "fisherman" are calling the ransom's they are getting for these hijacked cargo ships Fred Bob, they say it is simply their way of "collecting fees" for foreign ships illegally fishing Somali territorial waters. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to see that get brought up at the U.N. at some point in the near future either ...typical U.N. socialism. All these "fisherman are is a bunch of thugs with RPG's and machine guns, they pay most of the ransom they collect to their bosses, some of which are radical Muslim terrorists with ties to Al-Qeada. They found out they could make more money hijacking cargo ships than fishing. As always, it's all about the booty! Personally, I think an aircraft carrier task force or two patrolling the waters off Somalia would go a long way in curbing pirate activity. But they would need to be under the proper operational orders to have any real effect. If they start plucking more fat juicy oil supertankers, you just may see that happen.
It looks like Russia has a pretty good proposal for the U.N., which means it will probably not pass the Security Council.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->November 19, 2008
Security Council to consider strikes on pirate shore bases?
Russia may be planning to go the UN Security Council with a proposal for strikes against shore bases used by Somali pirates.
The Russian Government funded Russia Today English language TV station says that "a source close to the UN Security Council" told RT that it is "considering authorising a raid on bases along the Somali coast. If this happens, armed strikes could target land bases of known pirates threatening ships in the Gulf of Aden."
Of course, the UN Security cannot consider such a step unless a proposal is brought before it and agreed upon.
Meantime, an AP report quotes Russia's Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin as saying that "NATO, the EU and other stakeholders (should decide) to carry out not a maritime operation, but a land operation that would eradicate pirates bases along the coast."
Ambassador Rogozin is quoted as saying that that, six months ago at a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council, he proposed a combined land operation between Russian and the NATO alliance that would target the pirates.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
original story here :
<a href="http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMVII/2008nov00192.html" target="_blank">http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMVII/2008nov00192.html</a>
The US and the UK would probably be about the only two other nations supporting such a plan.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>U.S. Urges Merchant Ships to Try Steps to Foil Pirates</b>
By THOM SHANKER
Published: November 19, 2008
WASHINGTON — The commander of American and allied naval forces off the coast of Somalia has begun efforts to halt a spike in piracy, urging merchant vessels to sail with armed guards on board and to travel only within lanes now patrolled by warships.
The commander, Vice Adm. William E. Gortney of the United States Navy, said crews of merchant ships were being taught measures that did not involve the use of force to prevent pirates from boarding their vessels.
The techniques include complicated rudder movements and speed adjustments that make it hard for pirate speedboats to pull alongside, as well as simple steps like pulling up ladders that some ships leave dangling for an entire voyage.
Pentagon officials said the growing problem of piracy presented yet another vexing national security threat that could not be solved by force alone, even though increased patrols had reduced the success rate of pirate raids.
Admiral Gortney, commander of the United States Fifth Fleet, with headquarters in Bahrain, said the goal of the more than a dozen warships from different countries now patrolling off Somalia was to prevent piracy. He stressed that there were no plans to mount rescues of the 18 ships and their crews currently being held by pirates.
“The cargo on board does not warrant the risk to the hostages at this particular point,†Admiral Gortney said in an interview here.
The one possible exception is a Ukrainian freighter held by pirates, with cargo including T-72 tanks, rocket-propelled grenades and antiaircraft guns. Any attempt to unload that cargo into Somalia may prompt military action, Pentagon officials said.
As negotiations began for the release of a Saudi-owned supertanker seized by pirates off Somalia, the Indian Navy said Wednesday that one of its warships had fought with would-be hijackers in the Gulf of Aden, sinking one vessel and forcing the pirates to abandon a second.
The rise in pirate attacks in a strategic waterway that carries a third of the world’s fuel supplies has captured global attention. But United States officials say the problem can be resolved only when Somalia is able to curb pirates operating from its shores and the shipping giants take more steps to secure the passage of their cargo.
“The ultimate solution is on the beach — Somalia — assuring security and stability and making sure the conditions that breed pirates are no longer there,†Admiral Gortney said. “Lacking that, the only thing we can do is prevent piracy. And we are doing that as more nations of the world send additional warships to help patrol the waters out there.â€<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Rest of the story here :
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/washington/20military.html?_r=1" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/washingt...itary.html?_r=1</a>
:" border="0" alt="pirate2.gif" /> who have taken up arms and turned to piracy. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thpirateshipff.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
ahoy!" border="0" alt="thpirateshipff.gif" /> It has been going on for years and up to this point the ship owners have just been quietly paying the ransoms and the pirates have been letting these ships go. Turns out though that they are making so much money that they have set their sights on bigger prizes <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/urgh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":urgh" border="0" alt="urgh.gif" /> and now these attacks have been thrust into the news. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pirate3.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Man, I'm in the wrong line of work!
" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />
" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> Too many things that could be related to one another. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />