Comments on: How to Deal with Somali Piracy http://www.welmer.org/2009/04/14/how-to-deal-with-somali-piracy/ Exploring the East, Revisiting the West Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:01:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Welmer http://www.welmer.org/2009/04/14/how-to-deal-with-somali-piracy/comment-page-1/#comment-905 Welmer Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:10:50 +0000 http://www.welmer.org/?p=158#comment-905 Although I am looking at the problem from an American rather than Somali perspective, I have heard about the fish issue and understand that Somalis are not happy about overfishing. However, I believe the khat trade is more lucrative than the Somali fishing "industry," and who's to say, given the lawless state of the country and the huge arms markets in Mogadishu, etc., that some guys with automatic weapons and RPGs wouldn't go for freighters and a potential multi-million dollar payoff when they could make a couple dollars a day fishing from leaky dhows? Either way, an international coast guard based in Berbera could enhance enforcement of fishing rules in addition to intercepting pirates. Piracy has been endemic to the Gulf of Aden for many centuries, and I have to admit that I'm skeptical about the idea that allocating fish to Somali warlords would be an adequate solution. If it were, couldn't we simply send a freighter filled with pollock - what the hell, make it halibut - into Mogadishu in exchange for the ships and hostages? Although I am looking at the problem from an American rather than Somali perspective, I have heard about the fish issue and understand that Somalis are not happy about overfishing. However, I believe the khat trade is more lucrative than the Somali fishing “industry,” and who’s to say, given the lawless state of the country and the huge arms markets in Mogadishu, etc., that some guys with automatic weapons and RPGs wouldn’t go for freighters and a potential multi-million dollar payoff when they could make a couple dollars a day fishing from leaky dhows? Either way, an international coast guard based in Berbera could enhance enforcement of fishing rules in addition to intercepting pirates.

Piracy has been endemic to the Gulf of Aden for many centuries, and I have to admit that I’m skeptical about the idea that allocating fish to Somali warlords would be an adequate solution. If it were, couldn’t we simply send a freighter filled with pollock – what the hell, make it halibut – into Mogadishu in exchange for the ships and hostages?

]]> By: airtommy http://www.welmer.org/2009/04/14/how-to-deal-with-somali-piracy/comment-page-1/#comment-904 airtommy Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:35:25 +0000 http://www.welmer.org/?p=158#comment-904 Your solution would not work because you don't understand the problem. The basis of your post is that the global shipping industry is the victim and Somalia is the perpetrator. But shipping has hardly suffered. They pay a miniscule amount of money in ransom. The victim is Somalia, which has seen foreigners rampantly stealing their most valuable resource (fish). The solution is simple: Meet with the Somalians and work out a deal with them that addresses their legitimate grievances (primarily illegal fishing) in exchange for ending the piracy. Your solution would not work because you don’t understand the problem.

The basis of your post is that the global shipping industry is the victim and Somalia is the perpetrator. But shipping has hardly suffered. They pay a miniscule amount of money in ransom. The victim is Somalia, which has seen foreigners rampantly stealing their most valuable resource (fish).

The solution is simple: Meet with the Somalians and work out a deal with them that addresses their legitimate grievances (primarily illegal fishing) in exchange for ending the piracy.

]]> By: Justin http://www.welmer.org/2009/04/14/how-to-deal-with-somali-piracy/comment-page-1/#comment-892 Justin Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:11:15 +0000 http://www.welmer.org/?p=158#comment-892 Insightful analysis, I had not heard of this before. Given that Somalia is by definition a "failed state" what is preventing us from recognizing an alternative? Insightful analysis, I had not heard of this before. Given that Somalia is by definition a “failed state” what is preventing us from recognizing an alternative?

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