Soldiers onboard Belgian merchant fleet

[freegeeks]

linky

Our govt. decided to deploy soldiers onboard Belgian ships passing through waters of Somalia.
I have somewhat mixed feeling about this because of the possibility of escalation of violence

 

[nullzero]

Interesting idea it sounds like a good plan. I think escalation of violence is over rated. The pirates most harmful weapon is the RPG... the RPG will not take down a huge freight liner. Trained military will wipe out the Somali pirates every time and it will make them think twice when picking a ship to attack.

 

[jackschmittusa]

The pirates are only in business because they have viewed their actions as relatively risk free with a high potential payoff.

Magnifying the risk and making the payoff potential a lower probability might well provide an effective deterrent.

 

[lupi]

A single qualified shooter with a hunting rifle could defend most commercial ships from these types of pirate attacks. A small squad of armed military would be the equivalent of a battleship to these pirates.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: lupi
A single qualified shooter with a hunting rifle could defend most commercial ships from these types of pirate attacks. A small squad of armed military would be the equivalent of a battleship to these pirates.

Yep.. a few shots wizzing past their ears before they even get close to the boat would make them turn around.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
linky

Our govt. decided to deploy soldiers onboard Belgian ships passing through waters of Somalia.
I have somewhat mixed feeling about this because of the possibility of escalation of violence

Good for your govt. All this will do is if the pirates attack they will flee or go to the bottom of the ocean and your merchant fleet will remain safe.

 

[fskimospy]

While the long term solution to actually fixing this problem is to help Somalia become less of a shithole, since that has proven difficult it certainly seems like some beefed up enforcement by everyone is a good short term solution.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I think this will result in less violence. A couple of warning shots will spook pirates, and nobody will likely get hurt.

 

[rudder]

Good idea. The soldiers can disembark while still in international waters before the ship docks.

Just set up a couple of guys with gyro stabilized .50 cals sniper rifles. Heck, you don't have to shoot anyone, just punch a hole through the boat and/or motor.

 

[MotF Bane]

Good move, hopefully more countries follow suit.

 

[OutHouse]

good for your country.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: nullzero
Interesting idea it sounds like a good plan. I think escalation of violence is over rated. The pirates most harmful weapon is the RPG... the RPG will not take down a huge freight liner. Trained military will wipe out the Somali pirates every time and it will make them think twice when picking a ship to attack.

a RPG can go through 12 inches of steel... if the RPG is fired close enough at the engine room it can take out a cargo ship with one shot. or they can get real lucky and hit the bridge...

 

[Fear No Evil]

They are soldiers. Let them do their job. Killing people and breaking things. The more it escalates the more pirates will die. Whats the job of your military if not to protect its citizens?

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: nullzero
Interesting idea it sounds like a good plan. I think escalation of violence is over rated. The pirates most harmful weapon is the RPG... the RPG will not take down a huge freight liner. Trained military will wipe out the Somali pirates every time and it will make them think twice when picking a ship to attack.

a RPG can go through 12 inches of steel... if the RPG is fired close enough at the engine room it can take out a cargo ship with one shot. or they can get real lucky and hit the bridge...

or shoot an oil/natural gas tanker.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
They are soldiers. Let them do their job. Killing people and breaking things. The more it escalates the more pirates will die. Whats the job of your military if not to protect its citizens?

Have you forgotten history? The Belgian military shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Somalia. Last time, they roasted a Somalian over a fire, urinated on Somalians, etc. Their presence would further legitimize the pirate cause among Somalians.

The prequel to Abu Ghraib

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
They are soldiers. Let them do their job. Killing people and breaking things. The more it escalates the more pirates will die. Whats the job of your military if not to protect its citizens?

Have you forgotten history? The Belgian military shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Somalia. Last time, they roasted a Somalian over a fire, urinated on Somalians, etc. Their presence would further legitimize the pirate cause among Somalians.

The prequel to Abu Ghraib

They are not going onto land. The purpose is to protect the vessel from sea attacks

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
They are soldiers. Let them do their job. Killing people and breaking things. The more it escalates the more pirates will die. Whats the job of your military if not to protect its citizens?

Have you forgotten history? The Belgian military shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Somalia. Last time, they roasted a Somalian over a fire, urinated on Somalians, etc. Their presence would further legitimize the pirate cause among Somalians.

The prequel to Abu Ghraib

They are not going onto land. The purpose is to protect the vessel from sea attacks

The French have pursued pirates on land, so it is possible. Also, there should be concern about torture of captured pirates. It's just a bad idea.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
linky

Our govt. decided to deploy soldiers onboard Belgian ships passing through waters of Somalia.
I have somewhat mixed feeling about this because of the possibility of escalation of violence

The bigger threat they make themselves, the more readily and aptly we will deal with them.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
They are soldiers. Let them do their job. Killing people and breaking things. The more it escalates the more pirates will die. Whats the job of your military if not to protect its citizens?

Have you forgotten history? The Belgian military shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Somalia. Last time, they roasted a Somalian over a fire, urinated on Somalians, etc. Their presence would further legitimize the pirate cause among Somalians.

The prequel to Abu Ghraib

They are not going onto land. The purpose is to protect the vessel from sea attacks

The French have pursued pirates on land, so it is possible. Also, there should be concern about torture of captured pirates. It's just a bad idea.

The French pursued from Naval ships, not merchant ships

 

[OCGuy]

Damn warmongering Euros.... :thumbsdown: :|

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: rudder
Good idea. The soldiers can disembark while still in international waters before the ship docks.

Just set up a couple of guys with gyro stabilized .50 cals sniper rifles. Heck, you don't have to shoot anyone, just punch a hole through the boat and/or motor.

This.

Soldiers should embark after the ship leaves port and disembark before it arrives at the next port. That is doable and there are many places where this can take place.

I would hate to come into ANY port with arms on board. They delays and hassle would be horrendous.

Also as others have pointed out an RPG can penetrate the hull of a ship, and I wouldn't want any gunfire on or around an oil tanker. You will not find many tankermen who would be willing to allow that.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
The French have pursued pirates on land, so it is possible. Also, there should be concern about torture of captured pirates. It's just a bad idea.

No, the French went in from military ships / heli's -- they can always do that anyway. Having some soldiers on board the ship does not in any way endanger any Somali not actively attempting to commit piracy.

 

[Rebel44]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

Originally posted by: rudder
Good idea. The soldiers can disembark while still in international waters before the ship docks.

Just set up a couple of guys with gyro stabilized .50 cals sniper rifles. Heck, you don't have to shoot anyone, just punch a hole through the boat and/or motor.

This.

Soldiers should embark after the ship leaves port and disembark before it arrives at the next port. That is doable and there are many places where this can take place.

I would hate to come into ANY port with arms on board. They delays and hassle would be horrendous.

Also as others have pointed out an RPG can penetrate the hull of a ship, and I wouldn't want any gunfire on or around an oil tanker. You will not find many tankermen who would be willing to allow that.

RPG has effective range only 500 meters so all we need is few .50 machine guns amd some antitank missiles..

 

[Modelworks]

I think the solution to the piracy is something the shipping companies will have to solve. With all the money at stake it would make sense for them to form their own private security group. Where each boat could be escorted by a 7 man armed security boat. When the ships go into ports the security could stay in international waters bypassing the no arms in ports problem. It would up the cost of goods, but I think if they did it long enough the pirates would quit because it was not an easy target anymore.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
linky

Our govt. decided to deploy soldiers onboard Belgian ships passing through waters of Somalia.
I have somewhat mixed feeling about this because of the possibility of escalation of violence

I would think 'escalation of violence' is a mjor point to deploying them.

But I suspect the escalation will be targeted at the pirates.

I keep seeing people expressing alarm about firing weapons around an oil tanker. Why? I hope it's a concern about polution/oil leaks. I hope it's not a concern about the oil exploding etc. Try to light a can of motor oil etc on fire and see how easy that is.

Fern