The action by the US special forces who killed three pirates to release the master of the ship Maersk Alabama, Captain Richard Phillips seems to have evoked strong reaction from the Pirates. The killing has not deterred them from attacking more ships in the region. They have also threatened to intensify their actions against the Americans in addition to killing of the hostages if they perceive any threat from warships.
This anti American feeling can snow ball in to increased attacks on American interests. While there can be no doubt about the inevitable need to save the captain whose life was under threat, the killing of the three pirates opens up some space for the Islamic terrorists to now start recruiting the Somalian pirates for acts of terrorism. US would now need to factor the aspect of Al Queda recruitment of pirates for acts of terrorism against ships of opportunity both commercial and military.
It has always been argued that there is a thin line that separates acts of piracy, robbery from maritime terrorism. While all the nations around the world have vowed to protect the lives of mariners who sail their ships, the task would be rendered even more difficult with stiff resistance from the pirates. From the point of view of the pirates, as long as they are able to get the hostages to the coast in the safe sanctuaries over land, the process of negotiation with the ship owners would be easy. The fact that over 300 hostages are still held in custody of the pirates is a serious one.
The reasons for not being able to contain the menace has been attributed to the vastness of the area at over 1.1 million square kilometers( this is 50 percent of the Indian EEZ) and lack of resources. The pirates also have been using faster mother ships and modern devices to accomplish their missions with determined volunteers. The hefty ransom money is being used to equip the pirates with boats, weapons and sensors. While Combined Task Force 151 was set up as an anti piracy force by the USA, the European countries and NATO have also joined together in the battle against the pirates. At the moment, the pirates seem to continue to enjoy the freedom of the seas to strike at will.
President Obama has asked his forces to go after them and render the seas safe. On Friday(tomorrow), there is to be a meeting to work out the modalities for enhancing the safety of the ships in the Gulf of Aden and the areas targeted by the pirates. The west has been talking for many years now about Maritime Domain Awareness(MDA) a scheme that is aimed at providing the ships and shore authorities with complete maritime picture for taking timely action. Looks like the scheme is not working in this part of the Indian Ocean. It should be a matter of time before satellites , reconnaissance aircraft and other such domain awareness enhancing components join the fray and prevent the pirates from acting with total impunity.
This anti American feeling can snow ball in to increased attacks on American interests. While there can be no doubt about the inevitable need to save the captain whose life was under threat, the killing of the three pirates opens up some space for the Islamic terrorists to now start recruiting the Somalian pirates for acts of terrorism. US would now need to factor the aspect of Al Queda recruitment of pirates for acts of terrorism against ships of opportunity both commercial and military.
It has always been argued that there is a thin line that separates acts of piracy, robbery from maritime terrorism. While all the nations around the world have vowed to protect the lives of mariners who sail their ships, the task would be rendered even more difficult with stiff resistance from the pirates. From the point of view of the pirates, as long as they are able to get the hostages to the coast in the safe sanctuaries over land, the process of negotiation with the ship owners would be easy. The fact that over 300 hostages are still held in custody of the pirates is a serious one.
The reasons for not being able to contain the menace has been attributed to the vastness of the area at over 1.1 million square kilometers( this is 50 percent of the Indian EEZ) and lack of resources. The pirates also have been using faster mother ships and modern devices to accomplish their missions with determined volunteers. The hefty ransom money is being used to equip the pirates with boats, weapons and sensors. While Combined Task Force 151 was set up as an anti piracy force by the USA, the European countries and NATO have also joined together in the battle against the pirates. At the moment, the pirates seem to continue to enjoy the freedom of the seas to strike at will.
President Obama has asked his forces to go after them and render the seas safe. On Friday(tomorrow), there is to be a meeting to work out the modalities for enhancing the safety of the ships in the Gulf of Aden and the areas targeted by the pirates. The west has been talking for many years now about Maritime Domain Awareness(MDA) a scheme that is aimed at providing the ships and shore authorities with complete maritime picture for taking timely action. Looks like the scheme is not working in this part of the Indian Ocean. It should be a matter of time before satellites , reconnaissance aircraft and other such domain awareness enhancing components join the fray and prevent the pirates from acting with total impunity.
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