The Panther Bay
Pirate Blog

President Barack Obama has sent a clear message that the rising tide of pirate attacks off the Somali Coast will get more attention from the White House.  Talking publicly, the president said:

“I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region,” Mr. Obama said. “And to achieve that goal, we’re going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks. We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise. And we have to ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes.”

But, the task will probably be much more difficult than many suspect. The problem has as much to do with economic and political instability in Somalia than anything else. Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the pirates see their work as legitimate work. Somali pirates earned $128 million in 2008, probably the most lucrative business in the destitute nation. Without a thriving economy that generates legitimate jobs and wealth, pirating will still be rampant.

Nevertheless, Defense Secretary Robert Gates had this to say:

“All I can tell you is I am confident we will be spending a lot of time in the Situation Room over the next few weeks trying to figure out what in the world to do about this problem,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told students and faculty members at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, Va., according to a military news service. While the national security team discusses the long-term challenge, the Justice Department said it was deliberating whether to try the lone surviving pirate in the United States or to turn him over to Kenya for trial. Mr. Gates said the four pirates were 17 to 19 years old, but he did not give the age of the one who surrendered to Navy sailors before the fatal shootout Sunday.


We'll stay tuned as the Obama Administration sharpens its thinking and tactics for dealing with the pirates.