Interesting Pirate Fix

SOMALIA: “Somalia Says: Let Us Handle the Pirates,” by Edmund Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 15 April 2009

During a visit to Mogadishu this week, Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-N.J.) said providing direct assistance to allow Somalis to crack down on pirates might cost the international community less, especially after accounting for rising insurance premiums and the cost of using warships.

"It's a lot cheaper to deal with this on the land before these guys get into the water," Payne said. He said he planned to seek funding in Congress.

Payne called the hesitation by the international community understandable. Since 1991, numerous transitional governments have risen and fallen in Somalia amid infighting, corruption and human rights abuses. Donors want to see whether the current government does any better, he said.

This makes sense to me. Since the Maersk Alabama was hijacked last week, the U.S. has had at least three ships and countless man hours off the coast of Somalia. I don’t even want to guess how much that is costing the U.S. tax payer. Funding and training the Somalis seems like a good opportunity, and very well may be a cheep, but quality solution – maybe they will sustain a government and start acting like a sovereign nation. Then again, it is Somalia…

Also see: Bold Call for Obama, Even Bolder Call for Bainbridge Skipper