After the recent shoe-throwing incident, a few hundred Iraqis (including the brother of the journalist) demonstrated against Bush, America, and the Iraqi government for arresting the perp. These folks need to buy a clue. Just a few years ago that guy would never have had the courage to even look cross-eyed at a government leader or one of his guests. Under a real tyrant (e.g., the one we deposed and Iraq executed) he’d have been beaten, tortured, and probably fed his own feet for dinner. The prerequisite for this kind of childish display is freedom—something this particular Iraqi didn’t enjoy until the oh-so-evil Bush handed it to him. That irony is, I’m sure, lost on his ilk.
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Another day another hijacking. This time it’s a Saudi supertanker full of oil. Are we learning anything from these attacks? Apparently not, as there are more than a dozen pirated ships (and crews) still being held for ransom. Here’s the money quote:
Once pirates get aboard, however, the ship is theirs, because crews on commercial vessels are rarely armed, according to Mr. Choong and other maritime experts. “They are not mentally or physically fit enough to handle weapons,” he said.
Nor do many ship owners use armed contractors — seagoing mercenaries — to fight or ward off approaching pirates. Experts said crew safety and insurance liability were overriding concerns of captains and owners.
“We do not advocate this, having armed escorts on board,” said Lee Yin Mui, assistant director of research at the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships at Sea. Known as ReCAAP, the 16-nation network is based in Singapore.
“Armed escorts could only escalate the situation,” she said, “and perhaps trigger off heavy crossfire.”
Um, yeah. Or the rightful termination of said miscreants could persuade others to choose a different line of work. I’d like to see some evidence that ReCAAP is actually doing its job…combating piracy. The current situation indicates they’re encouraging more of the same.
To (reluctantly) quote Dr. Phil, “How’s that workin’ for ya?”
[Update]
Apparently not so well. This time it’s a shipment of wheat.