Somalia - the new hotspot

[rov1200]

http://news.bbc.co.uk...ld/africa/8364530.stm

It is suggested that Islamic insurgents are behind the new wave of ship kidnappings. Should we continue to pay ransom money in order for them to build up their base? The £millions paid out so far have enabled them to arm and equip these militants and with each ransom paid only exacerbates any future likely conflict. We may then have to send in the troops into Somalia to solve the problem.

When is the right time to call a halt with these payouts?

[daffy654]

I thought the British government refused to pay ransom demands from pirates.I know other countries do pay up though.

[David Black]

Maybe we could invade there too?

Oh silly me we did that previously in the north now known as Puntland and the real centre of "Maritime Taxation"

[jake-the-peg]

Is it not bad enough to organise shipping into escorted convoys through this region?

These are not U-boats they got a pasting taking on a French military support ship!!

A year or so with no sucesses should deter them

[Gromit]

In 2006 United States backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia to bolster the failing Government in the North. They participated in widespread pillaging and looting of civilian property. It displaced many thousands of people. The opposition, the Islamic Courts Union controlled the South of Somalia, but were defeated by the US backed Ethiopians.

A civil war followed and continues today, still with the backing of Ethiopia.

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure I get your point Gromit?

The US should have kept its nose out? controlled it's "allies better"? This is a problem of the US's making?

[Gromit]

jake

Just a bit of background. It is easy to blame those wicked Islamists without knowing the US/Ethiopians invaded their country.

[Booldawg]

I sure if 'the rest of the world' is that concerned it wouldnt be beyond their means to donate small amounts of their flotilla to patrol the Somalian coastline; its not like they have a government to object. It'd be good 'live' practise against an enemy that at its very best has short range RPGs as its primary arsenal. I doubt the pirates would be that heavily funded if they werent particularly successful - Muslim or not.

[naomi24]

Like daffy, I was under the impression there are no payouts from our government. I don't know the answer, but after watching tonight's news, I can't help feeling the kidnapped couple will not come home.

[Toureman]

You can now do it yourself, just contact this cruise ship company..................

http://directorblue.b...t-cruise-package.html

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think it's governments paying ransoms - I think it's the shipping companies

[rov1200]

That British yacht couple who were captured recently has a ransom of about $4mn on their heads. The Britsh foreign office say no money will change hands but they are still willing to negotiate with them. Maybe when they stand to get nothing the pirates will assimilate them into another captured group so they don't lose face. Even shipping companies must be under orders from their governments so I don't think you can separate the two.
Because al qaeda are also in Somalia is there any difference having training camps there or in Afghanistan? Maybe the UN are turning a blind eye to it and then it will be too late. Or is it that the UN notably the US cannot handle more than 2 wars at once?