Easter SEALs
It was indeed grand to learn of the rescue of the container ship’s American captain. I had wondered why the Bainbridge hadn’t had SEAL sharpshooters aiming at the dingy in anticipation when the fellow tried to escape the other night, but who knows the circumstances. The fact is the man is free.
There’s consternation about the situation concerning the 200 hostages seized in earlier boardings by Somali pirates. Will there be reprisals? Especially since not only did we rescue the captain but killed three of his captors in the process? Let us hope not.
I felt great pride in the rescue. Part of it was that American military forces were successful. Part of it was that the white hats beat the black hats. It’s important that good triumph over evil, regardless of who performs the act. The French rescued a number of hostages a few days ago; one was killed.
The world needs to unite, as it did a couple of centuries ago, and rid our oceans of pirates. These thugs have hijacked hundreds of vessels and received millions of dollars in ransom. There is no nobility behind their actions, only brutal greed. That they are young men from a nation in anarchy for the past 16 years doesn’t mitigate their murderous ways; it only adds to the urgency to stop them.
The five-day standoff after the attack on the American-flagged freighter underscores the maxim that the military is always fighting the last war. It’s not about technology; snipers killed the enemy. But the fact that the captain was held captive so long – that the other hostages are still being held – says that the whole world needs better law enforcement.
The Pentagon Chief seems to know that. He is taking on the biggest crime syndicate in the world. The military-industrial-Congressional axis. Let us hope that he can rescue our nation from their piratical clutches.
©2009 SetonnoteS
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