Obama's Piracy Challenge

[mRx 16]

The problem of Somali pirates, and especially the recent hostage situation, is being portrayed by many in the media as a challenge for Barack Obama and his administration. I agree wholeheartedly. In that spirit:

I challenge Obama to admit that the State has no economically viable solution to the piracy problem and that the free market is the answer

The Somali pirates are economically-motivated. As such, they are making cost-benefit, risk-reward decisions. Their actions are immoral, without question. But from a utilitarian accounting calculation, the pirates see their actions as economically viable.

What is the cost-benefit analysis on the government side? Obama and other military-minded government heads are using billions of dollars of taxpayer-funded military hardware and personnel to fail utterly at stopping the pirates. Furthermore, they are attempting to protect privately-owned ships that could and should be protected by their owners at a fraction of the cost. The pirates are using speedboats and small arms to accost their victims. For relatively little expense, the owners of the ships could – directly or by contracting with other agencies – provide security for themselves. They don't need heavy artillery or armored flotillas; they need small arms capable of stopping speedboats, and they need a few trained personnel on board. That would immediately shift the risk-reward equation to an unfavorable one for the pirates and put an end to this nonsense. For the pirates, to upgrade their hardware and tactics would also tip the cost-benefit out of their favor – they aren't making enough money on piracy to fund an arms race with the large enterprises who own the ships.

By pretending that a few military vessels spread out on the sea will be able to protect ships and stop piracy, the State is feeding us the same line of baloney we've been getting for years:

• It's not working because we're not spending enough.
• It's working, even if it's not perfect.
• It's not working to go after the individuals; we have to invade their home countries.
• This is a bunch of self-serving bunk that Obama and his cohort will use to justify more spending, bigger government, and expansion of their empire internationally.

It's a lot like the domestic police state: whatever supposed benefit it provides fails utterly if subjected to a cost-benefit analysis, no individual protection is available to a citizen, the police want to disarm private individuals rather than empower us to protect ourselves, and the State's failure becomes its justification for ever more fleecing of the taxpayer.

By Myron Weber

Excerpted from here

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Good points. These ships need their own private security.

[mawilson 2,133]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

[mRx 16]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

[mRx 16]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Matt85

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

Subjective.

I think it would be hard to find a private securtiy guard with extensive sniper training, let alone access to the same equipment.

[mawilson 2,133]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

So if American citizens are kidnapped abroad, they shouldn't get involved?

[mRx 16]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

So if American citizens are kidnapped abroad, they shouldn't get involved?

The American Constitution extends no further than our borders.

[Danno 1,228]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

And there a plenty of x-Seals, along with other trained persons looking for work.

From what we are told there are so many, they are bored and joining Militias looking for a "purpose". (But that's just the Obama-bots talking)

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Pirates? Shite their terrorists! KILLEM!

[natty bumppo 297]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

So if American citizens are kidnapped abroad, they shouldn't get involved?

The American Constitution extends no further than our borders.

From the Halls of Montezuma,

To the shores of Tripoli; ....

Of course this hymn means nothing to you ...

Matt ... know what you mean and are saying

Edited April 22, 2009 by Natty Bumppo

[stangguy 0]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

So if American citizens are kidnapped abroad, they shouldn't get involved?

The American Constitution extends no further than our borders.

The United States Constitution applies to actions between the United States and its citizens and applies anywhere those two are present together. The role of the military is to protect its citizens and its land regardless of where they are at.

Also, A ship sailing under the American Flag is within the borders of the United States. It is the same as any US embassy or consulate. No US consulate or embassy is actually within the borders of the US but they are all considered soveriegn US territory and the same is extended to the consulates, embassies, and ships of other nations.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Not everything is about money.

Something you have to teach the bad guys a lesson, even if it costs a billion dollars.

A .50 caliber round fired by a US military member teaches the same lesson as if it were fired by a private security guard. The only difference is who funds that .50 caliber round.

The Seals are better shots.

The Seals are supposed to protect America, not commercial shipping lanes.

So if American citizens are kidnapped abroad, they shouldn't get involved?

The American Constitution extends no further than our borders.

The military was never meant to be a free ticket for an education. Where would you be if we didnt take out hitler?