Piracy Isn't the Problem....

The International Institute of Nonviolence

News&Opinion

By: Rev. Jermano

Well; we have all heard of the Pirates hijacking ships off the Somalia Coastline in Africa. And we know that hijackings have occured before. Does the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro ring a bell? On Oct 7, 1985 the Achille Lauro was hijacked by heavily armed men from the Palestine Liberation Front. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=VideoArticle&id=7046...

In the end the hijackers were arrested and sent to Prison. Of course they used the Military to accomplish this.

We just had http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090414/ap_on_re_af/piracy  Navy SEAL snipers rescue American ship captain Richard Phillips on Sunday. I heard it was like shooting fish in a barrel. And again we know this was a military operation.

These military actions have not stopped the pirates, or the hijacking of ships...In fact the above link tells of 4 more hijackings and over 300 more hostages.

Now I know how everyone's first reaction is hail to the US military and that it is the answer to our problems. But we are seeing that although Captain Phillips is a happy guy at the moment...there are more people that are hostages.. I hardly see how military intervention is a prescription to societal troubles.

Do we remember the time George H. Bush sent US troops to Somalia? 

On December 4, 1992, the President's address to the nation officially announced Operation Restore Hope, President Bush stressed both the humanitarian purpose and the limited nature of the U.S. military intervention in Somalia: http://www.cato.org/pubs/fpbriefs/fpb-020.html....

This was the very first time that a President of the United States committed troops for humanitarian efforts. President Bush was criticized for going into a place that had no significant bearing on US interests.

In today's time with President Obama at the helm..many believe that Piracy is becoming too much of a problem and therefore affects US interests.Some may advocate another armed reentry into Somalia.

I think the problem is not Piracy, but a total collapse of the State of Somalia and its government. Who's fault is it, when the Western Rich countries do not engage Somalia in anything? I believe the Piracy is a result from the failed administrations from not only the USA but all countries in the world, who will not find it important to have people work toward unifying Somalia into a government. Whateever that may take...it seems we have the communications to do it.

It does not matter if Somalia has warlords, or groups who disagree....the point is to have them agree to disagree, but agree that they have a shared say in the power toward restoring and reforming Somalia government.

There are no Cargo Ships ever headed to Somalia. Why do they hijack? Because they need stuff. And since the rest of the world ignores them, they have to take matters into their own hands...even if it is against the law.

I would say we should have Cargo ships headed to Somalia...and hopefully with agreements from Somalia Security men.....we call warlords...they can agree to setting up their own distribution networks.

We need to solve the issue about Somalia in getting aid, and a government formed...and that does not mean we need to use the military. That was G.H. Bush's mistake. That has always been our mistake. Give aid from the barrel of a gun? It does not go over well with the natives. They think we are there to take over their lives...

We need to educate them, and this means also educating ourselves...toward effectively communicating that the world wants to help....and we need to put the guns and piracy away. But our response is always with force.. And we create the image that they are bad....and we are good...and that the same dysfunction goes on and on. As you can see many more hijackings are occuring.

We need to treat people like people....stop calling them bad....and help with support. We need to educate them that their fellow people are also not bad....because they  have needs and wants too. Although President Bush had a good idea...he went about accomplishing it wrong. You do not use a military to bring relief.

We should have used airdrops of cargo into Somalia...with things that they can use..Also trying to communicate with them to help each other...by not killing each other..

Please stop the heroism BS.....and begin to focus on the real issue, and that is helping the people in Somalia...without the need for military intervention. Start sending Cargo to Somalia..so they are not stealing stuff...

We need to seek the release of other hostages and ships....so why not send ships to Somalia, with the guarantee that we as a world body will make a committment to keep sending stuff...and help them make a government that works for distribution of stuff...such as building materials...and training schools on how to use the Somalia Resources to benefit and stabilize them.

This is far better than risking their lives in hijacking a ship....

I can only hope.....so let's.

Rev. Jermano