| I have spent many years in the company of, and | | | | conversation with the tactical management team. The |
| training of Special Forces around the globe. One of the | | | | commander gave the order to shoot to kill. The seals |
| best benefits is that I receive frequent intelligence | | | | fired three shots killing the pirates and thus saving |
| updates from serving Special Forces personnel who | | | | Captain Phillips. The young pirate was by now enjoying |
| are deployed in various global theatres of conflict. | | | | meal compliments of the US government and had no |
| I’ve written several articles recently about maritime | | | | idea how things were playing out. |
| piracy and the subsequent kidnap for ransom of | | | | This was his rude introduction to the phrase live by the |
| maritime employees. Therefore it came as no great | | | | sword-die by the sword. The only way to reduce the |
| surprise that as soon as a gang of Somalian pirates | | | | number of pirate attacks on maritime vessels is to |
| decided to hi-jack the Maersk Alabama so quickly into | | | | ensure armed personnel accompany each vessel and |
| the presidential rein of Barrack Obama, it was only a | | | | that every crew member is trained in counter piracy |
| matter of time before Special Forces were deployed | | | | tactics. |
| to teach the pirates a lesson in good manners. | | | | I have spent a great number of years providing close |
| Now it’s safe to say these pirates were not | | | | protection and asset protection for lots of corporate |
| exactly Mensa candidates, a fact which repeatedly | | | | clients. During my career I have also provide maritime |
| played out until the final outcome of this kidnapping. | | | | vessel and crew security in various countries. Maritime |
| As way of a brief synopsis of the case, An American | | | | security and anti piracy operations cannot be |
| cargo ship was hijacked by pirates. The Alabama’s | | | | conducted by security operatives trained in |
| 21 man crew fought off the pirates but the Captain | | | | conventional close protection skills. Maritime security is |
| was taken hostage after offering himself up to save | | | | a completely different arena and specialised security |
| his crew from further harm Four armed men then | | | | training should be undertaken before stepping into this |
| surrounded Captain Richard Philips. The Captain leapt | | | | arena. |
| into the Indian Ocean approximately 300 miles off the | | | | It is my opinion that rules of engagement need to be |
| coast of Somalia, but despite a struggle the pirates | | | | re-written. Given that access control is the foundation |
| hauled him back aboard a lifeboat. The pirates | | | | stone of all security operations to reduce the risk, all |
| demanded a $2 million ransom for the Captain’s | | | | small vessels approaching larger military or civilian |
| release and issued warnings that they would kill him if | | | | cargo or passenger ships in waters dominated by |
| they were attacked or if the ransom was not paid. | | | | Pirates should be fired upon to deter pirates. |
| This is when thinks started to get hokey. Other pirates | | | | Mark Yates a security consultant from offers his final |
| in the area were reported to be heading towards | | | | perspective. Navy Seals Special Forces versus |
| these pirates in a hijacked German vessel. Apparently | | | | Pirates- no contest. However Somalian pirates are not |
| they believed the Americans would not attack if | | | | rational human beings they have this ridiculous sense |
| another foreign vessel was close by. Other pirates | | | | of having kicked the rear end of America during the |
| released a Norwegian tanker and it’s 27 crew | | | | war against them made famous by the Black Hawk |
| after receiving a $2.4 million ransom. | | | | Down movie. |
| And so at the Presidents nod it was ‘game on’ | | | | Given that American Navy Seals Special Forces and |
| the Navy Seals Special Forces versus Pirates. The | | | | French Special Forces responded to piracy with |
| Navy Seals entered the arena as the USS Bainbridge | | | | deadly force recently, the pirates might decide to |
| shadowed the pirates. | | | | focus in on softer targets. Alternatively they might |
| Unbeknown to the pirates a Navy Seal team | | | | escalate their levels of violence as a show of force to |
| transferred from the USS Boxer to the Bainbridge. | | | | deter others from attacking them and forcing the |
| The pirates became concerned their boat was getting | | | | payment of ransom. Either way we have not seen the |
| too close to shore and asked to be pulled out further | | | | last of Somalian pirates. |
| to sea. The USS Bainbridge kindly obliged with a cable | | | | As I write this article my intelligence sources indicate |
| which was attached by Navy divers under cover of | | | | the Somalia Pirates have taken the offensive and |
| darkness without the Pirates knowledge. At daybreak | | | | have begun firing rocket propelled grenades and full |
| one of the pirates aged 16 asked to negotiate | | | | automatic weapons at another US cargo ship The |
| whereupon he was invited aboard and allowed by the | | | | Liberty Sun in a failed hijack attempt. |
| commander of the Bainbridge to call his family by cell | | | | Pirates have also seized four other ships capturing 60 |
| phone. | | | | hostages since the Navy Seals Special Forces killed |
| Amid all this nicety the Navy Seals had taken up | | | | the three pirates described in this article. Apparently |
| tactical positions and informed the commander they | | | | Somalian pirates are targeting more ships and |
| had a good opportunity to shoot the remaining pirates | | | | hostages for ransom to demonstrate they are far |
| as they were poking their heads out of openings to | | | | from intimidated by President Obama’s pledge to |
| get fresh air. | | | | confront the pirates. |
| This all played out as the young pirate was engaged in | | | | |