Well, according to international law, should we encounter pirates in international waters, we can engage them with any type of force we choose. International law and the U.N. discourage ships and ships' crews from carrying weapons, however. So what do we do?
How about seeding the area with UAVs armed with Hellfire missiles? It avoids the whole "you shouldn't carry guns on your ships because guns are bad" argument.
On the other hand, it does have us policing things we shouldn't have to. There are times when I think Kipling was bitter toward his own government, rather than racist (as he has been read by post-modern anti-imperialist literary theorists because of this piece, which seems, in my opinion, to have the most anger. I think he went native--but that's a post for another time, and only if you're interested in reading it). Oh, yes, Kipling was bitter about the British army being expected to police the world--and I can understand and sympathize.
4 minutes ago
International law and the U.N. discourage ships and ships' crews from carrying weapons
ReplyDeleteHalf true. The U.N. discourages it, but based on their record they're probably taking bibes, possibly in the form of children.
On the other hand:
it does have us policing things we shouldn't have to
I actually don't mind that part, provided we actually do it, and do it viciously (as it should be done). I'm really sick and tired of the pathetic responses of the so-called "civilized" world to crimes against humanity, which is what piracy is.
Hang them. Hang them high, hang them often, hang them in bunches.
Which is why I suggested the UAV option. Certainly skirts the "weaspons discouraged aboard vessels" policy.
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