Here's an interesting file from our pirates watcher on the connections between piracy and campaign finance, and also how complicated ransom money has become.

By Cdr. Herb Carmen, U.S. Navy
Best Defense piracy columnist

The Chief of Naval Operations' Foreword in the "U.S. Navy's Vision for Confronting Irregular Challenges" states, "Our Navy has a history of confronting irregular challenges at sea, in the littorals, and on shore." After reading the latest U.N. report on Somalia, it sounds like the security situation in Somalia is a prime example of the irregular challenges navies face.

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Multi-mission naval aviator Herb Carmen returns safely to base with yet another interesting report. Here ‘tis.

By Cdr. Herb Carmen
Best Defense piracy columnist

History shows that stopping piracy almost always requires actions ashore. In the case of piracy near Somalia, very little has yet been done to put pressure on the shore establishment that supports the booming business and burgeoning industry of piracy in the region. By steering clear of the Somali coast and focusing on sea lane protection and escort, navies may make hijacking merchant vessels more difficult for pirates but can only address the symptoms of piracy without confronting the source and the motivations behind it. 

With some 2 million square miles of ocean to patrol, it requires considerable effort to do counter-piracy well. While escort operations have been largely successful in recent months, the annual number of pirate attacks has increased. The rate of pirate hijackings actually decreased by 28% in 2009, but the number of hijackings remains almost steady between 2008 and 2009. What the steady number of hijackings might suggest is that pirates have a finite capacity ashore to berth and retain seized vessels; and, within that finite capacity, pirates have been able to sustain a certain level of success in the region despite the success in the sea lanes. 

Even as navies make it more difficult for pirates at sea, the problem isn't going away without addressing piracy closer to shore and denying pirates the use of port facilities. Recent hijackings have been largely against merchant vessels that have strayed from transit corridors and ignored best practices. The most recent example of such a hijacking is the capture of the Saudi tanker Al Nisr Al Saudi which was hijacked Monday and had not registered its voyage with MSCHOA. The vessel was taken to Garacad, a well-known pirate stronghold. Garacad isn't new to the Navy, as seen in this video.

Last week brought promising news of a first step in denying pirates the use of ports such as Garacad, along the middle of the Somali coastline. The ministers of the defense of the European Union announced an expansion of the mission of EU's Operation Atalanta to "include control of the Somali ports where pirates are based as well as ‘neutralizing' mother ships that allow the pirates to operate over 1,000 kilometers from the coast." Until now, EU NAVFOR has focused its maritime assets on protection of vessels of the World Food Program (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia and the protection of vulnerable vessels sailing in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast. While they've been largely successful in protecting WFP aid, it appears that EU NAVFOR is expressing a willingness and commitment to confront piracy more directly. If the EU takes this mission on wisely and with drive and energy, it could reduce Somali piracy significantly.

Beyond the issue of piracy, what happens to WFP aid once it is delivered to Somalia has become the challenge ashore. The WFP partially suspended operations in Somalia in January in the face of threats and attacks from armed groups. In a statement Sunday, Al Shabaab "banned" WFP operations in Somalia. Just this week, there are reports that WFP trucks and truck drivers have been hijacked ashore. WFP has hopes to restart work in the area in March or April and aims to provide food assistance to 3.5 million people.

Here are some thoughts on the pirates of the interstate from naval aviator Herb Carmen, whose daddy was a truck driving man.

By Cmdr. Herb Carmen

Best Defense pirates columnist

We most often think of piracy taking place on the high seas, but it's also happening closer to home. Jennifer Levitz wrote an excellent article in the Wall Street Journal about a spike in piracy on the nation's highways. The article cites data from FreightWatch International which shows that thieves stole 859 truckloads containing $487 million of goods in 2009, up from $290 million just one year ago. FreightWatch International's 2009 review of U.S. cargo theft has breaks down what types of good were stolen, which states have seen the most thefts, and points to a few trends. 

It's interesting to contrast cargo theft on the highways with piracy off the Somali coast. Tractor-trailer thefts require surveillance and focus on stealing cargo often while drivers are away from their trucks. Stolen goods are then sold on the black market. Pirate attacks near Somalia seek vulnerable targets of opportunity at sea to capture and take hostages. Pirates near Somalia have the capacity to capture and detain hostages for long periods of time while ransom negotiations take place. Tractor-trailer thefts more closely resemble pirate attacks near Asian ports, where cargo is more often the prize and where the capability to remove and resell the cargo exists.

Pirate Watcher Herb Carmen buzzed the deck of the USS Best Defense and dropped this message from his cockpit:

By Cdr. Herb Carmen

Best Defense Buccaneers Beat Reporter

Thanks to all who submitted comments and emails in response to our first post on piracy.  You already are giving me new ideas for future posts. I had intended to make this post a discussion of defining piracy.  Instead, I'd like to take a detour and highlight the U.S. Navy's Africa Partnership Station (APS) because it has the potential, over time, to build and promote anti-piracy capacity along the east coast of Africa. 

Vice Admiral Harry B Harris, Jr., Deputy Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Africa,  in a briefing with reporters a couple of days ago described APS as "an international initiative, which promotes maritime security and stability in the region."

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An Italian cruise ship repelled Somali pirates with firearms and fire hoses. Do I smell a business opportunity here for Soldier of Fortune magazine-a special "Clearing the High Seas" cruise, with daily .50 cal practice over the stern rail?

Flickr user Ben Sutherland