Pirates are by definition criminals, and are recognized as such by every seafaring nation on planet earth. To claim they are “marines” protecting their resources is patently absurd; they are part of a large and very organized crime and terror syndicate. Their primary targets are container ships which are simply transiting that part of the ocean; this in no way harms or removes anything from the waters in question. There is a term known to all who sail, it is called “freedom of navigation”, wherein all seafaring nations agree that they may freely pass through another countries exclusive economic zone (generally 200 miles from the coast), as long as that is all they do. This most recent case shows how asinine and without any foundation the statements of Jama’ Si’ad and his terrorist friends are. They boarded a container ship 350 miles from the coast. That is in international waters. The ship that was not only not taking resources, but by design, could not take any. What did the terrorists try to steal? Food aid for another African country. How did they do it? With high caliber, fully automatic weapons against unarmed civilians. No one should have any sympathy what so ever for those that were killed, for it was well deserved. That they would start ranting about revenge shows yet another terrorist ploy. In actuality, they have been very lucky so far, but that luck is running out faster than a river after heavy rains. Why they would even continue their felonious acts shows how much money is involved … and you can bet that most of it goes in to the pockets of the “big men” who stay ashore, letting their peons do the dirty work, all the while spouting propaganda about who they are and why they do it. Ahmed Bile, Somali MP, is probably one of those making millions from this. The terrorists were shot while violating international law on the high seas and threatening to kill an innocent civilian; this has nothing to do with anyone being better than anyone else. It has to do with Law, and being Civilized, two concepts that no longer seem to apply to Somalia.

There is an argument that other nations are stealing Somali resources and the Somalians have the right to defend their country and their resources. - There may be a truth to that fact, however does it really apply here? Who are these pirates? What do they with the ransom money they collect? Do they distribute it among Somalies in general or invest it in Somali public projects for the welfare of their country? No, of course not! - these multi-million ransoms-dollars are used to buy villas and other properties that support the lavish life styles of these pirates - both within Somalia and other countries like Kenya. And that makes them bandits - the pirates - the pirates 'as the word is understood by the world' and the sea faring people have the right to deal with them as harshly as it takes to not only put them out of operation, but to hunt them down to bring them to Justice, for all the crimes they have committed against our sea men.

As an African American, I can't agree with the actions of the pirates. It's one thing to protexct what's yours and patrol your coastol waters to prevent illegal dumping , or the improper fishing off your shores. But it's something else entirely to rob folk of their goods and hold them for ransom. That's being nothing but a common thug. If you wanna be a thug, that's fine but don't hide behind righteous words like protecting your environment from outsiders or calling yourselves the marines of Somalia. Again, you're thugs. You want change, economic change to come to Somalia then work with us and the rest of the world. Continuing to steal and kill won't get you anything for the long run and that's what you want to be concerned with. Another thing, I feel that NO American is better than any Somalian. However, if you try to hurt me or mine then I have the right to defend myself against you just as you have the right to defend yourself against me. That's truth, isn't it?

Ho does being an African American have ANYTHING to do with any of this.

Would skin color somehow make you empathize with the criminals or something?

I am not attacking your viewpoint but I just don't see how being black is relevant at all.

Perhaps you should concentrate on being an AMERICAN before anything else, and not color your views with color.

I'm pretty much a peacenik but this pirate thing is ludicrous. Blow em out of the water.

The murder of that Somali patrol was criminal!

Somalis have a legitimate right to secure their African coastline and exact compensating from the racist and thieving europeans others, who rob fish from the mouths of Africans and who dump their toxic garbage in African waters.

In no other waters is european toxic garbage been dump but in African waters. Somalis should continue to patrol their coastline and exact compensation; since the european-dominated UN refuses to enforce international law against racist europeans who are robbing African fish and dumping european garbage on Africans.

They have NO RIGHT whatsoever to sieze ships and hold them hostage. They weren't even in Somalia they were in international waters. They aren't defending your country they are just commom criminals. They got just what they deserved - a bullet in the head. Remember next time not to mess with the USA