[Arctic_Menace]

Jesus, Russia doesn't fuck around.

We should hire them to patrol the coast of Somalia indefinitely.

[GreenTiger]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

I'm suprised the Russian didn't shoot them on the spot and dump the bodies overboard.

I'm not. The Russians at least have respect for the International Law of the Sea, that says a professional Navy may never do that to a civilian or merchant vessels crew. The Russians can be cold, but they aren't idiots.

It says the Somalis must be released unharmed. It doesn't say how close to shore they need to be released.

The pirates are hardly innocent civilians. When a civilian puts a
gun to your head and demands ransom he ceases to be an innocent
civilian, but you're probably right that International Law might
still consider it politically correct to classify them as innocent
civilians.

The only thing suprising is that the pirates were suprised that the
Russians didn't give them millions of rubles and a yacht. Did they
really think Putin (a former KGB officer) would do anything different
from what they did do?

The rest of the pirates are now mad at the Russians and are threatening
to kill Russians that they cross paths with. If they think that will
scare them they are "misinformed".

[Dragom]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Dragom Dragom:

I don't know is our little navy doing anything more important then lounging around the Adriatic?

Google it, or wait around on a forum for someone to spoon feed it to you.

That being said, our Navy doesn't tend to lounge around.

Spoon feeding please.

Besides I feel suspicious when I try to google the locations and missions of naval vessels.

[DrCaleb]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

I'm suprised the Russian didn't shoot them on the spot and dump the bodies overboard.

I'm not. The Russians at least have respect for the International Law of the Sea, that says a professional Navy may never do that to a civilian or merchant vessels crew. The Russians can be cold, but they aren't idiots.

It says the Somalis must be released unharmed. It doesn't say how close to shore they need to be released.

The pirates are hardly innocent civilians. When a civilian puts a
gun to your head and demands ransom he ceases to be an innocent
civilian, but you're probably right that International Law might
still consider it politically correct to classify them as innocent
civilians.

The only thing suprising is that the pirates were suprised that the
Russians didn't give them millions of rubles and a yacht. Did they
really think Putin (a former KGB officer) would do anything different
from what they did do?

The rest of the pirates are now mad at the Russians and are threatening
to kill Russians that they cross paths with. If they think that will
scare them they are "misinformed".

No one said they were innocent, and it's not political correctness. It is the law. A standing Navy may not harm a civilian vessel on the open sea. That is why a merchant navy and Privateers carrying letters of Marque were created. They can legally battle pirates. Unless you are acting in the capacity of the armed force of your nation, under that flag - you are a civilian vessel and untouchable* by a standing armed force.

*untouchable meaning they can't kill you, and detaining them is also very difficult.

http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_ ... osindx.htm

Start reading at Part VII article 101. Article 106 and 107 state only the warships of the state the 'pirate' is flagged may detain it's crew in international or territorial waters. Somalia isn't capable nor willing to do that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy#Privateers

Let them be mad at the Russians. The Russians are much better at it. That's who I'm cheering for. Put 4 'former' Spetznaz commandos on each merchant vessel . . .there will be a quick halt in the pirates seeking to board Russian flagged vessels. Because they will be extinct.

[DrCaleb]

Dragom Dragom:

Besides I feel suspicious when I try to google the locations and missions of naval vessels.

In case you manage to find classified materials by accident?

Don't tell me you are falling for the Security Theatre?

[Yogi]

Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:

Jesus, Russia doesn't fuck around.

We should hire them to patrol the coast of Somalia indefinitely.

Totally agree Artie. The International Community should put up the funds and put the Russians in charge of this task and give them total reign.

[BartSimpson]

Yogi Yogi:

Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:

Jesus, Russia doesn't fuck around.

We should hire them to patrol the coast of Somalia indefinitely.

Totally agree Artie. The International Community should put up the funds and put the Russians in charge of this task and give them total reign.

Or we could just give our own navies a free hand in dealing with the problem now that the solution is patently obvious.