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Start by blaming the timorous lawyers who advise the governments attempting to cope with the pirates such as those who had been engaged in a standoff with U.S. hostage negotiators in recent days. These lawyers misinterpret the Law of the Sea Treaty and the Geneva Conventions and fail to apply the powerful international laws that exist against piracy. The right of self-defense — a principle of international law — justifies killing pirates as they try to board a ship.
Nonetheless, entire crews are unarmed on the ships that sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Shipowners pretend that they cannot trust their crews with weapons, but the facts don't add up. For one thing, in the United States most adults except felons are allowed to have guns, and the laws of many other nations also permit such ownership. Even if owners don't want everyone aboard their ships to be carrying weapons, don't they trust the senior members of their crews? Why couldn't they at least arm the captain and place two experienced and reliable police officers on board? …
Furthermore, the U.N. Security Council should prohibit all ransom payments. If the crew of an attacked ship were held hostage, the Security Council could authorize a military blockade of Somalia until the hostages were released.
Cowardice will not defeat terrorism, nor will it stop the Somali pirates. If anything, continuing to meet the pirates' demands only acts as an incentive for more piracy.
washingtonpost.com
Americans believe in the right to self defense. That attitude was on display during the boarding of the Alabama.
Merchant Marine and chief engineer "Zahid" Reza was on board and was the 1st to see the pirates boarding .
According to Times on line UK :
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The crew had scrambled into a safe room once they realised the ship was being boarded.
The ship's chief engineer, A.T.M. Reza, said that he volunteered to show one of the pirates around the engine room. There he used an ice-pick to overpower the Somali, who turned out to be the gang leader.
Ironically the wound that Reza inflicted saved the pirate's life. He was being used as a negotiator while being treated for his wound on an American ship when the rescue went down.
The Alabama and it's crew would be captive today without the resistance .If the passengers of United Flight 93 had not resisted on 9-11-01 the plane would've most likely plunged into the US Capitol .
Last month it was reported that the President intended to end a program that trains pilots in the use of handguns so pilots could protect themselves and the plane from terrorist hijackers. But more recent reports say he is backing down and will let the program continue.
Gun program for pilots set for expansion, officials insist - Washington Times
