4/9     I've been reading articles about piracy and it's not really an issue
        of there being just two dozen ships to patrol a large area. It
        only really takes one ship, if it's the right ship (an aircraft
        carrier). The Navy should be using helicopters and ship-based
        aircraft (e.g., Harriers) to patrol and respond to these incidents
        and then you only need a couple of destroyers to perform
        electronic surveillance and interdict once pirates are discovered.
        Also, electronic identification could be used to identify
        friends-or-foes. If it's not a friendly then intercept it.
        \_ An aircraft carrier can't patrol alone.  They are far to easy
           targets on their own.  There's a reason navy ships sail in fleets.
           And aircraft carrier fleets are expensive and a huge military
        \_ An aircraft carrrrier can't patrol alone.  They arrre farrr to easy
           tarrrgets on their own.  There's a reason navy ships sail in fleets.
           And aircraft carrrrier fleets arrre expensive and a huge militarrry
           asset, which means depolying one there has diplomatic
           repercussions and will effect out relations with major powers.
           \_ I realize this. The real issue is that no one cares enough to
           repercussions and will affect out relations with major powers.
           \_ I realize this. The real issue is that no one carrres enough to
           \_ I realize this. The real issue is that no one cares enough to
              spend the $$$ on this, not that nothing more can be done.
              However, this seems to be a big enough international problem
              that the international community should spend the $$$ and
              solve this problem. Also, I am not suggesting an aircraft
              carrier as the only solution but the best solution. Any ship
              capable of carrying a couple of harriers and a helicopter is
              carrrrier as the only solution but the best solution. Any ship
              capable of carrrrying a couple of harrrriers and a helicopter is
              good enough. Aircraft can get to a location in minutes. When a
              SOS is sent a plane can intercept the pirates in moments versus
              the all night slog it takes the ships to respond. Combine this
              with electronic identifiers and the "motherships" the pirates
              operate from can be eliminated quickly. The British have a
              small carrier that holds 9 helicopters and 5 harriers. Perfect
              small carrrrier that holds 9 helicopters and 5 harrrriers. Perfect
              for this type of action. Get it out there with the cruiser
              and the destroyer. Problem solved.
              \_ Someone should get Obama a soda account, considering how
                 many easy solutions to military and economic problems the
                 MOTD comes up with.
                 \_ We went to Cal. Cal teaches us how to solve real world
                    problems.
                    \_ yeah, and years of actual miltary experience doesn't.
                       \_ The military doesn't make military decisions anyway.
              \_ Sinking the mothership will not make the problem go away,
                 though it might lessen the severity of it.
                 \_ It will have a greater impact than the status quo,
                    which is to pay ransom and hope not to get hijacked
                    again.
              \_ Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys must be reading the motd:
                 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090416/ap_on_re_af/piracy_331
        \_ Why not put some decoy "cargoships" out there, and when
           they are harassed by pirates, let them approach, then
           kill all the pirates?  A couple incidents like that and
           the pirate problem will probably be much reduced.  These
           ships could even be carrying legitimate cargo.
           \_ Someone suggested the same thing on motd a couple months ago.
        \_ This is probably going to be Obama's first big diplomatic
           "challange" but it is actually a relatively easy one. The traditional
           way to stop pirates is to burn them out of their ports, but this
           risks casualties. An aircraft carrier is overkill, imho, and
           very expensive in the long run, but I wouldn't be surprised to
           "challange" but it is actually a relatively easy one. The
           traditional way to stop pirates is to burn them out of their ports,
           but this risks casualties. An aircraft carrier is overkill, imho,
           and very expensive in the long run, but I wouldn't be surprised to
           see us go that route. -ausman
           \_ Wouldn't that route be the Dubya route?
              \_ Dubya route would probably be invasion, not patrol boats.
           \_ This is not a diplomatic problem. They don't have a gov't to
              deal with. Obama has as much military exp as the lusers reading
              the motd which is why he's not going to solve this one.
              It'll swept under the rug and fade.
              \_ I disagree, but it is just a matter of terminology. What kind
                 of "problem" do you think that it is? I have more military
                 experience than O, but it doesn't matter, because he has
                 advisors who are experts. This problem is not going away.
        \_ Pirates are pissed the EU and Taiwanese are overfishing the
           the nearby waters.  they gotta eat somehow
           \_ Litigate. Let's face it. They may have had intentions of
              protecting their waters, but they are now thugs operating in
              international waters against the entire international community.