The Somali pirates' relatives must be the ones in St. Paul, Minneapolis right now. The filmed themselves attacking White people at random. Why wasn't I laughing?

If you sail the seas, be sure you are lethally armed. Don't rely on Silver Surfer to magically appear to save you from pirates.

The Maersk Alabama at least hired a security force that repelled the second attack. Captain Phillips is a sterling character role model. The US Navy who came to the rescue are stellar role models and bona fide heroes.

The cargo ship companies and their insurers are selfish, greedy wusses. They will *claim* that arming the ships is not necessarily effective only because they have to say that in order to get away with arguing, with a straight face, that they have to negotiate with pirates, that they have to payout the ransoms, they have to pass along the loss to the end consumers--you and me--so they in fact never suffer a loss. We end up paying them for their mismanagement and cowardice.

We have common sense and we all know that if you stop being afraid of the weapon, you become the force to be reckoned with. Bullies never pick on someone who they think can successfully fight them.

Pirates are who decide what it takes to successfully defeat them. They use deadly weapons precisely because they know it works to make you give up without a fight. If, that is, you aren't equally armed.

Alexa: What a dim comment to make given that it's believed they were captured suddenly while Paul was asleep.

Americans believe that guns are the answer to everything - it's rarely that clear cut.

In other areas of the world American boats are regularly targeted for theft because all americans carry weapons, other nationalities don't attract this trouble because they rarely do. Many national waters require you to check in your guns on arrival and claim them when leaving - serious penalties if you don't (so guns are then just a hassle).

Most importantly you seem to have forgotten that the Chandlers boat is made of *plastic*. This means you have one chance to kill ALL of your attackers - if you fail then they have the opportunity to stand off and fill your boat with bullets until you are all dead - there is nowhere to hide on a plastic boat... (yes I know American films glorify the alternative, but the reality is that you are dead)

Guns may be the answer in very specific circumstances, but remember you are choosing an ideal situation in your head - in reality the attackers are not stupid and will ensure they attack in such a way to maximise their advantage and minimise your opportunity

If these people are harmed, I support a military obliteratiion of Somalia. Yes - I said that. I am sick to death of this type of event. This is an extreme type of warfare, and it may require extreme measures. I am sick to death of terrorism - and that is what this event amounts to. Terrorism = small minded, egocentric individuals taking advantage of innocent people trying to live their lives. Azz holes - that is what I see Somali "pirates" to be. They are the exact opporiste of what it means to be a hero or to be brave. They are cowards with weapons.

Bob,

Between the two of us Bob, who do you think a criminal will pick on first if we are both unarmed? Now put a gun in my hand.

I guarantee that under no circumstances would you have opened your comment by insulting me in person knowing what I think of my Constitutional right.

You're a coward.