11-26-2008, 04:58 AM
Of course it's wrong, and illegal, but I have a hard time getting too outraged. The only article I read seemed to say the pirates weren't hurting anyone, and were actually treating the hostages really well (catered food, etc.). The pirates evidently pay their bills, so whole cities are thriving because of them. And the pirates/bandits foil every legitimate attempt to bring aid into the country. The only real answer is to restore order in somalia, and that isn't going to happen. So letting the regular folk exist off the crumbs of the pirates might be as good as it gets, without more of a commitment. kj.