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Another Perspective
Piracy Rules Britannia
Why are the pirates getting away with it?
For several years now I have been trying to work out what has gone out of kilter in Britain. And I have to admit I don’t get it all. If it is something political, it is not like anything taught in any political science course I know of.
There are innumerable instances of this peculiar dysfunction (death wish?) such as councils sending juvenile delinquents on Caribbean holidays while brave Gurkha ex-soldiers are allowed to starve to death on barren Nepalese hilltops, but the British attitude to piracy seems a good example of what is happening.
It is certainly true that a lot of other countries are not much better, or even worse, but in this matter Britain seems a particularly egregious example of impotence and paralysis, given its proud history as principal guardian of the freedom of the seas.
Civilized countries have fought pirates at sea, with no messing about, for as far back as history can be traced. Julius Caesar was captured by pirates as a young man. While waiting to be ransomed he became quite friendly with his captors and joked that after his release he would return and crucify them all. Or at least the pirates, who did not know Caesar well, thought he was joking…
Britain, having given rise to the Elizabethan buccaneers, then led the world in stamping piracy out. One of the worst British pirates, Henry Morgan, was knighted and made governor of Jamaica. Knowing all the tricks of the trade he gradually rounded up and hanged many of his former colleagues. The notorious Edward Teach (“Blackbeard”) met his end at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard, RN, who, after an epic cutlass duel sailed into port with Teach’s head swinging from his bowsprit. A couple of female pirates of the same era got off on what was known as a “belly plea” (they were pregnant).
Methods of execution varied. A large letter “E” painted on a wall at the Thames marks Execution Dock, where, it is said, pirates were chained to drown by having three tides pass over them. Their corpses were then covered in pitch and hung in iron cages on prominent headlands as a hint to other mariners to keep to the straight and narrow.
With considerable effort and sacrifice Britain took the lead in abolishing slave-trading and at the same time also took the lead in sweeping away piracy, holding pirates to be the common enemies of all mankind. Many a Victorian British sailor cut his teeth on anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean.
By the late 19th century piracy at sea had all but disappeared. As Kipling put it, 19th century ships could sail without fear:
Ye have smoked the hives of the Laccadives as we burn the lice in a bunk,
We tack not now for a Gallang prow or a plunging Pei-ho junk;
After a brief outbreak at the end of the Napoleonic wars, by the late 19th century, with its complacent assurance in the advance of civilization, pirates has become nostalgic and comic figures, with their (partly apocryphal) plank-walking, eye-patches and peg-legs, a sure sign that their day in the real world was considered done.
In the Australian children’s classic, Norman Lindsay’s The Magic Pudding, the disillusioned sailorman Bill Barnacle lamented:
So one fine day I sails away,
A pirate for to be.
But I found there was never a pirate left
On the coast of Caribee,For pirates go, but their next of kin
Are merchant captains hard as sin,
And merchant mates, as hard as nails
Aboard of every ship that sails …
Or as John Masefield put it:
Alas, the quiddling pirates and the pretty pranks they played
Have all been put a stop to by the naughty Board of Trade;
The schooners and their merry crews are laid away to rest,
A little south of sunset, in the Islands of the Blest …
About the Author
Hal G.P. Colebatch’s “Immram,” Counterstrike, is being published by Australian publisher Imaginites.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (38) | Leave a comment
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Zilla | 5.10.11 @ 8:04AM
It's no mystery at all why the English are failing disgracefully against modern piracy: today's pirates are muslim and the stupid weak English are a bunch of dhimmies who are loathe to do anything to offend their islamic overlords. Just look at what they've allowed to transpire on land, with islamorageboys rioting and waving the black flag of jihad openly and without repercussion through British streets and people who criticize (correctly) the barbarism of islam find themselves in legal trouble. It is multi-culti suicide but this is what the UK wanted, to appear friendly to people who want to destroy them. Churchill must be spinning in his grave.
Old Soldier| 5.10.11 @ 8:24AM
Not like we are doing any better. We do everything possible to prevent merchant ships from arming and protecting themselves and we rarely let American Sailors and Marines use force against pirates.
Of course we could end piracy tomorrow. Kill the pirates and bomb their bases until the rubble bounces.
We have all the equipment needed but the balls.
Zilla | 5.10.11 @ 9:51AM
I agree! The United States is (sadly) fast approaching the shameful level of dhimmitude seen in Europe. If the bad guys attack, disable or kill them. Problem solved.
DaveD| 5.10.11 @ 3:41PM
Merchant ships were traditionally armed up to the 20th century when piracy was all but eradicated and arming merchant ships was no longer deemed necessary.
Re-arming the merchant ships would help, especially when you consider the rinky-dinky nature of Somali pirates - a handful of men in a zodiac armed with rifles. A half a dozen 50-cals would take of that threat.
However, shipping companies do not want to arm their vessels. Why? Because they would then have to train their crews and possibly add a crewman or two just to man the guns. This would cut into profits and drive prices upwards compared with those ships still willing to go about unarmed and cheaper. Since most vessels are not harassed, it is simply cheaper to risk capture and let the insurance company pay the ransoms than it is to attempt to prevent capture in the first place.
Strikes me this is not just a problem for the professional navies, but merchant shipping has to step up toe plate as well.
Mark Matis| 5.12.11 @ 2:59PM
It is not quite as simple as you propose. Many maritime nations will not let armed merchant vessels into their ports. If the ship owners try to sneak them in without declaring the weapons, the ship will be impounded and the crew imprisoned. As usual, the stench is overwhelming. And it smells like the pigs enabling these countries to hold sailors hostage to the pirates. This is why I thank God every time he sends another pig to rot where they belong, for at least He is truly just!
Redstateboy| 5.10.11 @ 4:04PM
Old Soldier is simply and elegantly correct when he writes: "we could end piracy tomorrow." We could also end illegal immigration tomorrow as well - It would just take someone with balls. Further.. Hussein claims he's concerned with high Gas prices.. well what do ya think these Somali butt-wipes are doing to the price of Gas when they seize Oil Tankers? Once again, it's no use listening to what Hussein says - it's what he does - or better said - what he Doesn't do that's to be Judged.
Shermans riding again!| 5.10.11 @ 6:02PM
X2 no balls
Patzer| 5.10.11 @ 8:20AM
I agree that the pirates should not be released to any stinking African hellhole that might violate their human rights. That's a sound policy.
They should never be taken alive in the first place.
Hillel| 5.10.11 @ 8:24AM
While we love to talk of stephan Decatur and "Preeble's Boys", what really happened is that after the Congress of Vienna, a joint Anglo-French task force sank every boat on the Barbery Coast. That is what should happen now. Just sink all boats off Somalia and Kenya. Seize the bank accounts of those who received ransom
David W| 5.10.11 @ 8:34AM
Imagine if Hitler were just starting today? He would not only be able to take over Europe, but he would be successful in taking over not-so-Great Britain.
Maybe the combined navies could try to rescue the held ships. Once the ships are freed, from that point they follow proper protocol when dealing with pirates, no jury required.
glenny| 5.10.11 @ 11:54AM
Sink the damn boats wherever they are at the time of attack. 30 miles offshore of Sammyland? Start swimming! glenny
John Navratil| 5.10.11 @ 12:58PM
God bless the SEALs and, as much as it pains me to give Obama any credit, the President for letting them do their work during the Maersk Alabama hijacking.
More of that is in order.
SugartownSuper| 5.10.11 @ 1:07PM
While I cannot find too much to praise in the current government of Russia, the "Don't Eff with us" attitude certainly has much to recommend it. When ..."the Russian authorities claimed to have released the pirates, but then stated cryptically that: "they could not reach the coast, and, apparently, all have died." " one could point out that when one releases prisoners over the side bound hand-and-foot it does make it challenging to for the prisoners so set free to "reach the coast". To shark fisherman, this probably qualifies as "chumming".
Charles Martel| 5.10.11 @ 1:29PM
I'm given to understand that sharks are endangered -- something about soup made from their fins, I think. Who knew that the Russians were environmentalists?
+++
PolishKnight| 5.11.11 @ 10:07AM
Sounds like the best piece of equipment for a merchant ship to carry would be a Russian flag. :-)
Dai Alanye | 5.10.11 @ 2:57PM
1. Let the US immediately ransom all captives. This will qualify as economic stimulus under the Obama doctrine.
2. Upon receipt of the captives, declare a blockade of the Somali coast.
3. Capture all Somali vessels that venture to sea, hold drumhead courts martial for the crews, immediately hang all found guilty of piracy except for a few to carry back word to the next of kin.
3. Invade and destroy all pirate nests. That is, raze any community that offers aid and comfort to pirates.
The only long-term drawback to this program is that if adopted it would almost certainly guarantee the re-election of The One.
Nunya| 5.10.11 @ 6:05PM
Dai, I think it's just easier to sink the damn dinghies the pirates are in. .308 is good up to about 1000 yards, .50 cal well over a mile. Start punching holes in the boats, and if they continue toward the ship start punching holes in the pirates.
Problem solved, at a minimum of expense. :-)
GENE HAUBER| 5.10.11 @ 3:08PM
Pirates roam free to plunder while supposedly intelligent law makers, an oxymoron perhaps, agonize agonizingly over convoluted hair splitting terminology about what to do.
SIMPLE........a short section of law called CAVEAT PIRATI or something similar.
When caught in the act of attacking or leaving the scene, using present day technologies, sink their boat and kill all swimmers (pirates). Then depart and have lunch......case closed. RELOAD WEAPONS.
GENE HAUBER| 5.10.11 @ 3:09PM
SHARKS GOTTA EAT TOO!
Redstateboy| 5.10.11 @ 4:08PM
"quotes Jack Lang, the UN Special Advisor on pirates (why does the UN need a special advisor on pirates? Our friend Lieutenant Maynard got by without one and dealing with them is not, or should not be, exactly complicated),"
The UN.. what a reputation.. and their budget? isn't like 26% is US taxpayer funded?
cicero| 5.10.11 @ 4:25PM
Hows rediculous! Our Seals had to wait for a direct approval from the President of the United States to shoot three pirates in the act of pirating. This shows that we are not serious - it is all for show.
Pelligrino| 5.15.11 @ 3:13AM
Cicero, quite correct. If that was the case with the Maersk Alabama, we are a joke. And so are our navy brass. I mean, what does it mean then today to "captain" a ship? What exactly is "command authority?"
We're talking about a group of illiterate, drug chewing, barefoot, 110 pound barbarians.
If such petty decisions must come from Norfolk, D.C., or the White House, then we can save the taxpayers bundles by removing uneeded layers of navy admirals in the completely unnecessary chain of command.
Along with LT Robert Maynard, John Paul Jones also rolls in his grave. (and thanks his lucky stars that he sailed/lived when a man could make decisions on the spot)
Dave| 5.10.11 @ 7:11PM
Old soldier, John N,Gene, & Cicero are all correct. You do not bring a pirate back to the USA and give them rights, bullet in head and toss in the ocean, destroy their boats.
Two things,
1. Isn't this why have Marines in the first place? Wiping out the pirate bases would make for a nice exercise for the Marines.
2. Why are we now dealing with a problem that the British Navy eradicated 200 years ago? Seems people don't want to ask that one.
Andy Texan | 5.10.11 @ 7:13PM
The patriotic British song "Rule Britainia is so quaint today, especially the line, "Britons never ever, ever shall be slaves." Their 19th century ancestors were too optimistic.
RedMindBlueState| 5.11.11 @ 8:09PM
Time to rename the song "Fool Britannia."
ExPat| 5.10.11 @ 8:47PM
With all their politically correct attitudes and platitudes Western governments refuse to believe that outlaws and terrorists like these only respect strength. Showing weakness only makes them bolder.
Louis Vuitton | 5.10.11 @ 10:08PM
I totally understand everything you have explained. In fact, I browsed through your other content articles and I think you??re definitely right. Great job with this particular website.
Dee See| 5.10.11 @ 11:43PM
"We are using MASSIVE third world
immigration to destroy British culture
once and for all ---FOREVER."
-TONY BLAIR
(Daily Mail interview cited by Alan Watt
'Annihilation of Brtiain' on youtube)
Likewise Europe generally, and America
certainly.
NOW, is there anything about this situation
that we don't understand?
Poppy Currie | 5.11.11 @ 7:06AM
Who are your enemies? England or the Pirates?
Why is it suddenly our fault?
No wonder you Americans are despised the world over. Have you learnt nothing from all your wars?
My only regret is that our leaders were weak enough to follow you .
England forever!
John K| 5.11.11 @ 1:14PM
Forget about Britain, we are a once great nation turned decadent and morally corrupt. Just days ago a woman farmer complained to police that violent gypsies had pitched up on her farm and threatened her with chainsaws. The police response was to confiscate her legally owned shotgun lest she used it in self-defence. There is no coming back from such moral imbecility I fear.
Pelligrino| 5.15.11 @ 3:04AM
Mr. John K., please tell us where this incident with the farmer woman occurred. It is now high time for vigilante justice. Sorry. It has come to that. Real men need to come and force those fag gypsies off her property and out of the land.
Please share the info as the MSM has once more decided it is more interesting to tell us about Charlie Shithead Sheen (I wish he'd just OD) and As___Ashton K.
Yes, we are well off the rails. Time to man up.
Davidka| 5.12.11 @ 5:22PM
The fact is the civilized nations, if they had guts, could end the problem quickly. Destroy any pirate zodiacs that approach shipping. Destroy their mother ships which transport the limited-range zodiacs to the shipping lanes. Destroy the port facilities that aid pirates.
For hundreds of years it has been the law of nations that pirates can and should be destroyed wherever found. All this rubbish about "legal frameworks" is rubbish. The brits are probably just sucking up to their Arab overlords and have been told to leave the pirates alone.
Also, the insurance companies should drop their rates for armed ships and raise them for unarmed ships to the point where shipowners find it worthwhile to arm their ships.
There are many other methods but the first thing is the Western nations must grow a backbone. The Russians have the right idea.
Booker | 5.13.11 @ 8:34AM
Another article which is based on UK tabloid reports (particularly the notorious Daily Mail) and contains more holes than the proverbial swiss cheese.
First of all, the captain of the RFA Wave Knight (a civilian ship - you naturally fail to mention this), made the correct decision in the circumstances. In light of the resouces at his disposal, a rescue attempt would have been extremely risky and could well have led to the death of the Chandlers.
You then glorify the exploits of the Russian Navy in the Moscow University incident. The circumstances here were completely different. We are comparing a huge oil tanker and her crew with a retired couple on board a tiny yacht. The rescue ship was a guided missile destroyer equipped with a full infantry unit and helicopters (note the plural), not a civilian-manned support ship.
And another thing. How many times have the swashbuckling Russians bungled military/rescue operations? Remember the Beslan siege, where almost 400 children died? You obviously have a short memory.
Yes, the "catch and release" guidelines are totally inadequate (and in the process of being changed). However, the tabloid take on the HMS Cornwall story, which you appeared to have "swallowed whole", is the usual attempt to antagonise middle England with a bundle of half-truths.
And yet another thing. The story about pirate flags being banned at children's parties is, I think, based on a single incident in 2007 when a neighbour complained to the local council. So it isn't exactly a common occurrence.
Looks like you were joking after all!
Pelligrino| 5.15.11 @ 3:28AM
Booker, you miss the main point.
The author's main point: This is the year 2011 and we have hundreds of captives taken by barefoot pirates coming from known piracy waters (for over a decade) and we have ship tonnage held hostage.
Again, year 2011. All kinds of navies involved/present in those waters, specifically there for this issue.
Looks rather inept and farcical, does it not?
No one (including the author) is prasing the Russian military. The author mentions the one incident as a very effective means of dealing with piracy today and, very importantly, deterring piracy on the waters in the days to come.
A fine article. Timely. Nicky Sarkozy beat his chest and claimed he and France would lead in removing piracy from these very waters -- in conjunction with other Med nations -- but under his solid leadership. That pledge? Anno 2008.
Shouldn't take anyone 10 or even 3 years to kill this gnat of a problem.
We are inept and weak.
And where are the Brit and US Navy top officers screaming from the yardarms that they're fed up with our stuffgut, PC-laced, panty-wearin' retarded political leaders?
No real men anymore.
Booker | 5.18.11 @ 9:56AM
I beg to differ, Pelligrino. This author, for reasons best known to himself, has an obsession with trashing the UK and its institutions. The articles are poorly researched and fail to paint an accurate picture of the issues under consideration. This article is no exception. More thought, depth and genuine analysis is needed, not a personal rant based on half-truths.
Kevin Dunn| 5.14.11 @ 12:35AM
Wave Knight is NOT a civilian ship but a Naval auxilliary. It was carrying a contingent of heavily armed marines and heavy .50-cal. machine-guns. There are plenty of pictures of it on the Net.
Booker | 5.14.11 @ 8:54AM
RFAs are owned by the MoD but commanded and manned by civilians. They are not RN warships. The main concern here was the safety of the captured couple. It would have been totally unacceptable for the pirates to have been attacked and the Chandlers killed, which was judged to be a major risk here. Every hostage situation is different, and the response must fit the circumstances. Yes, there were armed marines and guns on board, but if there was a significant liklihood that their use would have led to the deaths of the captives, then it was the right decision not to use them. The incident on board the Russian oil tanker was completely different, and if the Wave Knight had been in the same position as the Russian destroyer then it would have taken armed action.
Adult toys | 7.4.11 @ 1:21AM
ObaMa . stop war.!!!!!