U.N. Takes New Steps to Curb Somalia’s Pirates

RAY SUAREZ:

During 2008, more than 40 ships have been seized in the lawless shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, four attacks in just the last day.

At least 14 ships with more than 200 crew are still being held. One boat, a Ukrainian freighter, carries 33 Russian-made T-72 battle tanks. The pirates are asking a $20 million ransom.

Another vessel, the Saudi-flagged Sirius Star, holds more than $100 million in oil bound for the U.S.

In an attempt to stop the hijackings, the U.N. Security Council yesterday passed a resolution authorizing military forces to go ashore in Somalia, where many of the pirates are based. The vote had faced opposition from some nations, but was passed unanimously.

Somalia has been in a state of barely contained anarchy for much of the last 20 years. Nevertheless, the fractious Somali government must approve any landings.

Last week, a Somali U.N. representative described the depth of the problem his country faces from piracy.

AHMEDOU OULD-ABDALLAH, U.N. Special representative for Somalia: Inside Somalia, piracy affects peace and stability. It certainly fuels violence. As it generates large income to its sponsors and their associates, it undermines the effectiveness and legitimacy of local, provincial, and national authorities.

RAY SUAREZ:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke of the pirate threat after yesterday's vote.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, secretary of State: To make piracy costlier and more difficult to undertake, the United States, with the agreement of the Somali transitional federal government, believes that the Security Council's authorization today, that states may pursue pirates into their places of operation on land, will have a significant impact.

RAY SUAREZ:

There were no details on when, how, or which nation's forces would go ashore. The commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, deployed in the region, recently expressed doubts about the utility of such missions.

A flotilla of navy vessels from many countries, including the U.S., France, Russia, Denmark, and, soon, China, is patrolling the broad expanse of water.

A Dutch navy commander recently described his mission.

COMMANDER PETER REESINK, Royal Netherlands Navy:

We try to scare away, scare them away. We will try to call them on different radio circuits. If that doesn't help, we will shoot some flares. If it doesn't help, we'll try a shot for the bow first. And if that doesn't work, then we start to aim and fire directly.

RAY SUAREZ:

The assembled navies have acted, repelling pirates amid attacks and giving chase. Danish special forces recently boarded a pirate ship, captured its crew, and sunk the vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

For more on all of this, we get two views. Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff was commander of U.S. Naval Forces in the Middle East, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. He retired in September this year.

And Emira Woods, co-director of foreign policy in focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, a think-tank working on domestic and international issues.