Pirates: it's asymmetrical until you decide otherwise

ARTICLE: "Pirates in Skiffs Still Outmaneuvering Warships Off Somalia," by Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 16 December 2008.

So long as it's our big warships versus skiffs, expect frustration, Maritime frontier integration more logically features mother ships that host attacking swarms--both manned and unmanned.

Obviously, that's a big job for a stressed Leviathan--hence the need for lotsa friends and encouraging those friends to evolve their own force structures toward this common goal.

This would be a great conversation to have with the People's Liberation Army-Navy.

Comments

[Patrick Squire]

Impeccable Timing!

3 Chinese navy ships leave for Somaliahttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081226/ap_on_re_as/piracy

Quote:GUANGZHOU, China – Chinese navy ships usually stick close to home guarding their own coasts.

But on Friday, warships armed with special forces, missiles and helicopters will sail for anti-piracy duty off Somalia — the first time the communist nation has sent ships on a mission that could involve fighting so far beyond its territorial waters.

The three vessels — two destroyers and a supply ship — may increase worries about growing Chinese military power. The mission will also challenge China's ability to cooperate with other naval forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest sea lanes.End Quote

[sferrin]

Doesn't matter what you're floating in, if you're not allowed to fire (and the pirates know it) you're going to be frustrated.

[Lexington Green]

Time to amend the Declaration of Paris, and issue letters of marque and reprisal to qualified contractors (Blackwater, whoever ... ) as provided for expressly in the US Constitution. Our duly authorized privateers can then subject these guys to some very "symmetrical" firepower. Destroying pirates and securing the sea lanes is a basic duty of the supposedly predominant power all the way back to the Roman empire. This thing is becoming an embarrassment.