Comments on: Arr, Matey! The New Era of Piracy and the Le Ponant Mission http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/arr-matey-the-new-era-of-piracy-and-the-le-ponant-mission/ Sermo humanus per verba irata Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:46:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Le Ponant a Year Later: La France Gets Its Very Own Jessica Lynch Story? « The 12 Angry Men Blog http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/arr-matey-the-new-era-of-piracy-and-the-le-ponant-mission/#comment-11694 Le Ponant a Year Later: La France Gets Its Very Own Jessica Lynch Story? « The 12 Angry Men Blog Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:23:33 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-11694 [...] quite a year ago I waxed slightly poetic about the French Navy’s qualities in the Le Ponant mission. If you recall, this was the [...] [...] quite a year ago I waxed slightly poetic about the French Navy’s qualities in the Le Ponant mission. If you recall, this was the [...]

]]> By: mildlypiquedacademician http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/arr-matey-the-new-era-of-piracy-and-the-le-ponant-mission/#comment-9258 mildlypiquedacademician Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:39:44 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-9258 Ah, yeah actually one of the linked to posts says that Joe Average Somali is pretty damn sick of the pirates, too. So you're right, it would have been a good opportunity. Of course, it's not too late. Paris could well be negotiating with the Somalis to hand said pirates back for special treatment. Ah, yeah actually one of the linked to posts says that Joe Average Somali is pretty damn sick of the pirates, too. So you’re right, it would have been a good opportunity. Of course, it’s not too late. Paris could well be negotiating with the Somalis to hand said pirates back for special treatment.

]]> By: Angry Overeducated Catholic http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/arr-matey-the-new-era-of-piracy-and-the-le-ponant-mission/#comment-9257 Angry Overeducated Catholic Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:44:16 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-9257 I'd have agreed with you about the Somalis a few short months ago. But I think the new government, whatever its faults, is making a real effort to establish the rule of law, if for no other reason than to keep the aid flowing as it battles the recently deposed Islamic courts. Hence my suggestion, as it gives the new government a moment to shine, and gives the remaining pirates something to think about long and hard...without forcing the French to do the distasteful deed. I’d have agreed with you about the Somalis a few short months ago. But I think the new government, whatever its faults, is making a real effort to establish the rule of law, if for no other reason than to keep the aid flowing as it battles the recently deposed Islamic courts.

Hence my suggestion, as it gives the new government a moment to shine, and gives the remaining pirates something to think about long and hard…without forcing the French to do the distasteful deed.

]]> By: mildlypiquedacademician http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/arr-matey-the-new-era-of-piracy-and-the-le-ponant-mission/#comment-9256 mildlypiquedacademician Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:23:30 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-9256 AOC wrote: <em>I have to say, I’m not generally a huge booster of the French, as MPA knows....</em> Indeed, why do you think I wrote the rant? :) <em>Well, paying the ransom was unfortunate. (Though if it was part of the plan and they simply failed to recover all of it due to error, that’s much more forgivable!)</em> The ransom was paid by the shipowners. Also note: Most of the crew weren't even French. As to turning the pirates over to the Somalis, that's very much the problem in general. Often said individuals have connections with their own government and simply "disappear." IMO that's the big argument for turning the pirates over to the proper authorities.... There was a very nice article on this topic a few years back by the journalist William Langewiesche in The Atlantic. Unfortunately it doesn't look like it's available on the web page. It seems he wrote a book on the topic, however: Langewiesche, William (2004). The Outlaw Sea: A World of Freedom, Chaos, and Crime. New York: North Point Press. AOC wrote:

I have to say, I’m not generally a huge booster of the French, as MPA knows….

Indeed, why do you think I wrote the rant? :)

Well, paying the ransom was unfortunate. (Though if it was part of the plan and they simply failed to recover all of it due to error, that’s much more forgivable!)

The ransom was paid by the shipowners. Also note: Most of the crew weren’t even French.

As to turning the pirates over to the Somalis, that’s very much the problem in general. Often said individuals have connections with their own government and simply “disappear.” IMO that’s the big argument for turning the pirates over to the proper authorities….

There was a very nice article on this topic a few years back by the journalist William Langewiesche in The Atlantic. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’s available on the web page. It seems he wrote a book on the topic, however:

Langewiesche, William (2004). The Outlaw Sea: A World of Freedom, Chaos, and Crime. New York: North Point Press.

]]> By: Angry Overeducated Catholic http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/arr-matey-the-new-era-of-piracy-and-the-le-ponant-mission/#comment-9255 Angry Overeducated Catholic Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:12:56 +0000 http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-9255 I have to say, I'm not generally a huge booster of the French, as MPA knows, but their reaction here was pretty much spot on. Well, paying the ransom was unfortunate. (Though if it was part of the plan and they simply failed to recover all of it due to error, that's much more forgivable!) But bagging the pirates and hauling them off to trial---that's excellent. Of course, an even better solution would have been to turn them over to the newly minted Somali government, both as a test of their commitment and because I'm pretty sure the punishment for piracy there is nasty, brutish, and short... But, they are Europeans, so I congratulate them for simply making the effort---well above the expected norm, represented by the pathetic British policy. I have to say, I’m not generally a huge booster of the French, as MPA knows, but their reaction here was pretty much spot on.

Well, paying the ransom was unfortunate. (Though if it was part of the plan and they simply failed to recover all of it due to error, that’s much more forgivable!)

But bagging the pirates and hauling them off to trial—that’s excellent. Of course, an even better solution would have been to turn them over to the newly minted Somali government, both as a test of their commitment and because I’m pretty sure the punishment for piracy there is nasty, brutish, and short…

But, they are Europeans, so I congratulate them for simply making the effort—well above the expected norm, represented by the pathetic British policy.

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