For centuries, pirates have held a certain mystique and have been portrayed as folk heroes. They have been referred to as swashbucklers and buccaneers and even have a professional team named for them. They have been romanticized in literature and in the movies by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series of books and subsequent films to say nothing about the Walt Disney World ride in Florida.
What we have seen taking place over the past several years in the Indian Ocean is the 21st century version of the pirate. However, there is nothing romantic about these thugs. We are talking about ruthless mercenaries that show no compunction when it comes to seizing cargoes and brutally murdering passengers and crews of oceangoing vessels. These individuals are “TERRORISTS” in every sense of the word – by any commonly-used definition of the word “terrorist”. And they are very well-equipped and well-funded terrorists possessing sophisticated watercraft, weapons, and navigational tools.
So why then do the media continue to use the euphemism, “pirates”? Why are they not branded for what they are? Terrorists. Terrorists of the high seas. And why are they not being hunted down and treated as we would – or SHOULD – treat any other terrorist?
Let us compare the “high seas terrorist” to a problem child – a young child that exhibits behavioral issues. The problem child will throw a temper tantrum until he or she gets his or her way. The problem parent will give in to the child’s demands and, before you know it, you are dealing with a pattern of behavior. BAD behavior. The child continues to misbehave and throw temper tantrums knowing full well that he or she will eventually get his or her way. The only way to curb the problem is to STOP caving in to the child’s demands.
As absurd as it may seem, so it is with the high seas terrorist. These despicable thugs know full well that there is a very slim chance that they will encounter any kind of resistance. And even if they do, there is an even slimmer chance that they will ever be brought to justice.
A group of these terrorists recently murdered four innocent American tourists that experienced the misfortune of being in the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time. An Associated Press story from February 24th indicates that a group of these animals has been captured and may be extradited to the United States to face trial. Say WHAT? In the first place, why were these individuals captured alive? Why was their vessel not blasted to smithereens and the terrorists’ carcasses not left for shark chum in the middle of the Indian Ocean? At the very least, why would we not send these individuals to Guantanamo Bay for time out with their fellow problem children (I mean, terrorists)?
But no…President Obama continues to play softball with these genuinely bad men exactly as he has done with other individuals that have committed (or attempted to commit) acts of terror.
Which begs the question, Mr. President: How much longer are we going to tolerate these “problem children of the Indian Ocean”?
James Sharp is a middle-aged, middle-class, middle-management salesman who believes in secure borders and fighting our enemies with a strong military. He also believes in limited government, free markets, and unlimited opportunity and personal liberties for all citizens of the U.S.
