Re: Somali pirates 'seize 30 tanks'

"Fred J. McCall" <fjmccall@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:5u9he45p0k0igtoj1gf4958a2pitkq0kv0@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "William Black" <william.black@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> :
> :"Fred J. McCall" <fjmccall@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> :news:ol6he4hjd364cj5j2gr5kv1cj5v7qng4m9@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> :
> :> Pirates don't operate from those places.  They operate from little
> :> fi****ng villages by going over the beach.  No piers to take the big
> :> cargo ****p to.  No cranes to lift off containers, even if the tanks
> :> had the lifting lugs on them (which they wouldn't, being on a RORO),
> :> no RORO facilities the ****p can be gotten to where the pirates
operate
> :> from, etc.
> :
> :My understanding is that a lot of the 'pirates' aren't actually that at

> all
> :but what's left of the 'local authorities' who've taken to 'aggressive
> :policing' to raise money.
> :
>
> Your understanding doesn't seem to be in precise 1:1 accord with our
> present reality...
>
> A lot of the 'pirates' are fishermen who have taken to this means of
> making a living given the collapse of local government.  They no doubt
> pay 'protection' to 'local authorities', but they tend to operate from
> their home villages.
>

You guys seem to be forgetting that the pirates have no use for tanks or 
cargo ****ps beyond being objects for which someone will pay a ransom.
It was purely by chance that the ****p they hijacked contained this 
"interesting" cargo. Of course they might be hoping to help themselves to 
some of the small arms and ammunition - but thats a unplanned bonus for 
them.
The tanks and other weaponry were suposed to be unloaded at a commercial 
****t that does have the necessary facilities (iirc Mombassa).