Aso eyes law to enable MSDF to deal with pirates off Somalia

Wednesday 19th November, 06:22 AM JST

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OssanAmerica at 01:22 PM JST - 19th November

Aso is so incredibly desperate for his "galvanizing moment" that he'll >go looking for a fight if he can't find one around the neighbourhood. >Why are the people of Japan not frightened of this nutjar?

Japanese flagged and Japanese copntrolled ships have been victimized by pirates for years, including recently off Somalia. No one has to go looking for a fight.
Richard_the_First at 02:10 PM JST - 19th November

Where is Jack Sparrow when you need him?
USNinJapan2 at 04:14 PM JST - 19th November

timeborder

Remember the North Korean spy vessel that Japan sunk about 10 years ago (well the North Koreans ended up scuttling the boat themselves after the Japanese had turned a heavy machine gun on them).

That wasn't the JMSDF, it was the Japan Coast Guard, who incidentally is better equipped and trained to take on these pirates than the JMSDF IMO.
mael at 06:30 PM JST - 19th November

It would be nice to read about Somali (and other pirates) being terminated with extreme prejudice via machine-guns. It would be even more gratifying to learn that the places where the (expired) pirates lived had been razed and that wannabe pirates are aware of their likely fate should they dare to commit robbery on the high seas. The cherry on top would be to discover the people supplying the weapons the 'pirates' used were enjoying a different occupation such as plant/fish-feeding in the most direct sense.
It would be too much to hope for for the politicians who knew of the robberies (and probably are involved in it) to be swinging from the lampposts of their respective nations.
Nessie at 07:49 PM JST - 19th November

Have to chuckle at not just Japan but all the countries out there suddenly saying 'we' all need to do something about piracy when in fact everybody knows it is the US that will have to do all the real work.

For once, this braggadacio is more than just chauvinistic drivel.
fiendish at 08:07 PM JST - 19th November

#

> powderfinger at 10:35 AM JST - 19th November

Have to chuckle at not just Japan but all the countries out there suddenly saying 'we' all need to do something about piracy when in fact everybody knows it is the US that will have to do all the real work.

Of course, that is why an Indian Navy Ship sunk a pirate vessel today. You may need a counsellor to come to terms with the waning US power in the world, you are going to take it very hard.Hope no one tells you how much money the US owes China.
presto345 at 08:07 PM JST - 19th November

Those who stand to lose the most will have to carry the bulk of the work. As I've said before, the unwillingness of nations to police the vast waters is due to the fact that paying ransom comes cheaper than maintaining navy presence.
presto345 at 08:48 PM JST - 19th November

Just read the Indian Navy sank a Somali pirate mother ship. Excellent job, thank you India, thank you, thank you.
OssanAmerica at 01:02 AM JST - 20th November

The area that needs to be covered is simply too large and there is just too much commercial maritime traffic in that zone for any one nation, even the United States, to cover effectively. All nations with any maritime interests need to deploy their navies in this region. But since Somalia has been a mess since 1991 what is really needed is a concerted UN backed "coalition" military action to end the problem on a more permanent basis. Perhaps we could start with an aerial attack on Harardhere.
kanadamanada at 02:19 AM JST - 20th November

OssanAmerica at 01:02 AM JST - 20th November Perhaps we could start with an aerial attack on Harardhere.

Bomb what? The infrastructure? Do you understand the words "collateral damage"?
JohnBecker at 04:01 AM JST - 20th November

Hell, don't send the MSDF - send the whalers! They're certainly not afraid to fire their weapons....
OssanAmerica at 04:05 AM JST - 20th November

Do you understand the words "collateral damage"?

Yes I do. But doing anbsolutely nothing solely because of a fear of collateral damage simply perpetuates the problem. Perhaps you prefer to go to Somalia personally and have a nice sit-down talk with the warlords in charge?
treacle31 at 09:13 PM JST - 20th November

just don't use the new missile.......
illsayit at 07:26 PM JST - 22nd November

what defines a pirate, somebody who attacks, or somebody just moving around, perhaps unlicensed. these water issues....
elbudamexicano at 03:06 PM JST - 23rd November

I think so far, only the INDIAN NAVY, is doing the right thing, blow the hell out of the Somali pirate mother ships! Somalia is a lost cause, and it is not only causing many problems for it's African neighbors (Kenya etc..)but for the entire international community. We need to get tough with these skinny, dorky Somali pirates and that means doing it the good old Indian Navy way, not treating these criminals with kid gloves like the Americans and NATO navies. Just blow them the hell out of the water! What happens at sea, stays at sea. Kaboom! Happy sailing!