INTERNATIONAL relations lecturers at universities the world over, seeking to illustrate the concept of a ‘failed state’, are pretty much spoiled for choice these days. But even among the serried ranks of this planet’s terminal political basket cases, Somalia stands out. States simply don’t fail any more spectacularly than this.
Normally the collapse of a dictatorship is something all democrats can celebrate. Siad Barre, who fell from power in 1991, was a military strongman from central casting, who stood out only in his willingness to prostitute himself to either side in the Cold War, depending on where the best price was to be had.
But the result of his ouster has been a practical demonstration of the central insights of Thomas Hobbes; without state power, many human beings do live lives that are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.
This weekend’s dramatic hjack of a CMA CGM sailing cruiseship Ponant - mercifully without passengers on board - will focus media attention on the issue of Somali piracy, in a way that similar incidences involving ships laden with cargo simply do not.
But what will not be asked is why these violent criminals are allowed to prey on something like 30 vulnerable vessels each year, when the identities of the perpetrators and the locations of their bases are well known.
Allowing these people to get away with what they do is the surest way to guarantee that the problem will escalate, as the pirates’ infamies become ever bolder.
The case for strong policing actionfrom the international community is irrefutable, and does not need to be justified solely on the basis of special pleading on behalf of the shipping industry, either.
Permitting the continuation of rampant criminality contributes to the creation of a climate that condemns Somalia’s population of almost nine million to a future of further insecurity, famine and violence.
Full-scale military interventions - a tactic tried by the US in 1992-93 and Ethiopia in 2006 - have been shown to fail, and ultimately, the African Union is the best body to devise some manner of putting Somalia back on its feet.
But the demonstration effect of West arresting and bringing to trial the perpetrators of piracy incidents will be salutary, if only by underlining that they cannot expect to perpetrate their outrages with impunity. Somalia itself will be a winner, too.
Comments (3)
Comment by
Anonymous
- Monday 14 April 2008
THE idea of foreign navies working together is like picking an international rugby team from 15 different clubs. The only hope for their success is when they all talk from the heart with one another , a not impossible task when the rewards are so obviously lethal. When one tells the other to "butt out", the effects are not as effective , indeed an international thing and very human.
Comment by
Anonymous
- Friday 11 April 2008
THANK God that the Ponant was freed without bloodshed on either side, I was watching closely. The only lasting solution to the Somali Piracy Syndrome is for the Area to be united and have a government that is good and stable. Ask any pirate, militia, bandit or whatever and he will tell you he is working for about a dollar an hour. Thrashed ships, disrupted schedules, distraught crews, traumatised families on both sides and shipping company executives unable to do their work because of the disruptions. Plenty of work for the navies of the Coalition Forces, lots of patient ship sitting are the result. Get Somalia up and running I suggest to all the Agencies, not more violence real or perceived. Politicians of Somalia, in the refugee camps, in Kenya, in Abyssinia in Ethiopia, in Yemen , in Sweden , in Ireland, in the UK go back home and your country needs you. Stop bickering and see the main opportunity to get Somalia going for once again the lull in piracy now will provide opportunity to work for the common good, not in splinter groups but united under a good leader. You can do it GOOD LUCK. ( Fred ,retired Seaman and past Somali Hostage)
Comment by
Retired British Seaman Stanley Caplin
- Monday 7 April 2008
I ONLY hope that the song,' Rule Britania, Britania rules the waves 'is now in the garbage bin. I am a retired British seaman who has travelled many times through the Red Sea,and safely - but now
who cares about international seamen? Not governments; otherwise the area would be patrolled by gun boats, just like the Yangzi River days.Wake up shipowners and press your governments into action! They are always ready to take the millions in taxes paid each year by the shipping industries. Anybody got a laid-up patrol boat with modern navigation
equipment, and fire power to boot?
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