I saw an interesting 2 hour program on the history or discovery channel about the good old days in the 17th century, when pirates roamed the sea looking for pieces of eight or ass, whatever they could get.
they were a blood thirsty lot, and just hoisting the skull and cross bones would make the ship they wanted surrender.
when an english ship sailed into a harbor with the head of blackbeard hanging from the yard arm or wherever, it appeared the good old days were over.
right after that show i saw another pirate show about the current crop of pirates. it appears we don't know how many ships are taken by a small band of youngsters with sk-47's. if anyone in their country tries to ban them, the kill the potential banner, his family, and his dogs.
sometimes the pirates kill the entire crew, paint a new name on the ship and put up a different flag.
they don't just raid the ship, they take everything including the ship. that way they don't have to lift any booty, they just return to their port and have the dock workers do all the lifting.
what i could not understand was why these ships including several large cruise ship were not armed for their own protection. turns out there is a ban against ships being armed in international waters.
in some countriy's waters, ships are not even allowed to have armed guards.
the new schtick with the pirates is to kidnap the captain and his second in command and ransom.
it's a shame MAC that all the PT boats were burned after the second world war, they would be ideal companions to any ship.
if by treaty no ship is allowed to sail, or motor, in international waters, that treaty needs to be ignored.
pirating could be eliminated in a week as soon as the first few pirate ships do not return to port.
"where are they?"
"i heard those ships were carrying guns and hand grenades and mortars."
"those dirty rats, that's against the law."
"OK, back to making necklaces out of shells
and hustling our sisters to the sailors."
