John Kerry Calls for Pirate Hearings
John Kerry, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is calling for hearings into what is now considered the growing threat of piracy now that an American ship has been seized by Somalian pirates.
These acts of piracy off of Somalia’s coastline may seem surreal, but they’re all too real and a thorough policy debate is long overdue,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in a statement. “When Americans, including at least one from Massachusetts, are endangered, you’ve got a complicated and dangerous international situation brewing, and that includes questions about a hot-pursuit policy on Somalia’s coastline
He continues:
There have been more than 50 attacks in the area this year alone and the problem isn’t going away,” Kerry said. “I plan to hold hearings to further examine the growing threat of piracy and all the policy options that need to be on the table before the next fire drill becomes an international incident with big implications
Piracy in that part of the world is far from uncommon as you can see by John Kerry’s own statement that there have been 50 attacks this year in that area, but what is uncommon is the fact that a ship bearing the American flag was attacked.
I don’t need a hearing to figure out why an American ship was attacked. It is obvious. Because the pirates feel emboldened. The pirates did not dare to attempt to seize an American ship while President Bush was in office, the threat of retaliation made the risk unworthy of the reward.
Under this president however, the pirates see a weak-kneed, linguine spined appeaser and they are walking all over him and America in the process. The president spent last week overseas apologizing for America’s arrogance and indifference and when he took a break from apologizing he spent his free time ball washing foreign leaders.
Do you remember the candidate’s “just words” speech when he claimed that words have meanings and that words matter? Perhaps he would do well to remember his own words.
Words matter and his words have emboldened those that would do us harm. Don’t believe me? Just ask Kim Jong il.
America's Watchtower 
The pirates may feel enboldened, but they will find out that President Obama is not going to mess around with them. And, as for Senator Kerry, he spoke out about this growing problem while Bush was in office. It was just a matter of time that the money to be made and the ease of the takeovers would embolden this robbers.
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A number of these pirates started out as vigilantes trying to stop EU ships from stealing all of their fish and dumping radioactive waste in their waters. They believed this was necessary since there is no centralized government to defend their territorial waters. Looks like we are going to be expected to clean up a problem started by the EU yet again.
It seems that the pirates have decided to start taking on some higher value targets. I remember someone several months ago (maybe last year) pointing out that these pirates are going to become an issue. Why didn’t Bush nip it back then? Probably because the pirates were targeting EU ships at the time.
I’m going to wait and see how this plays out before judging.
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Bush did nothing because our ships weren’t involved and probably also because he had lost all clout and credibility by that point even if he had wanted to do something.
I am not judging what is being done, I hope that behind the scenes the right thing is being done. But I question why the president doesn’t at least make a statement in respect to the families.
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Watch out pirates! Here comes Swiftboat Johhy to the rescue!! You’re in deep doo doo now! You never should have screwed with the good ole U.S. of A.
Seriously though, these politicians have got to keep their pieholes SHUT until this episode is over! Then make a plan to deal with future problems. Try letting our mariners sail around with ARMS for a change to start. I can tell you one thing for sure, you would not catch THIS Average American sailing around that area without some fire power!! Those assholes would never make it into the boat. I here sharks really like an occasional Muslim for lunch! A little oily, but great tasting!
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Siftboat Johnny, I like that! It is assinine that these ships are not allowed to arm themselves in that part of the world. They are sitting ducks.
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I heard on the radio that the crew of the ship was armed but they did not use them because the pirates had some pretty heavy weaponry.
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I have heard that the pirates have AK47s but I heard that the crew was unarmed.
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that was Johnny, not Johhy
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Exactly WHAT does Mr. Kerry think will be the result of the meetings? Will he send some marines to go over there and blow these pirates out of the water and end this once and for all? No…probably not. He will probably do nothing but talk…and the pirates will hear nothing but blah, blah, blah.
A great ending would be for this captain to kick their butts!
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Talking is what John Kerry does best.
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As committee chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, Senator Kerry understands the full nature of the attacks and the underlying causes. Unfortunately, he is not in a position to do more that bring this matter to the attention of the American people- which he has done- and bring in experts to discuss and offer further insist into cause, effect and solutions. As he said, this problem is not going to go away. It is never wise to just react rather than plan and enact. All great military strategies were discussed first and then implemented. So I just don’t understand the mocking here of the Senator. Especially since he was the first politician to bring this situation to the publics attention and called for discussion.
And, as for the Senator just being talk- I strongly disagree with that knowing more that anyone obviously on this site about his record of service to this country-militarily and congressionally.
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I wasn’t really mocking Kerry, although in my opinion there are many issues he can be mocked about. I was using Kerry’s statement as an opportunity to mock the president because his words at the G20 summit emboldened the pirates to capture an American ship. While Bush was in office the pirates didn’t dare to try such a feat.
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Pretty sad if talking is what Kerry does best. He sounds like a fool. Reminds me of a cartoon. Spike the bulldog giving the little yippy dog the backhand and saying shut up!!!!
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