Getting whipped? Be easy Klyd.
And by the way Mr. Van Auken (if that is your real name), pray to God that if you are ever kidnapped that 1) anyone will give a damn; 2) that someone will put up the ransom money to obtain your release (God knows why).
I consider the Socialists as seriously as the Teabagging American right-wingers are right now.
I wouldn't completely dismiss this article because it is written by a Socialist. I think just like terrorism - asking whether America might have committed certain acts in the past that fostered terrorism we should look at what is going on here too.
Somalia's shoreline was used as a dump site for the disposal of toxic waste and their population and fishing industry hurt by diseases consistent with radiation sickness. And I remember reading about European illegal overfishing there. I'd get mad too.
But I don't think there are many "noble pirates" redistributing their new wealth to these poor fisherman and sick children. I don't believe they are "defending" Somalia. I don't believe that they're interested in clearing out the illegal fishing vessels as opposed to getting $2,000,000 ransoms from European shipping corporations. I'm not without sympathy for people just trying to survive in a lawless place (David vs Goliath of sorts), but if they're going to hijack vessels and take hostages, is it so shocking that violence is going happen?
