The price of piracy

First off, it just has to be said: Nice shooting, SEALs. Simultaneously hitting and instantly killing three partly obscured pirates who were holding guns on an American hostage -- and doing it after nightfall, from the deck of a ship in choppy seas -- is a remarkable feat, making us very glad these highly trained and immensely capable naval troops are on our side. Yet, though there's ample reason to celebrate the rescue Sunday of container-ship Capt. Richard Phillips after a five-day standoff with pirates off the coast of Somalia, it comes with recognition that the aggressive U.S. response risks escalating the piracy threat and endangering the lives of more merchant ships' crews.

April 14, 2009