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I disagree with Bruce Cohen. Under Islamic Law, doesnt matter who you are, if the unjustice is done to an another human being, it is punishable offence unless otherwise it id forgiven by the victim

Thahir @ 9:27 PM PST, Nov 20, 2008

My solution to this problem is to speak the same language that your enemies speak. I propose the same for Israel. If Israel were to announce (and mean it!) that the next time a suicide bomber attacked, they would arrest the entire family of that murderer -- and publicly execute the entire clan -- the suicide bombings would promptly end! Period! Same answer for these acts of piracy: Don't capture and release the pirates. Execute them on the spot! We need to change the international laws regarding these matters. Severe and swift punishment will put an abrupt halt to the acts of violence upon innocent people!

John Rex @ 8:31 PM PST, Nov 20, 2008

What's amazing is that the same nations who complain about US "unilateralism" cannot figure out how to band together and stop this rag-tag group of pirates.

Steve Goldstein @ 2:56 PM PST, Nov 20, 2008

A more important hijacking is that of the Iranian freighter,the MV Iran Deyant. Somali pirates captured this state-owned Iranian merchant ship in August. It sailed from Nanjing, China, on July 28. According to its manifest, it was heading for Rotterdam. The vessel's declared cargo consisted of "minerals" and "industrial products." It was boarded by pirates on Aug. 21. By Sept.1, 16 of the Somali pirates were dead. Others showed signs of radiation sickness. What was the ship really carrying? Where was it really headed? The pirates released the ship back to Iran on Oct. 10, before the U.S. or NATO could get a good look inside.

Frances @ 2:37 PM PST, Nov 20, 2008

A previous poster asked what the penalty is for stealing under Islamic Law. It can be anything from a reprimand to death, depending, but the classic punishment is cutting off the right hand. However, under Islamic law, it's not a crime to steal from or harm a non-Muslim. So there goes THAT concept.

Bruce Cohen Libertarian GetBruce dot com @ 11:10 AM PST, Nov 20, 2008

how and where is the ransom paid to the pirates ? in a duabi bank or cash delivered in somalia ?

frank como @ 4:33 AM PST, Nov 20, 2008

Federal law permits the conviction of pirates who harm US flagged vessels on the high seas. The flag countries of these vessels must agree to prosecute in exchange for US sailors risking thier lives.

WV reader @ 4:30 AM PST, Nov 20, 2008

See the Wikipedia article on Thomas Jefferson's problem with the Barbary Coast pirates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_pirate. This is not a new problem!

Gene Venable @ 3:09 AM PST, Nov 20, 2008

It's simply not true that "No country has yet been willing to try or imprison the captured pirates" France did capture pirates and brought them to France for trials in court. Killing people is not the answer to piracy. These people have not much to loose, their country is in shambles, no job, no money, no hope since 1991. Give them hope, a job, an income and piracy will cease. The world community should help Somalia become a stable country to end this problem.

Alf Outerspace @ 1:54 AM PST, Nov 20, 2008

When captured: make them walk the plank. If they try to avoid cature, or fight back, then simply blow them out of the water like the Indian navy did.

Deepwater805 @ 1:31 AM PST, Nov 20, 2008

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