Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
CNN
October 15, 2008
CNN Newsroom, 10:00 AM
HEIDI COLLINS: Another pirate attack off the coast of Somalia this morning. A cargo ship heading from the Middle East to Asia, was captured in the Gulf of Aden. There are 21 crew members on board. The latest act comes as NATO ships start their move to the area and U.S. military leaders examine long-term solutions to the growing piracy problem. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us now live to explain.
Yes, I mean clearly, this is not the first time we've seen this happen in this area.
BARBARA STARR: Not the first time, Heidi. But CNN has learned that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen now considers the piracy situation so serious that he has asked his senior staff to try and come up with some potential solutions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR: Nearly a dozen cargo ships held by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Fiena is surrounded by U.S. Navy war ships. It's carrying Russian tanks, rockets and other weapons.
The Pentagon says pirates won't be allowed to unload the deadly cargo into Somalia. Nearby, a reported $200 million ransom just paid to free a ship carrying tons of minerals and other industrial products. Analysts worry the cargo included dangerous chemicals. In the vital shipping lanes of the Horn of Africa, pirate attacks a have become intolerable, says one U.S. military official. There are growing worries some of the estimated $20 to $30 million paid in ransom by ship owners so far this year, is finding its way into terrorist hands.
ROGER MIDDLETON, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INT'L AFFAIRS: This may potentially become an area where terrorists see a very lucrative and potentially high profile target.
STARR: Roger Middleton authored a piracy analysis now widely circulated in the U.S. Military. He warns terrorists trying to get ransom money, also could trigger an environmental disaster.
MIDDLETON: I think that this really is a major concern. That an oil tanker, I suppose is the most likely target, is attacked and forced to run aground or set on fire.
STARR: Pirates know ship owners will pay ransom. 16,000 ships a year pass through the region carrying not just oil, but also goods from Asia and India.
NATO is sending war ships to help patrol the region. But U.S. Navy officials say there will never be enough ships to stop pirates completely. (END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: So what are the solutions? Well, Heidi, you see they are huge economic and security implications in the region. U.S. military officials say they have very little jurisdiction to get involved in this activity as long as it's criminal activity. And so far there is no proven link to terrorism. But it's what they are worried about -- Heidi?
COLLINS: So, are we talking about -- because it's international waters here?
STARR: Indeed. You know, they can't just go around they say, on U.S. Navy war ships and stop commercial cargo shipping, board it and say you know, are there criminal pirates on board. And if there is terrorism, there is international legal jurisdiction to do that.
But most of this right now is just massive criminal activity. But big bucks, up to $30 million now being paid in ransom. And the question is, is that $30 million finding its way into terrorist hands in the region.
October 15, 2008
CNN Newsroom, 10:00 AM
HEIDI COLLINS: Another pirate attack off the coast of Somalia this morning. A cargo ship heading from the Middle East to Asia, was captured in the Gulf of Aden. There are 21 crew members on board. The latest act comes as NATO ships start their move to the area and U.S. military leaders examine long-term solutions to the growing piracy problem. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us now live to explain.
Yes, I mean clearly, this is not the first time we've seen this happen in this area.
BARBARA STARR: Not the first time, Heidi. But CNN has learned that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen now considers the piracy situation so serious that he has asked his senior staff to try and come up with some potential solutions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR: Nearly a dozen cargo ships held by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Fiena is surrounded by U.S. Navy war ships. It's carrying Russian tanks, rockets and other weapons.
The Pentagon says pirates won't be allowed to unload the deadly cargo into Somalia. Nearby, a reported $200 million ransom just paid to free a ship carrying tons of minerals and other industrial products. Analysts worry the cargo included dangerous chemicals. In the vital shipping lanes of the Horn of Africa, pirate attacks a have become intolerable, says one U.S. military official. There are growing worries some of the estimated $20 to $30 million paid in ransom by ship owners so far this year, is finding its way into terrorist hands.
ROGER MIDDLETON, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INT'L AFFAIRS: This may potentially become an area where terrorists see a very lucrative and potentially high profile target.
STARR: Roger Middleton authored a piracy analysis now widely circulated in the U.S. Military. He warns terrorists trying to get ransom money, also could trigger an environmental disaster.
MIDDLETON: I think that this really is a major concern. That an oil tanker, I suppose is the most likely target, is attacked and forced to run aground or set on fire.
STARR: Pirates know ship owners will pay ransom. 16,000 ships a year pass through the region carrying not just oil, but also goods from Asia and India.
NATO is sending war ships to help patrol the region. But U.S. Navy officials say there will never be enough ships to stop pirates completely. (END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: So what are the solutions? Well, Heidi, you see they are huge economic and security implications in the region. U.S. military officials say they have very little jurisdiction to get involved in this activity as long as it's criminal activity. And so far there is no proven link to terrorism. But it's what they are worried about -- Heidi?
COLLINS: So, are we talking about -- because it's international waters here?
STARR: Indeed. You know, they can't just go around they say, on U.S. Navy war ships and stop commercial cargo shipping, board it and say you know, are there criminal pirates on board. And if there is terrorism, there is international legal jurisdiction to do that.
But most of this right now is just massive criminal activity. But big bucks, up to $30 million now being paid in ransom. And the question is, is that $30 million finding its way into terrorist hands in the region.