Johnny Depp Strikes Again

Last time I checked the year was 2009. I open the paper and read that pirates have taken a U.S. citizen hostage. What is going on? This makes absolutely no sense to me at all. We have a group of Somalian pirates in speed boats sailing around the African coast "looting" foreign ships. Have we forgotten that we are the United States of America? The pirates have demanded a 2 million dollar ransom for the release of Captain Phillips. This is ridiculous. I understand that the captain has a family and I am sure they want to get him back at all costs. However, if the ransom is paid we are telling pirates everywhere that the most powerful nation on the planet will negotiate and give in to terrorists demands. This is not the example that we need to send given the current state of affairs.

We are currently involved in two wars in two different countries. We have a weak president who is looking to cut and run and admit defeat in both of these conflicts. We have our enemies threatening us every chance they get. Right now we are not well liked in the world. Giving in to these thugs would be disastrous. The fact that the pirates would take an American hostage just shows how brave they have become. Other countries have already paid ransoms and are still at risk for future attacks. Giving in will not solve this problem or any future problems that may arise.

Captain Phillips is a hero. There is no doubt about that. He willingly gave himself up to secure the safety and release of his crew. He deserves to come home but I am sure he knew what he was getting himself into when he chose to become a hostage. We as a nation have an obligation to bring this hero back home and reunite him with his family. We already have ships in the area. We have highly trained Navy Seals ready to take the lifeboat. We need to let our brave men and women do what they were trained to do and bring the Captain home.

A clear message must be sent. If you take an American hostage you will pay the price. No questions asked. Somalia is not a stable country by any stretch of the imagination but that is no excuse for the pirates' actions. The Somalian leadership must be held accountable for the actions of the pirates. They know where they are. Either they take care of it or while we have the ships in the area maybe we should.