Modern piracy, oil spill concerns, threaten world's oceans

 

[caption id="attachment_11278" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Somali pirates"][/caption]

Carol Forsloff - The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatens the US oil supply and shipping, which by itself is a serious matter, but add to this the piracy all over the world from terrorism and the combination is worse.

If terrorists like Al Qaeda are planning a high profile attack, it may come this time not from the skies but from the oceans of the world, experts have considered for some time.  What better time than when the United States is engaged in stopping the oil spill in the Gulf while it fights wars on two fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The United States understands the risks of piracy for the Navy underlined in  a report late 2009, "Combating piracy has become a top priority for the commercial maritime industry. Like the commercial maritime industry, MSC is dealing with a constant piracy threat."

For 300 years since his death, the pirate Blackbeard has fascinated people. These days Blackbeard is apt to be more than a local worry. If terrorists  are planning a high profile attack, it may come this time not from the skies but from the oceans of the world.

Indeed while world attention is being given to airlines and trains and protecting citizens from biological attack, piracy, and protecting a large percentage of the nation's oil in the Gulf of Mexico, that age-old means of taking power in strategic areas, creating fear and blockading the shipment of supplies, may end up being that major attack that Ayman Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s chief lieutenant, says could happen any time.   It is certainly a consideration, as terrorism experts have maintained the United States lacks optimum security at its ports.

By taking over the high seas, terrorists could create worldwide chaos that would be exacerbated by the deepening recession gripping countries everywhere.  They can also blockade shipping, as has happened many times.

We hear less about these efforts today, because international focus has been on stopping them; but when attention is drawn away to high profile concerns like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as political divisions, that's the time when the nation's crises could be used as opportunities by others with bad intentions.

 Somali pirates have reached headline news status with their bold attacks on oil-bearing vessels and even cruise ships, including a recent one profiled as able to out-maneuver and speed away in order to avoid capture. But across the world, the boldness and desperation of the Somalis, who are largely Muslim, have increased, even though international efforts have doubled up and then some on stopping their attacks.

 

 Piracy has been an ongoing problem throughout much of world history, ever since man learned he could float a boat, get from one place to another, and gain dominance over something or someone. Julius Caesar, it has been said, was a victim, and although Romans swiftly punished his captors and gained Caesars release, the problem of piracy continues. Now it is the Muslims, who have the longest history with piracy and virtually invented it, who are front and center all over the world and potentially planning to dominate the oceans. These modern corsairs can be ruthless, as modern history and experience with Somali pirates suggests.

 

 On the chess board of the world, attack points for terrorists include the Strait of Hormuz leading out of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Malacca which links the Indian and Pacific Oceans,the Bab ed-Mandab passage from the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea, the Panama Canal and the Panama Pipeline that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Sumed Pipeline connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the Turkish Straits Bosporus linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal, a major area for shipping for countries throughout the world.

 

 Recent history shows that terrorists are interested in attacking shipping and their attacks on key cities around the world reveal that they think globally. Their planned inclusion of the world’s oceans in the Global War on Terror was demonstrated by the failed attack on the USS the Sullivans as well as the successful one on the USS Cole in 2000, which was a clarion call for action before the bombing of the World Trade Towers.

 

The Long War Journal an article entitled “Of Pirates and Terrorists”, described what Muslim pirates might do about the Panama Canal where Al Qaeda has allegedly been making plans to establish a base and begin full piracy operations. It is thought also that terrorists are considering hijacking a ship, wiring it with explosives, and aiming it at other vessels headed towards a major port in some congested sea route area such as Indonesia or even the Port of Panama.

 While the United States and the rest of the world has eyes on the Gulf of Mexico, because of the oil spill, is it time to think about what the impact of reduced shipping might mean combined with attention diverted for piracy and terrorism targeting the seas?

 

Right now the American government does not project problems with shipping in the Gulf of Mexico.  CNN reported on June 1, 2010, "According to the Port of New Orleans, no disruption in shipping is foreseen. The Coast Guard has set up five washing stations for ships to get scrubbed if they come into contact with the oil, but so far none have been used, said a port spokesman."

Strategic sea channels are critical for the transport of food and needed supplies for the populations of the world.    The oceans remain a target for terrorism, which is one more reason to clean up the spill so the waters remain safe for shipping and transport during critical times.