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Captured Pirates Present Conundrum for US

Some 20 are currently languishing aboard two ships

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 24, 2010 12:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – The US Navy has no idea what to do with 10 alleged Somali pirates that have been languishing in the brig on one of its warships for more than a month. Though any country can jail and prosecute pirates under international law, the US only does so if they're accused of attacking US ships. These guys were attacking an Indian vessel when they were apprehended, so the US is looking for someone to take them off its hands; another 10, suspected in a second incident, are jailed on a second warship.

Kenya used to be the go-to destination for such prosecutions, but last month it announced that it couldn't accept any more. It later publicly reversed that position, but still hasn't given the Navy permission to drop anyone off, the Washington Post reports. “My preference is that we don't hold pirates,” says the chief of US naval operations. “But when you have them, you have them.”

Police and FBI agents escort the Somali pirate suspect U.S. officials identified as Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse into FBI headquarters in New York on Monday, April 20, 2009.
Police and FBI agents escort the Somali pirate suspect U.S. officials identified as Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse into FBI headquarters in New York on Monday, April 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)
One of the six suspected Somali pirates waits in a holding cell before for a court appearance in Mombasa, Kenya, April 28, 2010.
One of the six suspected Somali pirates waits in a holding cell before for a court appearance in Mombasa, Kenya, April 28, 2010.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 34 comments
adobejoe
May 26, 2010 2:43 PM CDT
For a revealing look at the Somali pirates, see the forthcoming book, Pirate State: Inside Somalia's Terrorism at Sea, by Peter Eichstaedt.
tbooker
May 25, 2010 10:42 PM CDT
SIMPLE SOLUTION: They all drowned after jumping overboard in an escape attempt.
fishhook
May 25, 2010 7:59 PM CDT
They were not shooting bb guns at the pirated vessels.
Make them walk the plank as they have probably done to others that they captured.
Let there be an example for other countries to do the same.
Or, follow Russia's example of casting them adrift in a small boat, miles from any shore and only oars for propulsion.
 

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