Sunday, February 27, 2011
It's time for decisive action. But which action? The naval approach isn't working. More than two dozen nations, including the United States, have deployed naval forces to the vast region off the Horn of Africa in an attempt to protect shipping. Yet it's clear that all the seaborne firepower and technology in the world can't stop the bands of increasingly daring and violent criminals.
Economic and political solutions are even more elusive, thanks to the Somali warlords' grip on the country long without a functioning government.
Take out the pirates one by one and the beast simply grows more tentacles. But take out the bosses -- decapitate the beast -- and the body dies.
What's needed is an international force with boots on the ground, but not on the scale of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those commitments of money, time and blood have worn on the U.S. and its allies. Neither should the U.S. attempt a reprise of its 1993 foray into Mogadishu.
Instead, teams of small, elite forces, such as our own Green Berets, Britain's Special Air Service and Russia's Spetsnaz GRU, should be sent in to oust the warlords in targeted, coordinated attacks.
Such groups specialize in reconnaissance, counterterrorism, unconventional warfare and hostage rescue. Nimble, stealthy units would be less costly to support, and their operations could be augmented by naval air power.
The next step, far more daunting, is restoring a functioning Somali government. But first, let's dislodge these criminals and make the region safe again for shipping.
This has been a time of change for northern Africa. It should be Somalia's turn now.
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