Give the people of Somalia a reason not to be pirates. The only reason there is piracy in Somalia is because of lawlessness and extreme poverty. What would you do if you were in their shoes? You’re bored, jobless and hungry. You see huge tankers float by with huge cargoes for other destinations. Why wouldn’t they try to take the ships for ransom? Are we really surprised? Did we expect the people of Somalia to suffer in silence forever?

If it wasn’t for the pirates, people around the world wouldn’t give a second look at the people’s blight in Somalia. Pirates put a wrench in the capitalism flow, and the whole world notices.

We can’t kill all the pirates of the world. But we can fight to end poverty, joblessness, and hunger. I think that would be better at keeping pirates at bay.

Blueskiesaboveme

The U.S. Navy now has only about 300 ships deployed all over the world, and some are getting time at home. To patrol the area of the Indian Ocean most populated by the pirates is nearly impossible. Finding a ship on a surface that large is really like finding the needle in the haystack. Possibly they could use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) to search certain hot spots and patrol aircraft can be equipped with air-to-surface missiles, and that would take care of a small number — and not earn our country any friends.

LarrySG

You still have to get rid of the bad seeds. Get rid of them first, then help them out. I have no problem donating after the pirates have been cleaned up.

These people know no laws, murder, steal and rape — nothing but thugs. You dump money and supplies on these people and the pirates will just take it for themselves. Someone was whining because the pirate that was caught was only 16. Too bad.

SteveyDee

Where is the ever-benevolent United Nations? The poverty and lawlessness that exists there is due to a complete lack of any form of organized government. This is the kind of situation that screams for the U.N. to intervene and help out. It’s a terrible thing when anyone loses their life, but we all must bear the consequences of our actions. They made a choice that did not work out in their favor.

35remington

Why is it the responsibility of the U.S. to solve the problems of Somalia or of piracy on all the high seas? Don’t the majority of EU nations have commercial ships at sea (as do the major Asian countries)? I would hope that our State Department and the powers that be in the U.N. have over the last 10 years or so put some thought into possible solutions to the situation on the ground in Somalia.

Patom1

Does the recent disruption of natural gas from Canada show that Maine should have its own source through an LNG terminal?

There are several reasons to build natural gas terminals in Washington County. Natural gas is the cleanest burning of all the fossil fuels and will be used for decades to come as a source of energy as we work toward renewable energy sources. Having an LNG terminal on domestic soil is one very good reason to proceed with the Washington County LNG projects. Most local residents want these projects to happen to provide some much-needed opportunities for Washington County. Renewable energy is the wave of the future but renewable energy alone isn’t going to meet our energy needs. It is going to take a balance of different energy sources to meet our energy requirements in the future and LNG will be part of our energy future for many years. As Gov. Baldacci says, Maine can be an energy hub.

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