Maritime Piracy and U.S. Power Projection
The United States has always been a maritime nation, holding a border with the Atlantic Ocean since the idea of a free nation took flight. As such, the element of maritime security is of utmost importance in National Security interests, as much as it was two-hundred years ago as it is now.
During the last half of the twentieth century, piracy made a return, though with an entirely different face. Because larger ships were cumbersome and easy to spot, most began to resort to smaller, faster boats, by which small teams could board and steal what they pleased. It became much more of a personal than national or commercial goal. Piracy was now a regular way of life, and had lost all glamour it once held. The majority of this form of piracy took place along the historically strife-ridden coasts of Somalia, Arabian nations, and the Southeastern Pacific nations and islands. Furthermore, foreign nationals were becoming a common object of value when dealing with some nations, whose will to pay ransom money lined the coffers of most of these pirates successfully. Increasingly, according to the International Maritime Organization and the International Maritime Bureau, pirates often try to remain undetected, and go straight for objects of value. The few who do capture ships are often caught or compromised by an outside force.
Currently, our Armed Forces is in the process of training several nations’ police agencies and navies, aspiring to let these forces take command of the issue of piracy and maritime trade in their region. Djibouti, Iraq, and Thailand are all currently being advised or trained actively by components of the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in methods to divert and prevent attacks on territorial and international attacks, and to respond swiftly and effectively when handed a situation of the appropriate magnitude.
There is no doubt that the looming threat of trade endangerment will exist for as long as shipping lanes are not completely monitored. The efforts of the United States and her Armed Forces, however, have proved to be a constant and vigilant thorn in the side of would-be pirates since its inception. The fervent and excelsior performance of the men and women who assist all nations in their strive for economic superiority and prosperity, though going largely unnoticed, is one of the most profound and unique duties our Armed Forces holds.
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