Warships must destroy the Somali pirates
It is clear that in those places around the world where certain countries exist in a state of disorganisation or complete chaos, support needs to be provided from outside to give their peoples a stronger chance for a better life, rather than living in fear.
For far too long, Somalia has been just such a place, with no central government worthy of the name, beset by bandits and warlords and providing a safe base for gangs of pirates. What passes for a government there is clearly helpless in even preventing Somali citizens from menacing the citizens of other countries, being the home of most of today's pirates.
That benighted land needs better government, but how that can be provided is a far-from-easy question to address. The Somali people deserve better than this. It is surely an indictment of the international community (represented by the United Nations) that the dreadful mess has been allowed to drag on for more than a decade of misery for Somalians.
Over the last couple of years, there has been a doubling in the number of pirate attacks in seas within easy reach of Somalia, even though some 12 foreign navies have sent warships to the region.
Clearly, the menace of modern-day piracy is not going to disappear of its own volition any time soon. Only the international community (that is, the UN) can stamp out piracy and firm action is needed.
Those small pirate vessels, some hardly larger than lifeboats, are obviously supported by mother ships or shore bases. Those nests of pirates need to be utterly destroyed by action instigated and co-ordinated by the UN. If that were to be done, the world's shipping lanes would become safer.