Shiver Me Timbers,It's a Pirate's Life for Me

For the last several years, Somali pirates have harassed shipping along the northeast coast of Africa (note to Sarah Palin: That would be the continent of Africa). This is an area of strategic importance since it includes tankers coming from the Middle East, as well as freighters using the Suez Canel as a shortcut between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In response, the U.S. Navy has stepped up its presence in the area.

Occasionally, the pirates--usually in highly maneuverable speedboats--do succeed in capturing smaller ships and holding the crews for ransom. They are still holding a Russian freighter loaded with tanks that they captured last month. Aside from that, the pirates have had limited success.... Until this week.

This time they succeeded in capturing a Saudi Arabian supertanker the size of an aircraft carrier. The ship is loaded with two million barrels of crude oil worth about $100 million.

Of greater concern, however, is that this attack took place more than 500 miles from the coast. That's much further out to sea than the pirates have operated before, and well beyond the area patrolled by U.S. warships. It also suggests the pirates are getting bolder and more sophisticated.

On the other hand, it's kind of like a dog that loves chasing cars and finally catches one: Now that you have it, what do you do with it?