Never Really Cared For Eating Crow,

[mvsusaf]

During WW 2 they put small amounts of sailors and a big gun on U.S. merchant vessels to put the fear into enemy submarines.
Why not a squad of soldiers or Marines on U.S. flagged vessels? There is no 20 foot boat that is going outshoot a machine gun and riflemen firing from a steel ship.
Our country first gained respect when the Barbary pirates were dispatched by Marines in the early 1800s. It is still in the Marine Hymn re "The shores of Tripoli".
Water rats should be exterminated!

[Big Fish Billy]

During WW 2 they put small amounts of sailors and a big gun on U.S. merchant vessels to put the fear into enemy submarines.
Why not a squad of soldiers or Marines on U.S. flagged vessels? There is no 20 foot boat that is going outshoot a machine gun and riflemen firing from a steel ship.
Our country first gained respect when the Barbary pirates were dispatched by Marines in the early 1800s. It is still in the Marine Hymn re "The shores of Tripoli".
Water rats should be exterminated!

Agreed, I'm thinking of a little bigger gun, something that can hit from further off, out of rpg range. Radar guided, all the better...1 shot, 10 killed......

[Big Jay]

I would really like to see them try it here in the good ole' US waters. I would venture to say they would get filled with lead pretty quick.

I know we would have no problem sending some .308, .223, or maybe even some 7.62x39 their way

[Big Fish Billy]

As Deep says, there's more of it going on in this country than you know about, most times because the vessel owners are killed in the act, and the boats disappear. Here's my story...Most times I don't leave the dock until near dusk on a Friday afternoon, because it takes a while for my wife to get to the marina in Friday afternoon traffic. As we were off shore running between locations, in probably a 1 foot chop, I noticed in the radar, a 20' boat running in our wake. Didn't think much of it, figured he was heading the same place as me, enjoying the calm in the wake. As it got darker, I noticed him closing the distance, no problem, probably running on my stern light and could see him in my rear view mirror and on radar. Daydreamed a little further, enjoying the rum and coke my wife brought up to the bridge and after a while noticed he wasn't on radar, and not in the mirror. Turned around and there he was about 10' from the back of the boat, one guy on the bow holding a line. I reached into the cabinet for my 44 magnum, had the wife take the wheel, and turned on the spreader lights. The guy was about ready to jump on my stern. Pointing the 44 at his head, I simply said "I wouldn't." They pulled back and changed course and headed for their harbor, I called their numbers into the CG, and the 25footer was waiting for them, they were arrested. You have to keep a watch, and you have to be lawfully armed, you just never know. How many have "disappeared" because they were not......

[seapower]

I wasn't heaping absolute praise on the Prez, I know he didn't actually pull the trigger. But in fairness without his OK the USN wouldn't have either. I'm not in his camp yet, but if I'm willing to critize him, I need to be willing to pat him on the back too. Me talking good about Mr. Obama wasn't easy. Kinda like taking a bid ol spoonful of Castor Oil. Frank

[Deep C]

What gets me is the technology we have ... I'm forever watching busts on local tv in the middle of nowhere for drugs. Lots of human cargo busts too. Admittedly there are a bunch that get through but we have some sophisticated surveylance. When I check in at customs from an island trip, they don't even have to ask where and when I've been. I see their planes and choppers up and know they have a photo diary of our movements. Fine by me. Gives me a feeling of security over there.

With that same or even higher technology we have I'm sure we could get an eye or three up in the sky that could see them comming 100 miles out and for that matter drop a sparrow midhsips...

On one hand it sucks being paranoid and on the other its a whole lot better than what can happen if you ignore it... Arm the ships and get some air support.