Bear down on piracy

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | 2:08 a.m.

The U.S. Navy’s rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips on Sunday ended one act of piracy stemming from lawless Somalia, on the Horn of Africa. Pirates will not be ending their crimes, though, which is why President Barack Obama’s words on Monday were well chosen.

He called upon other countries to work with the United States on a plan that will better protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, waters that border Somalia on the north and east.

Holding ships, their crews and cargo hostage until huge ransoms are paid is an intolerable crime. Taking mariners hostage and threatening their lives certainly meets the definition of terrorism.

Then there is the economic toll. Shipments of oil, chemicals and other goods move through those waters every day, and their safe and timely arrival is vital to countries throughout the world. Costs balloon every time a ship is seized.

Obama assured the world that he is ready to act against the pirates. “I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region, and to achieve that goal, we’re going to have to continue working with our partners to prevent future attacks,” he said Monday, adding, “We have to continue to be prepared to confront them (the pirates).”

Phillips, an American, was taken hostage Wednesday after four pirates boarded his cargo ship in the Indian Ocean.

Details remain unclear, but he was adrift for five days in a lifeboat with three of the pirates. It was Obama who ordered the Navy to shoot if Phillips’ life appeared in danger. Navy snipers killed the three pirates when that appeared to be so.

Many nations have sent Navy ships to patrol in that region, but its vastness is to the pirates’ great advantage.

It is time for an aggressive international plan to stop the piracy, not just intercede if a patrol ship is lucky enough to be nearby.