where is the pirate flag?
November 9, 2005 @ 6:34 am
such a let down. but also impressive. this is yet another occasion when i want to dig up old notes on my thoughts on criminalization of africa (because i don’t actually remember these things) from the depths of a gigantic nerd box. i’m putting it out here to create the neccesary motivation. also, i’m biting my tongue on any more comments on porn, especially the kind that has to do with jesus.
Alas, you forget about the most feared pirates of all the seven seas - the Pirates of Indonesia. In the halycon days of my youth, I wrote about the threat of such pirates colluding with terrorists to disrupt the sealane chokepoints in South-East Asia - through which much of China, Japan and the US receives its crude oil.
As it was pre-September 11, my professor scoffed at me at the idea of terrorism ever being a threat (and gave me a B-). He belonged to “The Chinese: Let’s Nuke’em!” school of thought.
Indeed, pirates - at least in Indonesia - are considered a major threat but unfortunately Indonesia has nothing of a miltiary besides old US (Suharto-era) and Soviet Union (Sukarno-era) equipment.
And that Ladies and Gentleman concludes your Energy Security Studies mini-lesson of the day.
Good night,
Martin Van Creveld
PS: Bonus Pointless Fact - In 2002 (?) a French oil tanker off of Yemen was attacked, but it only disabled the ship.
Comment by MartinVanCreveld — November 9, 2005 @ 9:45 am