Why can't the Saudis protect their own damn tankers?

[Richardo]

We've sold them billions worth of F-16s and related ordnance. We have AWACS in the region.

Seems to me they could escort them out to sea, and/or sink the pirate ships (I can't believe that's a 21st century term) if they get too close to merchant shipping.

What's the problem?

[Skink]

1. They had grappling hooks.

[Richardo]

4. Ah. That makes a big difference

:D

[ipfilter]

2. The ocean is very big.

[Richardo]

5. Yes. Yes it is.

So can't you see these bastards coming from miles away? Give a shout out to the King's Air Force? (Now I have 'Rock the Casbah' in my head)

[SidDithers]

11. "The Shareef, he don't like it"...nt

Sid

[amdezurik]

3. because they own us?

[gratuitous]

6. Who says they can't protect their own tankers?

But if someone else is willing to risk life and limb and very expensive machines to protect your stuff, why would you pay to do it? Looks like a pretty sweet deal; get the very customers you're fleecing to pony up to safeguard their lifeline.

[bullwinkle428]

7. NPR had a great story this morning about a private security contractor

using British former Marines and Special Forces guys to provide security for these ships, as long as the owners are willing to pay for them - they're actually unarmed, but have been 100% effective as a deterrent so far.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97241722

[JVS]

8. Oh yeah, that's just what we want. I can't wait until middle eastern countries start exerting...

power on the oceans and air!

[NNN0LHI]

9. Do they have a blue water navy?

I don't think they do.

Don

[Mike Daniels]

10. One function of the navy throughout history has been to protect trade

I'd think even a small military craft shadowing/escorting a tanker would be a deterrent to most pirates.

The pirates are operating mostly on the fact that their targets can't offer resistance. Given that it's not likely that one of the pirate's vehicles is going to survive an encounter with an armored and armed ship I don't think they'd be all that inclined to attack a ship that has a protector.

Additionally, if they attack a military vessel they're going to bring a world of hurt down on their existence since I can't imagine that any country supporting/funding them wants to find a military force floating right off their coast.

[JonQ]

12. They don't even need a navy

some professional soldiers on board with automatic weapons, a reasonable lookout and basic security procedures would go a long way towards stopping this.

[Mike Daniels]

15. The one problem with that as another poster pointed out.....

is that most countries won't let non-military types in port if they're armed.

The tanker would have to literally drop the armed units into the sea (on a boat, of course) and then pick them up once business was complete.

While I imagine it's do-able it seems like any number of things could go wrong esp. if the weather turns bad and the armed unit is blown miles off position.

[JonQ]

17. That's a good point

it seems like the shipping companies would have enough clout to negotiate some deal with the cities where they're making port though. Maybe come up with an exception that as long as the security guards stay onboard they will be tolerated.

Or maybe not, I will confess this isn't my forte. It just seems that it's in everyones best interest (except the pirates of course) to do this, so it would make sense to come up with reasonable procedures to allow merchant vessels to defend themselves in the particularly dangerous parts of the world. If not then everyone loses out.

[NickB79]

18. Why not just install secure weapons lockers and staff the ships with Saudi military personnel?

Accessible only by the captain and first mate? Require all firearms and ammunition carried by the on-board security team be stowed and secured before entering port. Allow an inspections officer to come on board and verify if needed. After all, it would just be a few dozen assault rifles and a few thousand rounds of ammo, not a tank or nuke.

[KansDem]

13. Until the Saudis discover a way of flying super tankers into high-rise office buildings...

They're helpless.

[flvegan]

14. I'm surprised W has used strategery to nukulate Somalia yet.

[Are_grits_groceries]

16. I think they just took care of it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4498888

These hardliners believe in sharia. I would let the ships go and leave.

[ladjf]

19. One well armed Black Hawk would to the job with ease. nt

[Romulox]

20. A: "Free trade" doesn't work without massive infusions of government $$$. nt