[Fred Douglass]

...apparently, the "capital" of the Somali pirates is a city called Eyl on the Gulf of Aden(?). It would make a nifty "practice" area for surface-ship bombardment (if we still had a "manly"
navy in which the ships still had world-rocking guns----UNLIKE THE ALL-MISSILE USS Bainbridge, if I'm correct). Or carrier-based aircraft. Just scatter leaflets to depopulate the area than turn those millionaire-pirate homes and cars into talcum-powder! I'm slightly prejudiced----but surface ship gunfire is SO dramatic. Especially on video!!!! What a scene. See my recent above on the desperate need for the Iowas. What a show THAT would be!

The WSJ article today cited the Ciceronian appellation for pirates---they were "hostis humani generis" or enemies of the human race. As you probably already know, Julius (later Caesar), when he was a young yachtie, got taken by pirates in southern Italy. He stayed with them, even befriended them, until rescued (ransomed?). When, and only when, he was safely aboard his rescue craft, he turned to them and said (words to the effect) that "you should have killed me, because I intend to come back and kill you". He did. Came south, captured the very same guys (duh!?), and crucified them outside of Rome.

Due to near-total lack of blood-eaters in today's US Navy, the bean-counters have afflicted our surface fleet with missile-destroyers, cruisers and weird "littoral warfare" ferries. No gun-boats worthy of the name. High tech is also high vulnerability in my humble opinion!

NOW, under Wonder-Boy, the promised two-term (ask him!) Messiah, Gates is going to strip the military of 30% of its assets. Good move. Coupled with the resonating lack of any response to the latest acts of anti-US aggression, we are back to Thomas Jefferson again. I don't think for a minute that these fleas would bite the US' ankles were Ronnie R. in charge or ditto Maggie Thatcher in England!

Did I mention that I was a red-meat chompin', gun-totin', retarred Youse S'navy gunnery officer? And that I wanted the USS Missouri as me private yacht (all youse righties are invited aboard for the world cruise!)? Let's go! Someone else make the sandwiches and coffee! You don't want me cooking (see my roast beast recipe in my Gallery above). Chow!