[ScreaminChief]

I have read the headlines regarding these incidents in the waters off Somalia and the solution seems pretty simple to me. These merchant vessals need an armed security force on board. Hire an organization like Blackwater to ride along on these trips. How hard can it be? You are talking about pirates in boats that are probably 1/10th the size of the ship they are trying to take control of, which means they have to climb up probably on ropes. Now I am not Navy so maybe I'm wrong, but my Army mind tells me it can't be that hard to repell an attack like that. It's not like they are SEALs or they are coming in great numbers. I have seen pictures of a couple of these "pirate" boats and I'm pretty sure I could sink one with one well-tossed grenade.

Now I don't expect regular crew members to act like Force Recon Marines, but shouldn't the companies that own these ships hire just such individuals to ride shotgun when they are going through this area? It seems like it would save money and improve safety for these crews.