Lessons from Pirates

April 14, 2009

What should we make of the successful rescue operation off Somalia? First, that Capt. Richard Phillips was ready to lay down his life for his crew. The analogy on Easter Sunday was hard to miss.

Second, that those Navy SEALs and other military personnel remain the best in the world.

Third, that decisive action sometimes produces far better results than U.N. resolutions and statements by world leaders.

And fourth, that these were not pirates as much as they are part of the same terrorist operation that seeks to bend world opinion to their will. These are Islamic extremists who extort money from shipping companies and use at least part of it to fund other terrorist operations around the world. They know exactly what they are doing.

The United States, in cooperation with France and other countries that have had their ships targeted by these thugs ought to combine forces and wipe out their base camps in Somalia, which has no government and is a haven for terrorist activity. That would be the best insurance against future attacks.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.