Now This Could Be a Fascinating Conversation

This has the potential to be a very interesting development in regards to addressing the Somali piracy situation. Indeed, this could be the most important debate on maritime threats and challenges to take place on Capitol Hill in a very long time.

Senator John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday he plans to hold hearings on the threat of piracy “before the next fire drill becomes an international incident with big implications.”

If the committee has a hearing that parades pirate victims in front of the Senate (and media and American people), the United States becomes a joke in regards to international commerce from the global maritime industry. Since we have only 347 total US flagged merchant vessels, it would essentially be a slap in the face to the rest of the world who operates on the seas to support global trade, and send a message that we aren't serious about the problem.

I don't think that is what John Kerry has in mind, which is why this is could potentially be a very important development in regards to addressing tough challenges like maritime piracy in the 21st century. If I was going to recommend a panel for that discussion, my list would be:

Vice Admiral Bill Gortney
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

Martin Murphy
Center for Strategic and Budgetary Studies

Lt. Claude Berube
United States Naval Academy

Dr. Virginia Lunsford
United States Naval Academy

Why these four, what makes them special?

VADM Gortney should be self explanatory. I think that guy is brilliant. His strong understanding of the regional conditions adds real value to the context of the events we are seeing off the Somali coast.

Martin Murphy is an authority on maritime irregular warfare, and can put context to the Senate discussion by highlighting the differences between piracy, terrorism, and maritime counterinsurgency. He also understands and explains the challenges and conditions of Somalia piracy.

Professor Claude Berube is a serious expert on the issues specific to civilian mariners, including security contractors, the commercial security tactics and technologies, and is an expert on the US Navy in the context of irregular warfare. You want someone like Professor Berube who knows what works, what doesn't, and isn't in the industry. He is your guy. His grasp of history in the context of modern trends and tactics in piracy would also be a real asset to the conversation.

Dr. Virginia Lunsford is an associate professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy specializing in maritime and European history. A Harvard PHD, her article in the December 2008 issue of Proceedings titled What Makes Piracy Work? is one of the best articles on the root causes of piracy written in years.

Senator, call me. That is the group you want bud, trust me. 2 hours with those folks and you will be the smartest guy in the political universe on the pirate problems taking place off Somalia. It would also be one of the most interesting senate committee hearings to run on CSPAN since the last General Petraeus hearing.