Somali Pirates: The problem is deeper than you think

Fikirka Xorta ah - Latest capture of the giant Saudi oil tanker Serius Star by Somalia based pirates created new urgency to deal with the pirates problem once and for all.

The news has become media sensation where even an American right winger and conservative talk show radio host, Rush Limbaugh commented on the problem by blaming as expected radical Islam and liberal US/European politicians to have made this crises out of hand.

Even other US stand up comedians cashed in the news by imitating Somali pirates activity. Making sounds and English accents that is funny to many people but could be construed offensive and degrading to the Somali culture.

Furthermore, Here's what shell-shocked financiers are laughing at on Wall Street Friday morning in a phony Bloomberg story:

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Somali pirates, renegade Somalis known for hijacking ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, are negotiating a purchase of Citigroup.

Jokes aside, the pirates' increased activity have serious consequences where major powers are considering options to solve the problem. Some have considered force while others prefer to approach more peaceful end to the crises.

NATO, US, EU and even Russia sent warships to the pirate invested Eastern coast of Somalia that is stretched between Gulf of Eden and Indian ocean in an area approximately 1.1 square miles long. Yet, pirates managed to allude the warships because of the size of the area and capture an average of one ship a day.

Once they take the ship, the situation is considered hostage and most ship owners start negotiations with the group. After few weeks of back and forth negotiations, ship owners agree to pay lamb sum money to free their ship, crew and the cargo.

Paying pirates encourages other like minded thugs to get involved with the pirating business. It has also reported that when paid a large amount of money, pirates go for shopping to buy new speed boats, GPS systems and other gears that increase their ability to reach far and wide to look for bigger and larger victims.

There seem to be no end to this crises. In fact, most observers see increased activity that pirates are becoming more bolder, more aggressive and demanding more money.

So what would be violence free steps to solve the pirates issue? It would be impossible to escort every ship in that busy and important corridor by navy powers in the area. It would be difficult to sink every pirate boat or fishing boat. Pirates are armed, know the area well and could make damage of their own by attacking ships with dangerous cargo. This could be environmentally disaster scenario if for example they blow up a giant oil tanker. So what then?

Scott Morgan, the Editor of Confused Eagle suggests that Somalia needs to be divided into three major regional governments. He argues that in the absence of a central government, Somalia will not be able to crackdown pirates effectively.

"Having Three Regional Governments (Somaliland, Puntland and the Islamist South) with Strong Central Powers and Appropriate International Backing and/or Aid May be Something that has to be considered." He wrote. Mr. Morgan things that solving political stalemate in Somalia would create the ground work for larger framework to deal with the longterm problems in Somalia including pirates issue. He says, "This could be the impetus for some form of Intervention."

Mr. Morgan may be right or may be wrong in his approach, but one thing is certain; World powers must think outside the box and deal with this pirates crises to be as part of a bigger Somali problem puzzle that need to be tackled sooner then later.