Somali Pirates: Part of a Maritime Jihadi Strategy?

Most of the media discussion about piracy in the Gulf of Aden has drifted understandably towards the sensational part of the story — how are the pirates able to roam the ocean? Is paying them ransom a better option than to engage them militarily? Last but not least, will a military intervention against the pirates worsen the situation; will it lead to a massive escalation in Somalia and a Vietnam-like quagmire for many years to come?The armed bands on the waters still roaming the seas of Aden and the Indian Ocean across from Somalia and Kenya are not impressed with the dozens of naval units dispatched by powerful navies from around the world.What is behind this piracy phenomenon, what lays ahead if the international community intervenes, and what could develop in that region if the latter is late to intervene or doesn't meet the challenge? It appears the strategic challenge is even bigger than the mere piracy. Indeed the strategy now contemplated by regional powers could become a major military debacle...more..http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3337.cfm