With fishing livestock extinct, Somali men had no choice in taking to the waterways armed with rudimentary weaponry. “We have no life here. There’s no economy. We have to do anything to survive,” a Somali pirate spokesperson informed BBC.

Income from ransom is the only fuel for their nonexistent economy.

Any ransom money paid by governments’ or shipping companies’ is immediately pumped into Somalia’s local economy via purchases of food items, clothing, and interestingly better weaponry. Somali pirates have continuously upgraded their equipment demonstrating smarts when it comes to hijacking passing freighters or passengers cruise ships.

Equipment upgrades have allowed Somali pirates to hit more profitable targets.

Somali pirates sprang on a French yacht back in 2007 hauling away a pretty penny in ransom money. The acquisition of a tugboat proved formidable. Somali pirates tow ships captured in international waters to Somali waters. A failed government ensures their safety in their own waters, but international convoys have begun patrolling areas outside Somali territory.

Cruise ship lines have responded by avoiding the area, but freighters would require a two-week additional journey around the Horn of Africa to deliver their cargo. An unreasonable shipping delay, considering the firepower at corporations’ disposal, which had them call in the EU.

India in their zeal mistakenly sunk a Thai fishing vessel. Originally reported to be Somali pirates HQ. But later turned out on the back pages of the press to be a fishing vessel that had nothing to do with Somali pirates.

Hehehe Oops.

This weekend Somali pirates’ most brazen assault came to end when the fishing vessel containing $4.2 million USD in ransom capsized. They went down due to the weight of the money. They’d been holding a Saudi super tanker, Sirius Star, the biggest oil tanker cruising the seas, ransom since November 15.

People who watch piracy gasped at the boldness to strike a super tanker. Some in awe, others trembled in fear. ‘They’re fucked now. Saudi Arabia doesn’t have a Navy.’ Every pirate watcher uttered. Sure enough a Somali warlord mullah backed by Saudi money laid down some serious threats.

The pirates refused to back down. Two months later, a fridge full of money parachuted down onto Sirius Star. Reported to be worth 4.2 million USD. With corporate controlled warships nearby Somali pirates hurriedly departed with their bounty. In their zeal they tragically sunk their cash laden fishing vessel. Several survivors with pockets stuffed with soggy bills swam to shore hours later.

Several Somali pirates died.

“The lack of peace here has driven us to piracy.” – Somali pirate spokesperson.

Mr Obama was speaking during an unannounced trip to Baghdad, his first visit to the country as president.

He was greeted enthusiastically by US troops, whom he praised for their “extraordinary achievements” in Iraq.

Mr Obama also had talks with Iraq’s leaders, and confirmed his plans to withdraw all US troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

The president flew into Baghdad’s international airport before travelling by road to meet Gen Ray Odierno, the US military commander in Iraq, and some of the 140,000 US soldiers serving in the country.

The Iraq visit is being described as a surprise when it is anything but Justin Webb’s America

Mr Obama thanked Gen Odierno for helping to lead what he said was “a very effective operation” in Iraq.

He told about 600 US soldiers gathered at the Camp Victory military base that they had helped Iraq to “stand on its own as a democratic country”.

“That is an extraordinary achievement, and for that you have the thanks of the American people,” he said.

The troops had greeted him with cheers and shouts of “we love you Obama”.

Critical time

Mr Obama and Mr Maliki had a “positive” meeting, said aides

Mr Obama told the soldiers that the next 18 months “could be a critical period” in Iraq.

He has said he wants US soldiers to have left Iraqi cities by the middle of summer this year, and most of them to be out of the country altogether by the end of 2010.

A smaller number of military advisers and support staff would remain in the country until 2011.

“It is time for us to transfer to the Iraqis. They need to take responsibility for their country,” he said, before shaking hands and taking photographs with many of the soldiers.

The visit, which lasted less than five hours, also included a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who travelled to Camp Victory to meet Mr Obama.

A spokesman for Mr Maliki said the meeting had been “positive” and that Mr Obama had “renewed the American commitment to Iraq and to withdrawing troops as previously planned”.

Mr Obama told Mr Maliki that progress had been made on improving security but that it was “absolutely critical” for all Iraqis to be integrated into the political system.

He said the US had “no claim on Iraqi territory and resources,” reported Reuters.

No surprise

Mr Obama was greeted enthusiastically by US soldiers at Camp Victory

For security reasons, the White House had made no advance announcement of the visit and did not release details of the president’s schedule.

But the BBC’s Jim Muir in Baghdad said there had been widespread speculation that Mr Obama would visit either Iraq or Afghanistan at the end of his Europe trip, which included economic and Nato summits and a visit to Turkey.

US officials said Mr Obama chose Iraq over Afghanistan partly because Iraq was simply closer to Turkey, but also to show Iraqi leaders that the way forward for the country lies “in political solutions”.

Mr Obama said the US had “spent a lot of time trying to get Afghanistan right” but that there was “still a lot of work to be done” in Iraq.

He said his presence in Iraq could also help the country’s competing political factions to reach “equitable” solutions to the issues facing Iraqis.

Levels of violence have been generally declining in Iraq, but Mr Obama’s visit comes a day after more than 34 people died in apparently coordinated car bomb attacks in Baghdad.

Insurgents still seem able to strike with deadly results, claiming more than 200 lives in both February and March.

Some US military and Iraqi government officials have privately expressed concern that the violence might again rise as US troops are pulled out.

Our correspondent says Mr Obama will have used the visit to reassure Iraq’s leaders that, when US troops are eventually withdrawn, it will be done responsibly and without plunging the country into chaos.

BBC

“Most Americans Don’t Blame Obama For Economy, Poll Finds” – The Huffington Post.

I looks like Americans can see that with a full plate Obama is getting things done. President Obama has more big issues to deal with then any other U.S. President.  President Obama is fighting a financial crisis, a global recession, auto industry needs a bailout, credit has dried up and things aren’t over. Americans are confident that these issues will be dealt with properly unlike the fast acting, no consulting way President Bush operated, which may have contributed to the length and severity of the recession.