Pirates: Don't Make 'em Like They Used To

So I guess many Somalian pirates have been complaining loudly since the US Navy killed three of their brethren over the weekend. The killings occurred during the rescue of Richard Phillips, the captain of an American vessel recently taken hostage when his ship was seized by the pirates.

Are you kidding me? Pirates complaining about rough play? Pirates?!?

I've never applied for a job as a pirate, nor have I read a pirate employment contract, but I have to believe that "plunder", "rape" and "get shot in the eye" are all common terms in a standard agreement. In the good old days, I'm pretty sure you could chop up a pirate and throw him overboard without hearing him whine, but maybe I'm wrong on that.

I can understand why there may be some angst in the International community where some 250 hostages are currently held by Somalian pirates. If the pirates retaliate by harming these hostages, it could bring dire consequences to many innocent victims.

It is hard to know the facts but easy to surmise that, perhaps, the US Navy should not have acted so forcefully given the broader implications to so many hostages. In any case, these new pirates sound like sissies.