I had actually linked to this article awhile back when I was discussing jihadist privateers, and Dr. Phares had actually written a similar article with a similar theme. So I just wanted to get this article registered in the database here, for future research.
The best part of this article to me, was the use of the arabic word for corsair or qursaan. This is what the middle east press call the Somali pirates, and qursaan has it’s roots in the French word corsair. So I thought that was kind of cool, but I am not sure if the ME press actually consider the Somali pirate a privateer or practitioner of legalized piracy? Which leads me to my next point.
It is difficult to determine if in fact piracy is becoming the tool of jihadists or not. I would think that most pirates at this point are just in it for the money, and would claim an islamist slant to their project if it would help them to get more money or support for their ventures.
A couple weeks back, I posted some stuff about islamists falsely claiming to take over pirate towns to get rid of piracy. In fact they were just trying to gain control over ports so they can make money off of the secondary businesses related to piracy. Someone has to tax these pirates, or feed them, or use them for arms and soldier shipments, or provide a place for the wary pirate to sleep.
But it is hard to determine if these Jihadist are actually investing in piracy ventures, or directing attacks in a strategic sense. It would not be that much of a stretch for them to do so, and that is why it is important to keep this kind of stuff in the back of our heads when looking at piracy in the modern age.
The other thing I was thinking about the other day, is what is the Islamic version of the Letter of Marque? Is it the Fatwa or would you call this Ghazawat? Interesting stuff. –Matt
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The Greater Strategic Threat of the Jihad Corsairs of Somalia
by Walid Phares, Ph.D.Published 21 Apr 09
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?