In 2006, militant supporters of the Islamic Courts Union, an alliance of Sharia tribunals, won control of Somalia and imposed religious law.
“Under the Courts, there was literally no piracy,” says Hans Tino Hansen, chief executive of Risk Intelligence, a maritime security consultant in Denmark.
Then the U.S. helped drive out the Muslim rulers to prevent the East African country from becoming a terrorist haven, leaving behind a lawless chaos in which piracy has flourished.
“It’s a bad mistake to look at Somali events through the prism of international politics,” says Richard Cornwell, an Institute for Security Studies researcher in Pretoria. “The U.S. turned an internal Somali conflict into part of the global war on terror.”
Now, Cornwell says, the West is making the same mistake with piracy by focusing more on battling it at sea than on pushing feuding Somali factions toward a settlement. And with Islamist militiamen again poised to seize the capital, Mogadishu, there’s little chance they will be able to control the outlaws this time.
Private security firm Blackwater Worldwide began holding meetings in London on Tuesday with potential clients for a new business venture -- protection from pirates.
The Moyock, N.C., firm, which has grown rapidly through State Department security work in Iraq, has been courting shippers and insurance firms about protecting ships in pirate-infested waters. It's meeting with more than a dozen firms this week and hopes to drum up its first contract.
Blackwater Worldwide guards who fired on Iraqi civilians in a 2007 massacre that left 17 dead, including young children, may actually meet the business-end of justice.
According to a recent report, the Department of Justice may use an anti-drug law intended to fight the 80's crack epidemic to put the gunmen away for up to three decades, minimum.
While no drugs were involved in the killings, the government's attorneys may attempt to apply a clause in the 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act that requires a 30-year sentence for any violent crime committed with a machine gun.
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, dear....
10:30 am...."Team announcement and discussion"
:nervous:
Quote by velveeta jones:
Is anyone having issues with Firefox? I uploaded the new version for PC and found it sucked. So I went back to the old version and now my PC (such that it is.....) cannot perform the most menial tasks in Firefox...... you know, like opening PM's and such.
Quote by TriSec:
Aside to Bob:
Clicking on an emoticon doesn't seem to be working for me right now, it won't auto-populate in the "add a comment" window. (I'm on firefox, not sure what version.)
Quote by TriSec:
Aside to Bob:
Clicking on an emoticon doesn't seem to be working for me right now, it won't auto-populate in the "add a comment" window. (I'm on firefox, not sure what version.)
Quote by Raine:
It's sorta sad they let go of Miles O'Brian, I really liked his reporting.
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, dear....
10:30 am...."Team announcement and discussion"
:nervous:
Quote by Scoopster:
Morning VJ & Raine!No it's not your eyes.. but if you do have some Baileys there I could use some in my coffee.
Quote by Scoopster:
Only thing that gives me trouble w/ Firefox is that it doesn't work too well with the AVG Antivirus plugin.. I'm not sure what could be causing the trouble.
Actually I have an idea.. When you uninstalled/reinstalled, did you do a registry sweep?
Quote by Raine:Slides a little over to Scoop...Quote by Scoopster:
Morning VJ & Raine!No it's not your eyes.. but if you do have some Baileys there I could use some in my coffee.
So y'all like the look? We figured a new administration, a new dawn, a new fresher 4F blog!
Quote by Scoopster:
OK I've been pretty calm about this whole auto industry bailout thing for a while, but no longer.
After reading this bullshit, GM can go to hell.
Quote by Raine:
So did Everyone send the info to Mala For Blogger Joe???
It's my fave time of year!!!
Quote by Raine:
So did Everyone send the info to Mala For Blogger Joe???
It's my fave time of year!!!
Quote by TriSec:
Aside to Bob:
Clicking on an emoticon doesn't seem to be working for me right now, it won't auto-populate in the "add a comment" window. (I'm on firefox, not sure what version.)
Quote by Random:
Testing...1...2...3
Quote by Random:
Testing...1...2...3
Quote by Scoopster:
OK I've been pretty calm about this whole auto industry bailout thing for a while, but no longer.
After reading this bullshit, GM can go to hell.
Quote by Random:
Well, god damn it.
Explorer god damn sucks. piece of crap
![]()
![]()
![]()
Do It Live!
Quote by Raine:Has it always been that way for you?Quote by Random:
Well, god damn it.
Explorer god damn sucks. piece of crap
![]()
![]()
![]()
Do It Live!
Quote by Random:Quote by Raine:Has it always been that way for you?Quote by Random:
Well, god damn it.
Explorer god damn sucks. piece of crap
![]()
![]()
![]()
Do It Live!
Hm...Only since the new update/version.
IT won't even load this page, so i've switched between Firefox and Safari to see it. (neither of them let me see audicon's still. says it's some unidentifed MIME type that i don't have the plugin to play)
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Random:Quote by Raine:Has it always been that way for you?Quote by Random:
Well, god damn it.
Explorer god damn sucks. piece of crap
![]()
![]()
![]()
Do It Live!
Hm...Only since the new update/version.
IT won't even load this page, so i've switched between Firefox and Safari to see it. (neither of them let me see audicon's still. says it's some unidentifed MIME type that i don't have the plugin to play)
Sounds like the problem I was having before I installed Quicktime..
Quote by Scoopster:
Link to Bill-O Quits story
It's too bad there will be 25 assholes as big as O'Reilly vying to fill his slot.
He said he also found that radio listeners don't just want a host who preaches their viewpoint.
"I knew my show couldn't be ideological," he said. "Going up against [Rush ] Limbaugh, that would be suicidal. Why would a listener who's already got Rush turn to someone else to hear the same things?
Quote by Random:
Hm...Only since the new update/version.
IT won't even load this page, so i've switched between Firefox and Safari to see it. (neither of them let me see audicon's still. says it's some unidentifed MIME type that i don't have the plugin to play)
Quote by clintster:Quote by Scoopster:
Link to Bill-O Quits story
It's too bad there will be 25 assholes as big as O'Reilly vying to fill his slot.
My favorite part of the article:He said he also found that radio listeners don't just want a host who preaches their viewpoint.
"I knew my show couldn't be ideological," he said. "Going up against [Rush ] Limbaugh, that would be suicidal. Why would a listener who's already got Rush turn to someone else to hear the same things?
Why indeed, Billo... why indeed?![]()
Quote by BobR:Quote by Random:
Hm...Only since the new update/version.
IT won't even load this page, so i've switched between Firefox and Safari to see it. (neither of them let me see audicon's still. says it's some unidentifed MIME type that i don't have the plugin to play)
The part of the code that paints the embedded audio based on the tags in the comments has not changed. I can see the audicons fine. I think it's a problem on your end.
Quote by Random:
I feel dirty...
*using Safari to post*
Quote by Random:
Quote by Blog:
Testing.
Quote by Random:
I can see (and hear) that one, but I don't see.
Is there really anything different between the two?
Quote by BobR:Quote by Random:
I can see (and hear) that one, but I don't see.
Is there really anything different between the two?
One is a WAV file, the other is an MP3
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Blog:
Testing.
Amagad the bloggie spoke!
Quote by Scoopster:
Oooh.. there's some buzz that Caroline Kennedy may replace Hillary in the Senate.
Link: http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2008/12/the-note-120508.html
Hey wait a sec.. the text box controls on the edit comment screen are gone!
Quote by Blog:Quote by Random:
I feel dirty...
*using Safari to post*
Blog
Like
Safari
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Blog:
Testing.
Amagad the bloggie spoke!
It's a miracle!
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Blog:
Testing.
Amagad the bloggie spoke!
It's a miracle!
:thud:
Quote by Blog:please, do not kneel before blog.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Blog:
Testing.
Amagad the bloggie spoke!
It's a miracle!
:thud:
Quote by Raine:
Old shtick is always good stick... the classics never get old!
Quote by Random:
Ohhh oki.
Which is which...and what kind of plugin would i need for it?
Quote by Random:Quote by Blog:please, do not kneel before blog.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Blog:
Testing.
Amagad the bloggie spoke!
It's a miracle!
:thud:
Yes...Kneel before your Random God!
He has the smote button...remember...
Geez...I'm reverting to old shtick.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Random:
Ohhh oki.
Which is which...and what kind of plugin would i need for it?
You are having problems with MP3 files. You need to associate that file type with the same player as WAV. This may work:
1) Run Windows Explorer
2) Select Tools | Folder Options
3) Select the "File Types" tab
4) Scroll down to the WAV file extension type. Click on "Change" and make a note of the program used to open those files
5) Now scroll up to MP3 and set the program to the same one.
Quote by BobR:
You are having problems with MP3 files. You need to associate that file type with the same player as WAV. This may work:
1) Run Windows Explorer
2) Select Tools | Folder Options
3) Select the "File Types" tab
4) Scroll down to the WAV file extension type. Click on "Change" and make a note of the program used to open those files
5) Now scroll up to MP3 and set the program to the same one.
Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by BobR:Quote by Random:
Ohhh oki.
Which is which...and what kind of plugin would i need for it?
You are having problems with MP3 files. You need to associate that file type with the same player as WAV. This may work:
1) Run Windows Explorer
2) Select Tools | Folder Options
3) Select the "File Types" tab
4) Scroll down to the WAV file extension type. Click on "Change" and make a note of the program used to open those files
5) Now scroll up to MP3 and set the program to the same one.
Or, just buy a Mac!
*don't you dare throw a brick at me, Bobber!* :modbat:
Quote by velveeta jones:
Or, just buy a Mac!
*don't you dare throw a brick at me, Bobber!* :modbat:
Quote by BobR:Quote by BobR:
You are having problems with MP3 files. You need to associate that file type with the same player as WAV. This may work:
1) Run Windows Explorer
2) Select Tools | Folder Options
3) Select the "File Types" tab
4) Scroll down to the WAV file extension type. Click on "Change" and make a note of the program used to open those files
5) Now scroll up to MP3 and set the program to the same one.
Alternately, run QuickTime in Windows and do this:
1) Select Edit | Preferences | QuickTime Preferences
2) Select the "Browser" tab
3) Click the "MIME Settings" button
4) Check the "MP3" box
5) Save your way out of the program
Quote by wickedpam:
Darlings, I don't kneel for anyone people kneel before me for I am
Madama President
Quote by wickedpam:
Darlings, I don't kneel for anyone people kneel before me for I am
Madama President
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Darlings, I don't kneel for anyone people kneel before me for I am
Madama President
I so love that!
:rofl:
So Mala, are you still Madama President Elect, or has your turn begun? Are we going to get tickets to the Inaugural?
Quote by Random:Quote by wickedpam:
Darlings, I don't kneel for anyone people kneel before me for I am
Madama President
Be lucky i prefer not to destroy such a lovely crown...tiara...thing, or i'd smote you.
Quote by BobR:Quote by velveeta jones:
Or, just buy a Mac!
*don't you dare throw a brick at me, Bobber!* :modbat:
That's a real good cost-effective solution to a simple configuration problem... :rolleyes:
Quote by Raine:
I read this story last night... Donny Osmond is a pig to me...
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.![]()
Another morning where I didn't want to get out of bed. So, I spent the time just laying on the bed with Momma playing on the computer while still drifting in and out of sleep.
Quote by livingonli:
I think my brain just doesn't want to work this morning.
Quote by TriSec:
Well, the "big announcement" this morning was a non-starter....just some organizational changes.
And I've applied for another position on the other side of the house, which would report to an old friend from a past life, so in my warped world maybe I have an "in" this time.
Quote by Raine:
More on why Donnie is lost to me forever.
Quote by TriSec:
Harrumph.
say now, that little "live traffic feed" widget on the bottom left corner of that website is a neat little thing. Can we snarf it?
Quote by TriSec:
Well, the "big announcement" this morning was a non-starter....just some organizational changes.
And I've applied for another position on the other side of the house, which would report to an old friend from a past life, so in my warped world maybe I have an "in" this time.
Quote by Scoopster:
OK I've been pretty calm about this whole auto industry bailout thing for a while, but no longer.
After reading this bullshit, GM can go to hell.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Tri, please name the studio where "A Love Supreme" was recorded. In addition, what is the significance of said studio in the history of post-war jazz. Be specific, yet concise.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
Tri, please name the studio where "A Love Supreme" was recorded. In addition, what is the significance of said studio in the history of post-war jazz. Be specific, yet concise.
Erm, The Power Station? Abbey Road? The Fillmore East? Minton's?
feh, I got nothin'...
:shrug:
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by TriSec:
Oh, dear....
10:30 am...."Team announcement and discussion"
:nervous:
Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW when did the "While You Were Out" team come by for the remodel? Me likee!
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW when did the "While You Were Out" team come by for the remodel? Me likee!
is that show still on? :scratchhead:
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW when did the "While You Were Out" team come by for the remodel? Me likee!
is that show still on? :scratchhead:
No, but they were hanging out at the Home Depot parking lot and followed Bobber home. :D
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW when did the "While You Were Out" team come by for the remodel? Me likee!
is that show still on? :scratchhead:
No, but they were hanging out at the Home Depot parking lot and followed Bobber home. :D
Quote by Raine:It's amazing, eh?Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
BTW when did the "While You Were Out" team come by for the remodel? Me likee!
is that show still on? :scratchhead:
No, but they were hanging out at the Home Depot parking lot and followed Bobber home. :D
Quote by livingonli:
Where is the traffic widget? I don't see it.
Quote by livingonli:
When I shrunk the links, I finally saw the new look. I was still seeing the old look until now.
Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:
When I shrunk the links, I finally saw the new look. I was still seeing the old look until now.
Check your bookmarks to make sure that they point to FourFreedomsBlog.com, not FourFreedomsBlog.com/BlogList.php
Quote by Raine::huh:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.![]()
Another morning where I didn't want to get out of bed. So, I spent the time just laying on the bed with Momma playing on the computer while still drifting in and out of sleep.
I am not quite sure you realize how wrong that reads...
Quote by TriSec:
[Titanic Geek]
Say, did you know that Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon won the Silver Medal in Team Epee at the 1906 Games? I never knew that....
[/Titanic Geek]
Quote by velveeta jones:
Okay, the live feed widget is creepy!
If I go to a porn site then come back, will it track that? :blink:
COOL!!! What bizarre sites can I visit?![]()