U.S. pushes for anti-piracy resolution

[unhappycamper]

U.S. pushes for anti-piracy resolution
By Mark Abramson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, December 13, 2008

A U.N. resolution that was proposed by the United States earlier this week to combat pirates represents an about-face from the Pentagon’s position about a problem that threatens international shipping.

U.S. officials on Wednesday floated the idea of taking the fight to the pirates on land, authorizing countries to use military force — including air strikes — to stop pirates before they take to the seas.

Anti-piracy efforts now consist primarily of NATO warships and other naval forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

"I think at this point we are fairly confident we are going to get something, so this is where we are looking," State Department spokesman Rob McInturff said about the proposal. "Right now, the resolution is where we are putting our efforts. Our officers (at the U.N.) in New York have been talking with a lot of member states."

The proposal is scheduled to be voted on by the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59381