More than 20 countries’ navies are teaming up, to take on Somalia’s pirates. But will Combined Task Force 151 make much of a difference?
Naval pundit the Custodian isn’t so sure. Pre-existing trans-national teams has suffered from flimsy mission directives and rules of engagement [ROE], which have kept them from more aggressively hunting pirates. "Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like CTF-151 is being given any expanded mission goals or ROE, just a commander and separate structure," the Custodian writes. "However, if such an expansion is in the cards, this is a necessary precondition. So to summarize: we’re reorganizing on paper. But that reorganization would make it easier to solicit participation in expanded missions."
