RE: Letters of marque

Small boat theft for drug running is a thing of the past.  Without going
too
deep into it, they are just not effective.  Current smuggling doctrine
is
for fast, multi-engine boats that go well wide of shipping routes (and
avoid
land as well due to maritime patrol aircraft).	Most of the cruisers
that
could be stolen do not work in this profile.

As far as refugees that does happen but it is usually the folks that the
refugees hired to take them that prey on them.	A mid-ocean intercept is
tricky and is a bit to chancy to bank on.  Heck even with excellent
comms I
have been "at the rendezvous" and the cutter I am to meet is no where to
be
found by site or radio.

I would say in the Caribbean at this time these pirate activities are
very
very small (I would say nonexistent but then one criminal act could
prove me
wrong).

Bob Makowsky
USCG SAR
Puerto Rico

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of Ryan Gill
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 2:33 PM
To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Subject: RE: Letters of marque

The large preponderance of Piracy that I have heard rumored to be
active in the Caribbean involves 2 types:

	a. theft (by subterfuge or force) of small boats from people
for the purpose of running drugs.
	b. groups that prey on refugee's in boats.

	I highly doubt anyone would even contemplate taking over a
commercial ship in waters so close to the US. It would be like waving
a big flag and "saying come invade my country."

>And yes, if we heard of any piracy we would respond with a Cutter (less
than
>a frigate but more multi-mission capable) and it would go badly for the
>pirates.

Exactly my point. Plus, you guys have High Endurance Cutters that go
all the way to asia and back from Hawaii.

--
Ryan Gill	  |	   |	     rmgill@mindspring.com
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