Protect the Peace in Somalia The portrayal of pirates and piracy in popular culture is romanticized and sanitized through favorable portrayals of characters such as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean; however, the real piracy that occurred in Somalia is very different from what is shown in the films. This situation has been going on for many years and no organization has managed to stop it. The pirates board the ships and hold the captain and crew hostage until the owners pay the ransom, and if they refuse, the pirates resist killing the hostages. Pirates have also been known to steal resources such as oil, but this is not as common. The United States must take action in the fight against Somali piracy by targeting networks through constant surveillance and control in order to make international trade safer and promote world peace. Somali piracy is violent, brutal, and deadly, and many Americans are surprised to learn that it is still a problem today, “Piracy has existed for many years, but was not prevalent in Somalia until the 1980s” (Dryad). The numbers support this statement: “In 2013 there were 264 pirate attacks, a lower number than in past years, but still too high to the point of still being considered a major global problem” (Pottengal). Clearly piracy is a real thing and is significant enough that countries around the world care about it. Although the number of incidents has decreased slightly in recent years, it is still a large enough problem that greater U.S. involvement is needed to find a solution. A significant multinational effort to combat Somali piracy is already underway. “1430 suspected pirates are being prosecuted in more than 21 countries” (Marzooqah). Once a p...... middle of paper ......al. Piracy needs to be stopped and the US should do it the right way, using the strategy of targeting networks. Works CitedKelly, Thomas. "The U.S. Government's Approach to Countering Somali Piracy." US Department of State. US Department of State, 25 October 2012. Web. 05 May 2014. Martime, Driade. “Somali pirates repelled in first attack of 2014.” News in the insurance newspaper. Insurance Journal, January 21, 2014. Web. May 12, 2014.Marzooqah, Mv. “Somali Pirates Hijack First Ship Since 2012.” The telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 17 December 0032. Web. 06 May 2014. Mukundan, Pottengal. "News." Crackdown on Somali pirates has caused a drop in global piracy, the IMB reveals. Services for commercial crime, 15 January 2014. Web. 23 April 2014. Valdiserri, Francesco. “Somali Piracy: Fighting for the Solution Is?” Fair Observer°. Fair Observer, 25 July 2013. Web. 04 April. 2014.