Stop calling them pirates

that they don't meet the definition of terrorists. Terrorism is "the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological," and these guys are apparently in it just for the booty, aren't they? Like pirates? I mean, terrorists are like people who seek to disrupt the Republican National Convention and stuff.

Agreed that it's unfortunate that the word to describe the maritime equivalent of muggers conjures up images of Johnny Depp and the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.

How about "bandits"? Doesn't have as much stigma as "terrorist," but doesn't have the history of being willfully misapplied either. And it's accurate, too. As is "hijackers". The terms "maritime hijacking" and "seajacking" are sometimes applied, and don't sugarcoat the subject.

Sorry America, regardless how much you love Johnny Depp and those Disney movies these people are pirates. They have been a threat to some regions of the world for quite a while (like those in the South Pacific).

there may be more to the story -- there usually is.

"A Taste of AFRICOM: Somalia did find peace and tried to stop piracy until the US bombed the shit out of it in 2006"
http://www.chycho.com/?q=Somalia_Pirates_chycho2009

"we should stop calling them pirates and start calling them something like "maritime terrorists," to end any remaining romanticization. "

Why? Because pirates were a legal british invention? Because they attacked mostly evil spanish vessels on their way back from the looting of America?

The problem is that you are trying to see a romance where there's any. Pirates were never romantic.

Sorry, the awful truth is that they are pirates, exactly the same kind of pirate as Sir Francis Drake was.

"we should stop calling them pirates and start calling them something like "maritime terrorists," to end any remaining romanticization."

I agree, it is all about the rhetoric and framing of the issue. The term pirate in its modern context takes some romantic manifestation which leaves some wondering about their negative impact.

The pirates also seem to have a pretty good PR operation going as Reuters et al. often carry quotes from them which have been phone in via satellite phone.

Finally, until the costs outweigh the benefits of piracy it will continue. Simple.