Fleet Force

" Few people know the dangers in and around the gulf of Aden as well as the united states military commanders in the area. That's where al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the USS Cole in 2000. Killing seventeen Americans. Kirk lippold was the commander of the Cole when it was attacked he is now -- senior military fellow at military families united that's an advocacy group. For family members of US troops are very good to see you thank you for being here. Thank -- kept this is this is not a new problem and one you know a lot about what do we did."

" While quite frankly I think we're doing what we can do right now yet the US has Bainbridge in there. That's lending a degree of stability and to show force to the pirates to me to show them that we mean business. There's an additional navy ship coming in US has -- which is a guided missile frigate. So clearly we are increasing our presence in the area just like General Petraeus said. And hopefully we will get more. But I think Jonathan was right the problem isn't going to be just the number of ships that not only the United States but other countries can bring into the area. It's gotta be bigger than that and it's ultimately going to result. In our having to take actions. With other nations or by ourselves if necessary. To prevent these terrorists from having the ability to come out the CN hijack the ships we're going to need to cut off their resource as their logistics. And their ability to even get out there and do this well we don't want to interfere with the legitimate fishing. -- that they're trying to do there to support their communities at the same time. We can't afford these fishermen to turn the pirates want to cut convenient target of interest floats on by we have to stop them ashore aren't that makes perfect sense."

" I'm just reading more from General Petraeus and if you don't mind a letter viewers and you know more of what he's just said. He didn't give specifics about what we're gonna do they -- for obvious reasons. But he said and I'll quote General Petraeus we want to ensure that we have all the capacity that might be needed over the course. Of the coming days at least in dealing with this particular standoff we've mentioned that -- hijacked the the did the vessel and all the rest -- Mike. We're talking about an area for -- the times of that four times the size of Texas. I mean patrolling such -- thing that's an enormous challenge."

" Yes it is I mean quite frankly it to to look at that size area. We cannot do it with a number of ships that we have and our navy and -- we've gone from the navy of just shy of 600 ships. Twenty years ago to now less than 300. And we just don't have the ability to not just put -- therapist to sustain them as well. So that's why there's that multinational effort there's over a dozen countries that have shipped in the region patrolling it. But even if you double the amount of ships we can't -- that large -- an area and stop it. That drives us to what. The United Nations gave us the legal authority to do if we wanted that top cover with un security resolution 1851. Done under chapter seven which allows use of force to go operate in Somali territorial waters to project power shore and to cut him off where we need to which is at their bases."

" It back who again -- this is. Commander Kirk lippold who was the commander of the United's USS Cole when it was attacked in 2000 by al-Qaeda again thanks for sticking around with -- and one of the concerns either well there couple regarding al-Qaeda. What is that as you try to fight this piracy you might. Inadvertently be funding terrorism. And and the that's -- that's of great concern isn't it."

" It is it's very complicated problem it's unfortunate that the commercial shipping industry along with the insurers. Have chosen to take a path where they have in some ways and -- the pirates to continue this behavior. If they didn't pay the ransoms. There would be clearly you're risking lives but at some point. Those commercial shipping interest can also bring pressure to bear on their governments that there needs to be something done. We saw this happen over in southeast Asia in the strait of Malacca and pretty seeing -- had a cooperative effort between Singapore Malaysia and Indonesia. To patrol the straight there that was able to deter and protect against the piracy happening there. We have the same thing happening now. But the problem we have -- is that we do not have a navy that is of salt -- sufficiency. To patrol that area. And although we're making a pitch to get more look coral combat ships that we could put into an area those are years off in the build process and quite frankly. When you have a smaller navy this is the price you pay you can't defend -- national interest worldwide. And we're gonna need to make a much better effort to do that in the future we need a larger navy and this is clearly an indication of the problems when you don't have it."

" Commander Kirk -- of the USS Cole when it was attacked in 2000 currently the senior military fellow at military families united served thank you so much and thank you first your service to our nation. Well thank you --"