Clinton vs. the pirates

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton outlined a set of counter piracy initiatives today. From the memo:

The increase in pirate attacks over the last few weeks underscores the rising threat that Somali pirates pose to seafarers and the security of international maritime commerce. Today, Secretary Clinton announced four new steps that the State Department is taking to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa:

  1.. The Secretary will send an envoy to the Somali donors conference scheduled for April 23 in Brussels. Our envoy will work with our partners on initiatives to improve the situation in Somalia.
  2.. The Secretary will call for immediate meetings with our partners in the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) to coordinate an expanded multinational response to this threat. Specifically, we will:
    1.. Work with our partners to forge a renewed determination that states take responsibility for prosecuting and imprisoning captured pirates.
    2.. Develop strategies to secure the release of ships and crews currently held by Somali pirates.
    3.. Explore ways to track and freeze pirate assets. It is time to eliminate the financial payoff of piracy.
    4.. We will also reiterate to all concerned the US policy of making no concessions or ransom payments to hostage takers.
  3.. The Secretary has directed the State Department to organize meetings with Somali government officials from the Transitional Federal Government as well as regional leaders in Puntland and elsewhere. We must press authorities within Somalia to take action against pirates operating from bases within their territory.
  4.. Because it is clear that defending against piracy must be the joint responsibility of governments and industry, the Secretary has directed the Department to work with shippers and the insurance industry to address gaps in their self-defense measures.

Will send word on who gets the envoy job and what his/her title will be when it comes.

UPDATE: The U.S. will be represented at the Somalia donors conference in Brussels by Acting Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Phillip Carter and an as yet unnamed representative from USAID, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Thursday.