Here's an interesting turn of events, an American woman, Michelle Balarin, negotiating with the Somali pirates directly: click here for article

This is definitely a story scripted for hollywood production!

Barry-

You're gonna have to shake a leg if you really want to get in on this. Michelle may be far more successful than augmenting defensive tactics, or not! I'd also love to see the old Constitution sailing up and down the Somali coast, cannons at the ready. The pirates might also be amused.

A Yemen ship was reportedly released without ransom after negotiations.

And it seems as if the Ukrainian transport is close to a deal for release.

If the Ethiopian armed forces choose to leave Somalia at the end of December, as recently announced, you can expect the transitional government to fold and flee faster than it takes to process your grocery bill with an ATM card at the local supermarket.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble