There’s a lot of things going on in the world right now. Much is bad and that seems to be the theme of the news in recent years. Just in the last day or so the situation is Libya is intensifying as revelations about deaths circulate and Gadhafi threatened to basically execute everyone and become a martyr himself. Four American yachters were murdered in the Gulf of Aden by Somali pirates while carrying out a church mission; two of which are very good family friends of a good friend of mine. A devastating earthquake has killed at least 75 people or so in Christchurch, New Zealand and that number will probably get worse as they rush to rescue people trapped under rubble. All news seems bad and the sad truth is that the most popular non bad story on CNN is that Justin Bieber got a new haircut…good lord, what is the world coming to?

Libya
After Gadhafi’s rambling, seemingly insane speech yesterday about how he will execute all who oppose his rule, you are left thinking what a lunatic. However, then you realize how scary a man like that actually is with a military and weapons at his disposal. While I don’t think he will last much longer in power, probably days. I have no idea how this will play out. He has to go down and is clearly on the brink. It seems to me that European nations like the UK and Italy who have huge monetary and oil relationships with Libya really need to step up. The United States has no leverage with Libya and doesn’t conduct much business to impose sanctions etc.

A military intervention doesn’t seem like the right thing to do but the people in Tripoli appear to still be scared. I have read the military had increased their presence in the streets and after Gadhafi’s threats, who can blame people for being scared. Europe really needs to step up and assert their position to help free Libya of this sociopathic tyrant. I hope it happens soon, as you know I want to visit in 2 weeks or so but we will see.

Somali Pirates and 4 dead Americans
A very good friend of mines family had been very close friends of Scott and Jean Adam for some 40 years. Reading about them even before I found this out , it sounded like a huge travesty for good people like this to be murdered by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. They were carrying out a church mission and sailing around the world distributing bibles in poor areas of the world. This is very sad.

Before I knew a friend knew these people, my first thought was enough of these goddamn pirates already. How are they not being stopped. How are these waters not being patrolled better and how can they consistently get away with this crap. I mean how many boats, vessels and yachts need to be hijacked and extorted before someone actually sends some Navy warships out there to regulate this highly trafficked route between the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

I feel awful for these people, their family and friends and you may have thought why would these people have been sailing in those dangerous waters known for piracy. I thought the same thing initially but after I found out that these people had common friends with me it made me think. What they did is really no different than some things I have done. You travel and do your thing, even to dangerous and war torn regions because you don’t want to be limited by terrorists, pirates, war, unrest or whatever. You don’t want to give them the satisfaction of winning with their criminal and terroristic activities. It needs to stop. The problem is, who’s responsibility is it?

The US has a large military presence in the region in Djibouti and I am sure other places in the area. What happened to radar? Why can they not track these pirate ships and go stop them? What about other nations with interests in the Gulf? Where are ships from Saudi Arabia, Kenya and European countries who use the waters to ship to Asia and beyond? It’s very frustrating to continually read about these pirates. I don’t know but it seems relatively simple to stop them.

New Zealand Earthquake
The recent earthquake that rocked Christchurch, New Zealand has been buried in the headlines because of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa but I just wanted to say that I hope they pull together and get through this tough situation and I know they will. New Zealand is one of my favorite places and the people down there are amazing. Earthquakes are always devastating and unexpected and I just wanted to give my best to all Kiwi’s in Christchurch and those who have friends and family down there, I hope all goes as well as possible.

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