Recent pirate hostage Captain Richard Phillips proposed a piracy deterrence policy to Congress on Thursday: why don't merchant vessels have a few armed personnel aboard so that pirates can't just sail up and take whatever they want without any resistance?

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Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, traded himself for the freedom of his crew when four Somali pirates seized his ship on April 8. After being held hostage on a life raft he escaped but was recaptured. On April 12, he was rescued by Navy S.E.A.L. sharpshooters.

Capt. Phillips testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, attended by few members other than Chairman John Kerry.

"I believe it is the responsibility of the government to protect the United States, including U.S.-flagged vessels that are, by definition, an extension of the United States, their U.S. citizen crews and our nation's worldwide commercial assets," Phillips testified.

"The most desirable and appropriate solution to piracy is for the United States government to provide protection through military escorts and/or military detachments aboard U.S. vessels," he continued. "I do believe that arming the crew, as a part of an overall strategy, could provide an effective deterrent under certain circumstances and I believe that a measured capability in this respect should be part of the overall debate about how to defend ourselves against criminals on the open sea."

Alternatively, it is alleged that ninjas repel pirate attacks.


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