This is a far cry from 5 security guards per ship, this is sending them out as privateers, i.e., a mercenary navy. Now, when they shoot the wrong people, as has happened with mercenaries in Iraq (and probably anywhere), whose jurisdiction are these people under? The US has how many aircraft carriers and cruisers parked near Iran? Why not send them to do something useful? Now, if and when they shoot the wrong fishing boat, there is at least an address to send the angry letter.

And no, the cost of having a US ship + crew there is whats staggering. Think millions of dollars, and opportunity cost because their not elsewhere doing a different mission. Where as 4-5 armed guards on the ship is 120,000 or so (Estimated). Its more of a deterrent then anything else, a pirate won't want to risk loosing men / equipment in a fight, when they can just go prey on other less armed ships. And eventually they'll start to run out of business.

As for the difference in pirates vs armed guards, its simple. Pirates have their own ship and ATTACK other vessels, guards stay on a merchant ship and DEFEND it if it comes under attack. How you you can confuse those two is beyond me.

and pirates? Their paymaster? If you want an official paymaster, use the Navy or Coast Gaurd (and apologies to Mr Prince, the armed forces are much cheaper than overpayed psychos). If you recreate the privateer, you just head back to the golden age of piracy.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457226,00.htm…

Thanks for commenting Mr. Prince.

The cost of providing military escorts & response is nothing but staggering. A private security firm could do it at a fraction of the cost and with better results.

The real problem lays in how cheap the shipping companies are…they are afraid to lose a few pennies from their millions-billions amassed every year. The lives of their crew in reality mean very little to them.