bbc.co.uk wrote:
They have made life more expensive for ordinary people because they "pump huge amounts of US dollars" into the local economy which results in fluctuations in the exchange rate, he says.
Their lifestyle also makes some unhappy.
"They promote the use of drugs - chewing khat [a stimulant which keeps one alert] and smoking hashish - and alcohol," Mr Hassan says.
Wikipedia wrote:
There have been both positive and negative effects of the pirates' economic success. Local residents have complained that the presence of so many armed men makes them feel insecure, and that their freespending ways cause wild fluctuations in the local exchange rate. Others fault them for excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and khat.
Not exactly hardline Muslim behavior, is it? Sounds more like the behavior of, well...pirates.
Just because they may happen to be Muslim doesn't necessarily mean they're terrorists. Criminals, yes, and out for a profit. They also appear to have a high regard for human life, their own as well as their victims'...
bbc.co.uk wrote:
"They have money; they have power and they are getting stronger by the day," says Abdi Farah Juha who lives in the regional capital, Garowe.
Pirates guard the crew on the MV Faina
The crew on MV Faina are reportedly being well-looked after
"They wed the most beautiful girls; they are building big houses; they have new cars; new guns," he says.
"Piracy in many ways is socially acceptable. They have become fashionable."
Most of them are aged between 20 and 35 years - in it for the money.
And the rewards they receive are rich in a country where almost half the population need food aid after 17 years of non-stop conflict.
Most vessels captured in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden fetch on average a ransom of $2m.
This is why their hostages are well looked after.
The BBC's reporter in Puntland, Ahmed Mohamed Ali, says it also explains the tight operation the pirates run.
They are never seen fighting because the promise of money keeps them together.
Wounded pirates are seldom seen and our reporter says he has never heard of residents along Puntland's coast finding a body washed ashore.
Given Somalia's history of clan warfare, this is quite a feat.
It probably explains why a report of a deadly shoot-out amongst the pirates onboard the MV Faina was denied by the vessel's hijackers.
Pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told the BBC Somali Service at the time: "Everybody is happy. We were firing guns to celebrate Eid."
Wikipedia wrote:
Hostages seized by the pirates usually have to wait 45 days or more for the ships' owners to pay the ransom and secure their release, but the pirates' treatment of the hostages is relatively humane, and their reputation for turning over the ship, cargo and crew over upon receipt of the demanded ransom has been cited as a reason for their continued success in having their demands met.
If these were terrorists, they'd be boarding with bomb vests and just blowing the ship and crew to pieces.
So it would appear that your rank bigotry and ignorance is clouding your arguments yet again, varus. Though no one here seems to be surprised...
