WASHINGTON — The top U.S. military officer in charge of the African coastline plagued by pirates says shipping companies should take a hard look at hiring armed guards to protect their ships.
Gen. David Petraeus said Friday that the U.S. military already has used armed guards aboard some commercial ships that carry military cargo. He said cargo ships canÂ’t really protect themselves with fire hoses when the pirates have rocket-propelled grenades.
Testifying Friday in Congress, Petraeus said that shipping companies have regarded piracy as a business problem for too long. He said now that pirates have become bolder and the costs of their attacks are higher, itÂ’s time for the shippers to consider measures they have resisted until now. |