According to the article:
"However, Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still "solidly against" armed guards aboard vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different line than the rest of the international community.
"Shipping companies are still pretty much overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of armed guards," Middleton said. "Lots of private security companies employee people who don't have maritime experience. Also, there's the idea that it's the responsibility of states and navies to provide security. I would think it's a step backward if we start privatizing security of the shipping trade."
There is something in the American make-up that defends private property. It is my opinion that the concept of defending yourself has been lost in a large portion of the rest of the world. The ship escaped capture because the security forces were on board--they were not saved by naval ships in the area. They avoided capture because of having people on board who thwarted the attack.
Thank goodness that the owners of the ship took the precautions they did to avoid a repeat of what happened in April!
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