When we think of pirates, we may visualize cutlass-bearing sailors of times past flying "skull and crossbones" flags as they board defenseless sailing ships. But modern pirates are using different methods.
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead says modern pirates off the East African Somalia coast are "selling shares" of multimillion-dollar ransoms demanded from ship owners for the safe release of victimized ship crew members.
Sixty nations are working to prevent such piracy. The only sure solution is to make certain piracy doesn't pay - and that the pirates are in danger themselves.
Sadly, that's not always easy to do.