The podcast with security consultant and founder of The Combat Operator Jake Allen is ready for download below.
Some key points Jake made:
- A lot of the pirates are part-timers -- fishermen not making enough money who see easy prey with bog slow ships.
- There need to be severe consequences for this ilk -- sinking pirate speedboats and potentially killing marauding bands will serve as a major deterrent.
- Piracy in the Gulf of Aden isn't a huge financial problem -- but it is one if you're a seafarer captured by pirates.
- Shipping companies should strongly consider trained, armed or unarmed security contractors to protect vessels transiting through the area -- though this is not an inexpensive proposition.
- Raiding pirate bastions with Marines or SEALs would yield tactical success but create huge strategic problems for the United States -- a bad idea.
On the change from "Blackwater" to "Xe":
- Changing the name is not enough -- the company needs to change its business model and concentrate on new, more positive ventures.
- The company needs to be more decentralized -- allow different businesses within Xe to act on their own...enough of just Erik Prince and Gary Jackson speaking for the enterprise.
- The global economic downturn has begun to dry up business for PMCs.
- XE needs to take a hard look at all their business entities and keep ones that can really further a more positive brand.
Listen to the entire interview for more details...
-- Christian
