Page 142 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

644 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

that “these troops can also come ashore if necessary”. At the beginning of June 2008, the
21
Security Council unanimously approved a resolution allowing, with the consent of the Soma-
lia’s interim government, foreign warships to “enter the territorial waters of Somalia for the
purpose of repressing acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.” States evidently wished for
22
a clearer framework of international action. The Security Council action is significant, as it is
using the force of international law to allow navies to chase pirates and armed robbers.

Lawlessness at Sea: Asymmetrical Threat
Within the context of the early 21 century, an asymmetrical threat and the risk of terror
st
incidents at sea cannot be ruled out. This was initially clearly illustrated by two incidents,
namely the hijacking of the Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro by members of the Palestine
Liberation Front off Egypt in the Mediterranean (October 1985) and the attack on the USS
Cole in Aden (12 October 2000). These incidents indicated that maritime terror can be real
and states need to consider potential responses. Port security was emphasised after the USS
Cole attack, but after “9/11”, the focus quickly turned to air transport.
Soon afterwards, on 6 October 2002, the potential danger an asymmetric attack posed
was dramatically illustrated when the 300 000 ton double-hulled French supertanker Lim-
burg was rammed amidships by an explosive-laden dinghy a few miles offshore in the Gulf
of Aden (off Yemen). She caught fire and much of the cargo (about 90 000 barrels of oil)
spilled into the sea. Though Yemeni officials initially maintained the incident was an acci-
dent, Al Qaeda subsequently claimed responsibility for it. The attack immediately caused an
increase in the oil price (it broke through the $30-00 level) and Yemen lost millions in port
revenues as international shipping decreased. 23
Of significance though is the fact that not even warships are exempted from possible harm
and, vessels, perhaps even merchant vessels, can be used as weapons of war. Furthermore,
it is obvious that a very effective way to disrupt the global economy is by attacking oil sup-
plies, or supply routes. In this respect, shipping around Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden is
specifically vulnerable and important.

Effect on the Marine Environment: Fishing
In the developing world environmental security, including the marine environment is
essential for sustainable development. As populations are making ever-increasing demands
on it in their efforts to provide for themselves, the links between the environment, scarce
resources and conflict is apparent.
Internationally the maritime environment is severely threatened by the massive increase
in commercial and illegal fishing, but in the developing world, where maritime policing is
lacking, it threatens fishing grounds and subsistence fishing communities. the commercial

21 ‘Somali President Asks French for Troops, Naval Help’, Reuters, 5 May 2008; ‘Brute Force on the High
Seas’, Der Tagesspiegel, 25 April 2008.
22 ‘U.N. OK’s Foreign Ships to Fight Somali Pirates’, Associated Press, 2 June 2008, in Chinfo News Clips, 3
June 2008.
23 G. Luft and A. Korin, ‘Terrorism Goes to Sea’, Foreign Affairs, November/December 2004; and ‘Tanker
attack fits bin Laden’s economic war’, Independent (London), 8 October 2002.