New Movie on Captain Philips and Somali Piracy?

The jump in piracy off the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia is more dangerous than ever before overtaking the traditionally-piracy-plagued area of Straits of Malacca in south east Asia.

The pirates with speedboats steal trading goods or food aid, impound ships and crew at gunpoint. The pirates have the habit of demanding ransoms before they release the hostages and ships.

But the high decree of anarchy off the long eastern Somali coastline reflects the degree of lawlessness and mayhem there has been on the ground in the country for nearly two decades.

The recent capture of Captain Rechard Philips by pirates and his successful rescue by the US navy made the Somali piracy a household incident, especially in the US. For the first time, the Americans are awakening to the reality of the problem-- the rescue of the Captain is a very good news that the pirates could be hit unexpectedly. However, a long term solution to the Somali piracy remains elusive as the pirates capture more ships daily.

In overnight, Captain Philips turned into a national hero as thousands welcome him as he returns home here in the US. Although there had been others seized by pirates before him, Captain Philips story became very famous and luckily unique because of his outstanding successful rescue and the curiosity of the American public about the story. When in theaters we were watching the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean", the way we were picturing a pirate in our minds was fictional or some kind of a myth where pirates operated in a lawless primitive world. But now it is happening for real. So, can the story of Captain Philips become relevant for a Hollywood movie, a movie for us to watch and celebrate the rescue of a great Captain, and at the same time remember from generations to come that the Somali piracy off the Indian ocean was a real problem that needed an end? I think yes and I believe that this kind of movie on this true story would produce more positive energy than the 1993 movie of "Black Hawk Down" because the "Black Hawk Down" was showing an equally true story but one with a negative energy about a failed American intervention in lawless Somalia, where a new movie about Captain Philips and the Somali piracy would be showing a good hostage rescue while bringing more global awareness to the danger of piracy in the busiest maritime passages in the world.

By Ahmed Said

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