tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098264341625381422.post7073407750774017371..comments2024-03-18T17:01:07.165-07:00Comments on The Provocateur: Pavlov, Pirates, and the Rescue of Captain Richard Phillipsmike volpehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02999118519606254362noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098264341625381422.post-68316792250403253542009-04-13T11:15:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:15:00.000-07:00Pirates have always been considered extraordinary ...Pirates have always been considered extraordinary criminals: criminals without a state in fact. That should remind everyone of the Al Qaeda. <BR/><BR/>Going back to the Roman Republic (and the pirate attack on the port of Ostia) their actions have threatened and often destroyed civil government and the society it protects.<BR/><BR/>"A New Law Dictionary" said this about "Pirates" (8th ed. 1762): "A Piracy attempted on the Ocean, if the Pirates are overcome, the Takers may immediately inflict a Punishment by hanging them up at the Main-yard End; though this is <B>understood where no legal judgement may be obtained;</B> And hence it is, that if a Ship shall be on a Voyage to any Part of America, or the Plantations there, or a Discovery of the Parts; and in her Way is attacked by a Pirate, but in the attempt the Pirate is overcome, the Pirates may forthwith be executed without any Solemnity of Condemnation, by the Marine Law." (Emphasis added)<BR/><BR/>I don't think Pavlov has much to say here. It is a simple risk/reward: Some countries pay, some countries fight.<BR/><BR/>An added thought here: criminal organizations acting in a military manner take the risk, when defeated, of forfeiture of all their rights.<BR/><BR/>The key behind that forfeiture, however, is a legal proceeding. Those legal proceedings were only granted grudgingly by the Bush Administration. With a long legal history to back harsh punishment for crimes such as 9/11, you'd have thought we would have played to our strength as a society.<BR/><BR/>Other nations have paid "tribute" to pirates going back to the founding of this republic. The result is they encourage more attacks on their ships. Since the time of Jefferson, this republic has refused to negotiate "tributes" or ransoms. Pirates attacking US shipping are likely to meet force. It is a good policy and should be continued.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08947017853947919732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098264341625381422.post-5066074723654698392009-04-12T21:31:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:31:00.000-07:00I've heard that Somalis first turned to piracy to ...I've heard that Somalis first turned to piracy to drive off ships that were dumping toxic waste in their waters.<BR/><BR/>In any case, why do you think the Navy made such an effort to make it perfectly clear that Obama personally authorized shooting the pirates?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098264341625381422.post-16914538135492655862009-04-12T17:22:00.000-07:002009-04-12T17:22:00.000-07:00Let me respond to both. First, point taken on Pavl...Let me respond to both. First, point taken on Pavlov, however future psychologists also expanded on studies and ideas that Pavlov started. Classical conditioning is a study he started. <BR/><BR/>As to the Maersk...I actually believe that insurance is higher if there are armed guards and that's something that will need to be addressed in the future.mike volpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02999118519606254362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098264341625381422.post-69863516895400258072009-04-12T17:04:00.000-07:002009-04-12T17:04:00.000-07:00It really is amazing that nobody has gotten around...It really is amazing that nobody has gotten around to blockading Somalia yet. Then again, I'm also surprised that Maersk hasn't started arming its crews yet, either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098264341625381422.post-50448660954566971282009-04-12T14:47:00.000-07:002009-04-12T14:47:00.000-07:00A technical nit -Pavlov said nothing about Reward ...A technical nit -<BR/><BR/>Pavlov said nothing about Reward and Punishment. His was the study "association" -- that a natural response can be associated with an external stimulus. It was a number of other psychologists, including B.F. Skinner, who studied reinforcement and punishment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com