From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Until recently, I think most people in the U.S. assumed piracy died in the Age of Sail, years before the U.S. even existed as an independent nation, but piracy has existed to varying degrees even to modern times.  The Straights of Malacca near Singapore have long been a haven for piracy but the dramatic rise of piracy off the Horn of Africa has been shocking.   As bad as our economy seems to be, it’s disturbing to think of how far a society can fall when the only way to sustain a living is to resort to piracy.  It’s hard to dissuade the lifestyle when the Somalian pirates who succeed can live like kings and are considered celebrities in their hometowns. (more…)