While Barack Obama managed to get the American hostage released from the Somali pirates there are still 260 other nationals being held by the pirates. Newt Gringrich makes the case for adopting the "broken windows" approach to the problem:
The Broken Windows theory simply states that if a building has a broken window that is not fixed, the message is sent that no one cares. Vandals believe there will be no consequences for their bad behavior, and consequently, worse behavior will follow.
However, fixing the broken window sends a message that people care about their community and are watching, which deters crime.
Giuliani and Bratton acted on the insights of the Broken Windows theory to transform New York from one of the most dangerous cities in America to the safest big city in the country by treating minor crimes like vandalism, prostitution, and loitering like broken windows. ..
However this is not what is happening, at least by the Europeans:
"The marines found 25 people on board (of the dhow), nine of them suspected pirates," spokesman Robin Middel told AFP.
They also found seven AK47 assault rifles and a rocket launcher, which were seized and destroyed.
"The other people on the dhow were Yemeni fishermen who were hijacked by the suspected pirates."
Middel said the suspects had to be freed on the instructions of a NATO squadron commander.
"There exists no legal framework in the NATO for arrests to be carried out," he explained.
