Somali Pirates: Proposal to attack Somali pirate safe havens? Don't hold your breath . . .

Reported here, in what sounds very much like a contingency plan:

Defense officials said the U.S. military is considering attacks on Somali pirate bases on land and aid for the people there to help stop the hijacking of ships off Africa's coast, Bloomberg.com reported.

The plan would include helping Somalia create their own coast guard and train security forces, the officials, who requested anonymity, told Bloomberg.com.

Officials said the plan would be submitted to the Obama administration as they decide how best to tackle the increase in pirate attacks off the Somali coast.

The only way to make shipping routes safe from pirates would be to disrupt their support network on land, security analysts have said.

Any actions against the pirates, defense officials said, would require the support of the Somali people, who are usually not in favor of foreign intervention.

My advice is not to hold your breath while waiting for this plan to be approved. Lots of "ifs" in that pipeline. Not to mention the lives of 240 or so hostages on the currently held ships in those pirate ports.