World must make seas safe from piracy scourge

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s approach to the standoff involving the pirates holding US Captain Richard Phillips hostage off the coast of Somalia was right on the mark and in the end, he was rescued by US Navy Seals.

Previous administrations and the do-nothing UN have known about piracy on the high seas for many years but chose to ignore it.

Whatever the outcome of this incident, the US and UN must address this serious situation head on.