No I understand the backlash the Navy would get, and I am not saying you guys don't have any backbone either. I understand that your hands are tied by policy, and will be scrutinized regardless of the outcome. I just prefer to take a more direct approach to solving problems. We aren't negotiating with a nation here, just a bunch of thugs who will likely kill the Capt. anyways if they don't get the money. Worse yet if we give in and pay them their ransom they will just keep doing it, or if we pay them w/fake(or real money) and then kill them, next time they will just keep the hostage until they are safe, then likely kill the hostage. What we have to do is stop them from wanting to ever take another U.S. flagged ship and try ransoming the crew or cargo again, and that is done by no negotiations. You life for the hostage, or you all die. If we will not pay a ransom or negotiate other things for a hostage, there is no reason to take a U.S. flagged ship crew members or cargo hostage for ransom purposes. It is a very simple solution to the problem of Pirates as it concerns U.S. flagged ships.

We don't have to be overt about it, just claim the boat blew up unfortunately killing both the Pirates and the hostage. It might take a few of these accidental explosions for the Pirates to get the message, but eventually they would.