What Can an Oklahoma Teenager Teach European Officials Overseeing the Global Trading System?

Does the story of that Oklahoma mother have lessons for high-powered international policymakers? Um, yeah. (note: likely sub. needed).

The foreign affairs select committee applauded Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent u-turn on the use of armed security teams on board UK-flagged vessels, but said guidelines on the legal use of force “lack critical detail”.

"The government's guidance on the use of force, particularly lethal force, is very limited and there is little to help a ship's master make a judgement on where force can be used,” committee chairman, Conservative MP Richard Ottaway, said.

"The question anyone would ask is that if a private armed guard on board a UK-flagged vessel sees an armed skiff approaching at high speed, can the guard open fire?

“The government must provide clearer direction on what is permissible and what is not."

How about "When malicious intent is reasonably established and further delay poses mortal risk to oneself, go ahead and shoot." Pretty simple. An 18-year old gal from Okie knows that. Do European policymakers???

And here is a shocker: "Pirates have yet to successfully hijack a vessel carrying armed guards."

Note: all my coverage of piracy is here.