Sunday, April 26, 2009
As one who was privileged and honored to train and hang out with the greatest warriors the world has ever known, it comes as no surprise that mighty U.S. Navy SEALS came through in the recent pirating of a U.S. Merchant Marine ship.
The best of the best saved the kidnapped captain, killed three bad guys and captured a fourth.
Those of us who cherish justice and good over evil salute the heroes of the American special ops and a commander in chief who gave the green light to do the right thing. God bless the warriors
But if common sense and logic were observed, this life-threatening damage control would not be necessary.
Ah, the adventurous captain’s dream sailing the vast oceans of the world.
I’ve got this big, hypothetical old scow, sailing from port to port, loaded up with goods to deliver to buyers. I’ve been doing it for time immemorial. Captain Nuge, reporting for duty. The last Boy Scout lives.
A hypothetical voyage
My ship is sturdy and well maintained.
My crew is the best — tough, rugged, jacks of all trades.
As for me, as captain of my hypothetical ship, it is my duty to study conditions in all the geographical zones, and keep in constant touch with my government agencies so that I can avoid dangerous conditions, whether they be weather or otherwise.
For example, self defense being the most basic of human instincts, no individual, much less a ship cruising international waters in these uncertain times, would ever accept the irresponsible condition of unarmed helplessness.
So, as captain, I take steps to adequately protect myself, my crew, my cargo.
As other countries insanely emboldened pirates by paying their ransoms, we’ve all known it would just be a matter of time before these punk gangs would attack a ship sailing under the American flag.
We know that. Bring it.
Each man under my command has his own M16 and 2,000 rounds of ammo. Every third sailor is also equipped with a standard M37 grenade launcher attached to his M16 with a gross of grenades. And these boys are all0American Sgt. York sniper marksmen, I assure you. We are not all Navy SEALs, but we try.
We have diligently trained to keep a 10-man rotating 24-hour red alert watch detail. Any vessel approaching within 1,000 yards will trigger an “all hands on deck” alarm and the firing of one 20-round burst. Then if it does not turn back, our ship will literally blow it out of the water.
Just as God gave us the individual right to bear arms to protect one’s self, so my ship is protected. A flag flies under our American flag with a coiled yellow snake and the words, ”Don’t tread and me.” Not only is it a cool phrase, we actually mean it.
I cannot fathom the soulless mind-set of choosing unarmed helplessness. It goes against the very pulse of mankind.
This is my life, this is my ship, this cargo is in my care. Helplessness invites and promotes evil to do as evil does. On my ship of life, just the opposite message resonates:
Keep your little terrorist dinghy at home, boys, or I will turn you into shark food. Bon voyage.
Ted Nugent is a Waco-based musician and television show host. Contact him directly at tednugent.com.
