14 December 2008: Gulf Daily News
A LACK of intelligence gathering is hampering efforts to combat the increasing problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia, a top US official warned yesterday.
Secretary of Defence Robert Gates said only by gathering more information about those responsible for the wave of attacks and hijackings of vessels would coalition forces be able to bring the situation under control.
"The need for increasing maritime security has been highlighted by the recent high-profile acts of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden," he told delegates attending the second day of the Manama Dialogue security conference.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Joseph Burns on the sidelines of the forum yesterday and reviewed the progress of bilateral relations at all levels.
They affirmed the importance of overcoming crises through dialogue. The Premier stressed the importance of dialogues and forums in achieving security and stability in the world.
Mr Gates, in his speech, dwelled on the global effects of terrorism. He said: "As with terrorism, piracy is a problem that has serious international implications and should be of particular concern to any country that depends on the sea for commerce.
"I have read that there are two or three families or clans in Somalia that account for a substantial amount of this piracy.
"With the level of information we have now, we are not in a position to do that kind of attack on a land-based source of piracy.
"If we can identify who those clans are then we can potentially target them under the auspices of the United Nations and do so in a way that minimises hurting innocent people."
Mr Gates said vessels could also better protect themselves by taking simple passive defensive measures such as speeding up if pirates try to board their ship and pulling up their ladders to deny them access.
"Given the vast coastal areas of Somalia and Kenya - more than a million square miles - there are limits to patrolling alone," he said.
"Members of the international community must work together to aggressively pursue and deter piracy.
"Companies and ships must be more vigilant about staying in recommended traffic corridors and should consider increasing their security personnel and non-lethal defence capabilities."
He made the comments on the second day of the conference, which is being attended by prime ministers, national security advisers, intelligence chiefs and military officials from around the world.
Delegations from 25 countries are attending the event, which concludes at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa today.
It has been organised by the UK-based think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) as a forum where delegates in regional security can meet to discuss key issues.
Mr Gates warned that US adversaries would be "sorely mistaken" to test Barack Obama's resolve in the Gulf as Iran shunned a regional security conference.
"Anyone who thought that the upcoming months might present opportunities to 'test' the new administration would be sorely mistaken," he said.
"The president-elect and his team, myself included, will be ready to defend the interests of the US, and our friends and allies, the moment he takes office on January 20," he said.
"I bring from President-elect Obama a message of continuity and commitment to our friends and partners in the region," he said.
He signalled that he remains concerned about Iraq's long-term stability and Iran's attempts to influence the government in Baghdad.
Mr Gates said a new agreement governing the US military presence in Iraq through the end of 2011 marks "the dawn of a new era in Iraq - where a sovereign, independent and representative government has finally taken root".
Whether Iraq plays a constructive role in the region depends in part on whether Arab states act to support its government, treating it as an equal and inviting it to take part in regional economic and political forums, Gates said.
Speaking during the first plenary session, Mr Gates criticised Iran for "meddling" in Iraq and undermining peace and stability.
"It is clear that Iran has this year tested long-range missiles that could hit any country in the Middle East," he said.
"At the same time Iran has continued with its nuclear programme that is almost assuredly geared towards developing nuclear weapons.
"The last thing this region or the world needs is a nuclear arms race in the Middle East."
Mr Gates also called for more European Union involvement in Afghanistan to help train its police and security forces and offer financial assistance to build up medical, education and road infrastructure.
However, Britain's Defence Secretary John Hutton said the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan don't pose a strategic threat to the
government in Kabul and international forces deployed in the country.
He said the only tactic of the Taliban and Al Qaeda is to "outlast us" in Afghanistan.
Given the "risk and danger" Afghanistan would pose if those forces were to gain control, "we better make it our business" they don't succeed, Mr Hutton said yesterday.
There's a need for more security in Afghanistan, he added, but said there were no plans yet to increase Britain's troop level from the current 8,400.
Mr Hutton was speaking on the sidelines of the conference.
