Modern Day Pirates

That is a very scary reality. It isn't hard to imagine it, however, when you consider everything going on in the world: widespread hunger, third world countries, people who are barely surviving.

Very scary.

As a mariner this issue has really hit home with me. Especially since brothers in my union were about both the Maersk Utah and Maersk Alabama. Thank you very much guys for bringing this issue to the front. And advice to the pirates....we wont be going unarmed for much longer. We have to protect ourselves. And we will.

Fascinating story!

interseting approach, works well

Keep it up Kaj.

Another great piece, Kaj! On-the-fly journalism is tough - but you make it look so easy... thanks to all the contacts you made in order to make your trip and this video so amazing!!! awesome

Great video, very informative

this left wing garbage is really annoying, are you people blind, sooo glad they kill these 3 dirt bags, they should finish off the fourth one. then they should finish off all the rest. USA #1

This isn't terrorism FYI. We're intelligent people, lets drop the fear words yeah?

The Malaccas, originally known as the Maluccas, have been home to Pirates for the past 500 years. Europeans introduced the notion during the Spice Wars, so once again we reap what we sow.

And this being an important trade route, what have the shipping companies done to contribute to the local islands? This is an economic issue and should be treated as such.

u guys r great, thanks!

Loved this piece. Really interesting and eye opening.

it just shows there are always two sides to a story,... on one hand they cause mental & physical harm to others, on the other hand they are just trying to survive.

Thier life style might not be an admirable one, but I guess from their perspective, its a case of do or die,... Piracy can't be the only option,... its probably just what they settled for,...

That's some crazy shit. Imagine if all of the carribean country cities...Havana, Santo Domingo, Port au Prince are 1st world class cities...wow.

alot of small islands that surround singapore and they have only 100 people living in them...damm with no electricity but they are 10 miles away from the city...that's crazy.

Good stuff. Would have liked a little info about what happens with the goods. Like that oil tanker... who bought the oil back from them?

I find it very interesting that the root of a lot of piracy seems to stream from a lack of economic opportunity elsewhere in these parts of the world. Great piece!

I haven't been on here in awhile and I have wanted to see this for just as long. It did not disapoint. Some more info on who they sell the goods too or possibly another story about that would be very interesting as well.

It is well shot, but unless this 'kaj' guy is a pirate, then it's not really about pirates, is it? Seriously, if i ever see another intimate close up of this guy it will be too soon. ego-journalism.

The only interesting scene happens in london - that was interesting info...everything else was just fluff about two guys that couldn't find the story they really wanted.

Kaj - You ARE a bad-ass...awesome reporting and fantastic journalism!!!
Josh - Love the cutting, camera and production - money!

This was a really great piece! I enjoyed it thoroughly. I used to live in Indonesia... it's always good to see the people, but depressing to see the conditions they have to live in.

This story made me think though, if the pirates are hijaking multi-million dollar tankers, why do they still live in such poor conditions? It seems like the big dogs in the pirate world are taking advantage of these impoverished people, paying the people who do the dirty work just enough to get by while reaping the huge benefits, Who are these big dogs? Where do they live? How do they live?

That's what I wonder.

Great job reminding us all that modern day piracy is real... Its crazy how todays economy effects everyone even in a village with a population of 100.... We all would be a pirate if that was the only way to feed our children... Great job love this video its very informing...

Yeah a whole new animal of international terrorism!

really awesome, love it!

Not all modern pirates are bad:
http://www.neo-swashbucklers.com/
http://www.neo-swashbucklers.blogspot.com/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CommonControls/GetTimeZone.aspx?redirect=%2fNeo-Swa...

Excellent Insight Into a curious phenomenon ...now I understand the how and the why of it.

This is an excellent piece. I was nervous the whole time for the guys, even Johnny Batam looked pretty nervous there for a while. Its great to get an inside look at the pirate culture, and see that they are overall just working people trying to make a living.

Great job!

Great pod, I thoroughly enjoyed it, very insightful and beautifully put together.

brilliant and beautiful

Who would have known? This is great journalism on this subject, so perfect. I actually had a big talk about this in my AP World class, especially in the areas of indonesia.

"It cannot stop. 100%. It cannot stop."
The endless tension and anxiety shown pushes the message, "poverty breeds piracy", through loud and clear.
Excellent hard work from all involved.
A special tip of the cap for the spellbinding score.
Playing this mega-pod through a surround system was well worth it.
Thank you.

wow to actually think that piracy in open waters is still active is insane. great work Kaj and Josh. the pirates in the movie Disney created are way different then now, although you have to take in the fact that times then and now are way different...

Amazing story, I found the community of pirates fascinating. As expected, it sure isn't the life so glamorously portrayed in Disney. Amazing stories, such as this, have sparked my interest and curiosity to explore the world and find out for myself what is really going on.

Great job guys. Really enjoyed this. Nicely lensed Josh.

excellent work

This was awesome. Incredible journalism.

How would it be to have a new career, a bounty hunter of the sea pirates. There`s got to be money in it.

When I went on Semester at Sea in 2004, everyone was afraid that our cruise ship filled with 650 students was going to be hit by pirates when we were in South East Asian waters. Lucky, we didn't encounter any problems. It's so great to learn more about piracy, what kind of ships are attacked, and the economic conditions that foster this illegal activity. Great piece Kaj and Josh!

This was an incredible episode. Kaj, you're a serious effing badass.

The video was just awesome. One of the most creative.

Nice.

this was pretty awesome

This pod was well worth the wait.

All that travel... Plus everybody's on the Politico blogs

no chat this week ??