Unrep

Unrep

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Somali pirate fighter Top Cat - dubious reputation?

According to Strategy Page:
Top Cat Marine, the company the Somali government has hired to clean out the pirates along the coast, turned out to have a buccaneering background itself, including shady deals, bankruptcy, former South African mercenaries and other interesting touches. But the company has, on occasion, delivered. Whether it will here, and whether the Somali government can pay for the services, remains to be seen.
Kathryn Cramer has been all over what she alleges is Top Cat's background. See here for her initial look at Top Cat. And here for her report that the Department of State has issued a "cease and desist" order to Top Cat.
My initial reaction to her report was that it was interesting, but not necessarily relevant because my assumption has been that Top Cat's deal must have had some sort of approval before it was announced to the world, regardless of how Top Cat's business past looked (hey, if filing for bankruptcy makes you a crook, Donald Trump and a few airlines are in trouble). As is the case with all assumptions, I may have been way wrong.

For background, you might want to read this and the comments thereto.

If I learn more, I'll post it.

UPDATE: More on the "cease and desist" by Mountain Runner.

No comments:

Post a Comment