Learning More About Somali Pirates

Author Jay Bahadur spent considerable time with Somali pirates, former hostages and their jailors.

Daring raid on Somali pirates

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South Korean special forces launched a dawn raid today in the Arabian Sea on a freighter captured by pirates. In a matter of hours, they had rescued 21 hostages, killed 8 pirates ad captured five more. Anchor Marco Werman finds out more about the daring rescue from James Holmes, a professor of strategy at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Download MP3

Eight Somali pirates killed as South Korea rescues freighter crew

Wikileaks on Somali pirate haul

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The latest trove of Wikileak dispatches sheds new light on an arms shipment that came to light when Somali pirates captured a Ukrainian freigher back in 2008. Anchor Lisa Mullins finds out more from the New York Times’ Jeffery Gettlemen. Download MP3

An unlikely hero

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It has been two weeks since a British couple was released by Somali pirates after being held hostage for more than a year. But only now are we learning about the role of a Somali refugee played in the securing the couple’s freedom. The World’s Laura Lynch has more. Download MP3 (Photo: 1st Class Edward L. Pruitt, US Navy)

Pirates release British couple

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British citizens Paul and Rachel Chandler were released Sunday after being held 388 days by Somali pirates. The BBC’s Will Ross reports about the couple’s ordeal and the circumstances of the release. Download MP3 (Photo: US Navy)

Pirate Parties Go Global

The Pirate Party began in Sweden. Its political goals are to reform copyright and patent laws, and to campaign for citizen privacy, both online and in the real world. Now, the movement’s gone global. Cyrus Farivar reports. >>>Listen to the story

A view from Somalia on the pirates (4:30)

Yesterday’s dramatic rescue of cargo ship captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates is making headlines around the world — including in Somalia. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the BBC’s Mohammed Olad Hassan, who’s covering the story from Mogadishu. download

US policy options for Somalia (4:00)

President Obama made his first public remarks about the rescue of cargo ship captain Richard Phillips from pirates this weekend. But the president was quiet on the subject of broader US policy toward Somalia. The World’s Jeb Sharp has more. download