Outlaws of the Ocean: The Complete Book of Contemporary Crime on the High Seas

by Mueller G O W, Freda Adler, Gerhard O. W. Mueller

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688041701
• ISBN13: 9780688041700
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Hearst Books
• Length: 362 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Educational and entertaining...

Ph.D.s Mueller and Adler have achieved in Outlaws of the Ocean: The Complete Book of Contemporary Crime on the High Seas both an educational and entertaining work on what is probably the most pressing area for current U.S. security. The oceans are today more of an enigma than barriers against foreign aggression. Students of maritime intelligence have to ask why it is that we know so little, and are so unprepared to defend against threats over what covers three quarters of the earth's surface. The authors state "For reasons beyond our comprehension... Criminologists have neglected the criminality of that far greater portion of the world called oceans!" P. 18. The need to study the intricacies of the oceanic realm in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration amongst other national security threats are addressed in Outlaws of the Ocean. This work, which offers analysis of real life case studies, centers on research based on empirical evidence, and the deep personal maritime experience of the authors. Although published in 1985, it is still worth reading today by those preparing for a career in maritime intelligence. The authors make a number of cogent and prophetic statements that are relevant to U.S. homeland defense. "As a practical matter, most acts of sea borne terrorism are international in nature, not just because of the internationality of the high seas and the commerce they carry, but also because terrorism is, for the most part, an organizational crime, and most of the terrorist organizations are international in character, through membership, financial and other support objectives, or affiliation." Pp. 159-160. As any good scholar would, the authors provide solutions along with the identified problems. "There are two types of solutions: national and international...Students of maritime terrorism tell us that today's maritime terrorism is more likely to strike ships at port...Obviously, vigilance must be adjusted to vulnerability, and it is equally obvious that vigilance must be cost-beneficial. If the maritime life of the nation were to be geared wholly toward security, stagnation of commerce would result. One must take calculated risks." P. 176. The authors also make use of appropiately placed nautical verse and prose making the reading entertaining.