Press

Kevin McCarthy Speaks on Piracy Issues, American Committee on Foreign Relations
February 15, 2011

Last evening the American Committee on Foreign Relations was pleased to have noted Homeland and National Security expert Kevin McCarthy give a presentation on the issues surrounding Somali piracy threats in the greater Indian Ocean.

In his talk Capt. McCarthy (ret.) contrasted development of aviation and maritime security operations in the post-9/11 world. Formerly an airline captain, AvSec expert and director of intelligence for the airline industry trade association, he was a key player in establishing the security protocols and information sharing so essential to securing modern transportation modes. The airline industry has an international regulatory control agency and single trade association, as opposed to the maritime industry where ships are under a myriad of different nation’s jurisdictions for various aspects of their business.

“Absent a single overarching set of regulations there is a vast sea of gray upon which operations are run, in some cases much as they have for hundreds of years.” Kevin McCarthy

He went on to examine the development of pirate operations and international response. Stating that the world’s transportation systems are the mainstay of our global economy requiring full participation of both the public and private sectors.

“It is not the Barbary Coast Pirate War of Thomas Jefferson, rather a 21st century asymmetric battlefield with non-state actors that have the ability to affect our national security interests and world economic stability.
We are locked in a maritime chess match.” Kevin McCarthy

“Private sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post-9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money, and in national security.” - 9/11 Commission Final Report