I said "build schools and hospitals" and create some genuine jobs there - not give them weapons and support their piracy.

I think it's a matter of whether you try to fix the symptom or the underlying illness.

These are desperate people who can't see any other option. Sure, they are ruthless and dangerous. But that is their ONLY way of making a few bucks. That whole area is lawless. Apparently they share what they get from the piracy with the whole area there, and are sort of "Robin Hood" figures to the local people - so they get their protection. A bit like some of the drug lords in South America.

They are not welcome to migrate anywhere, they have NOTHING where they are - and then there are these floating pots of gold, literally passing right past their area.
They are risking their LIVES every time they try to hijack a ship. Scores of pirates have gotten killed. I think they'd rather be farmers or industrial workers if that was a possibility.

Ok then I have another idea: Instead of securing America's oil supply in the Middle East; NATO and the UN can go in and clean up that area - organise a local democratic government and all things they say they want to do in the Middle East... At least on the Horn of Africa, they couldn't make the situation any worse than it already is. Some of the people might be quite happy to see them. They could set up some basic infrastructure and try to help the people there to get started with normal agriculture or industry. And at the same time stop the pirates.

But I guess the shipping industry isn't a big enough lobbyist to make that happen.