Will the recruits training for Somalia’s new navy — its first in decades — prove capable against threats such as piracy? Considering that Mogadishu is also beseeching neighboring states to send more troops to assist in its struggle against rebel forces, I wonder.

The U.S. Navy’s sudden rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips from pirates this week ended an ugly episode of what has become a familiar drama. Sadly, the problem is occurring not only off the coast of Somalia but around the world. From Africa to the Middle East to Latin America to the Asia-Pacific region, pirates have [...]