Yemen is the source of a significant number of weapons in circulation in Somalia. While million-dollar piracy ransoms are raising cash for arms, private interests in Yemen have no interest in ending piracy or bringing a halt to the war in Somalia, says the Chatham House report.

Maybe this is just a coincidence, but pirates operating in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa, are suddenly becoming very active. One might even say far too active. To hijack a ship or two, or even a handful is one thing, but this is becoming a craze.

The International Maritime Bureau reports that more than 90 vessels have been attacked since January. Of those, more than one-third - 38 vessels - were hijacked. Meanwhile about 250 crew members are still detained by the pirates, who hold them hostage.

Or is there something more to this than piracy? Could it be that terrorist networks are somehow related to Osama bin Laden's terror operations? The "pirates" must receive training, finances and logistics support from somewhere…. Of course the more the world gives in to their demands, the stronger they will become. The more the world gives in to their demands, the more sophisticated they will become, and the more the world gives in to their demands, the more weapons and faster boats these pirates are likely to acquire.

The latest victim of this new-age piracy is a Saudi super-tanker, carrying $100 million of oil, prompting the Saudi Arabian foreign minister to call piracy a growing "disease."

Few ships are now safe in the Indian Ocean seems to be the conclusion of many security specialists.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal slammed the attack. "Obviously this is a very dangerous thing ... Piracy, like terrorism, is a disease."

Admiral Michael Mullen, head of the U.S. military and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was "stunned" by the reach of the Somali pirates.

"They're very well armed. Tactically, they are very good," he said.

It is time for the world to react strongly to this new disease and face it in a serious manner. NATO should take the lead in this new war and form a joint task force with all countries who care to participate, including the Chinese, the Russians and yes, even the Iranians. The combined navies of this new task force should then undertake a series of tactical raids on the havens where these pirates seek refuge, using all the might at their disposal.

This is not a problem that is likely to go away if the rest of the world hides their heads in the sand. Rather, it will only become more dangerous and the piracy will likely spread, like a cancer. Fight it now while the problem is relatively still in its infancy.