Quick Justice and Escalation

It's been interesting to follow the recent headlines regarding the rescue of a sailor who had been kidnapped by a small group of Somali thugs.  The Somali thieves had apparently taken Capt. Richard Phillips hostage in an attempt to extort a large sum of money from his employer.  At the time of his capture, Captain Phillips was piloting a ship carrying, at least in part, food and aid to Rwanda.

This past weekend, Navy Seals shot and killed three of the four kidnappers while capturing the fourth.  While the overwhelming response of the U.S. supports this action, I found it iteresting that so many people are circulating the warning that "it could escalate violence in this part of the world, no question about it" as U.S. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney is reported to have said.  Seems to me that it is far more likely that it will reduce violence in this part of the world.  The scriptures say, for example, that "when justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers" (Proverbs 21:15)  and that "when the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong" (Ecclesiates 8:11).  

The quick execution of justice in this case will indeed terrorize the remaining Somali pirates and will certainly lead to a reduction in their criminal violence.  I, for one, am glad that the U.S. still has the good sense to confront and destroy evil (at times) rather than tolerate the criminal conduct of evil men.  Of course there are many venues where the U.S. has opted out of executing quick justice - but that is another subject for another time...