(CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama won a battle against Somali pirates. But does he really want to go to war?



The USS Bainbridge tows a lifeboat in which the captain of the Maersk Alabama was held hostage.



You may have seen the headlines in the last few days: a Somali pirate attack and hostage-taking ended with a precision operation by U.S. snipers and a successful rescue.



Somali pirates have been the scourge of the Horn of Africa for years. They've attacked dozens of ships and taken hundreds of hostages from several countries.



The attack on the Maersk Alabama was the first on an American ship. But when it was over, Obama made a particularly broad pledge.



"We are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region," Obama said. "We're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks. We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise."  See an interactive map of 2009 pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa »



Experts say that means addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate. Somalia is a failed state, where lawlessness is a license for every kind of criminal enterprise.



James Christodoulou of Industrial Shipping Enterprises Corporation told CNN that if the US wants to do something about piracy, it has to "go to Somalia and deal with the cause there. Whether it's with bullets or butter, the solution lies on land not at sea."



The U.S. tried once before to impose order in Somalia, with disastrous results. It led a humanitarian mission to oversee the delivery of food aid that turned into an armed operation against local warlords. More than 40 U.S. personnel were killed before U.S. forces withdrew.



That's the challenge facing the leader of every nation whose ships have fallen prey to the pirates. An international effort has been underway to patrol the troubled waters. The French navy has been particularly active. But no one has rushed onto Somali soil.



The Obama administration is already managing wars in two countries. Wait and see whether it's really willing to risk a third.
Who was rescued from the U.S. cargo ship this week? Who was rescued in the Navy operation this week? Where is the piracy? What do experts say about tackling piracy on the seas? Who rescued the hostage captain? What do experts say tackling piracy would mean? According to Obama, what is the U.S committed to? Who is the president?
the captain of the Maersk Alabama captain of the Maersk Alabama Horn of Africa means addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate. USS Bainbridge addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate. halt the rise of piracy in that region," Barack Obama
question: Who was rescued from the U.S. cargo ship this week?, answer: the captain of the Maersk Alabama | question: Who was rescued in the Navy operation this week?, answer: captain of the Maersk Alabama | question: Where is the piracy?, answer: Horn of Africa | question: What do experts say about tackling piracy on the seas?, answer: means addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate. | question: Who rescued the hostage captain?, answer: USS Bainbridge | question: What do experts say tackling piracy would mean?, answer: addressing the anarchy ashore which allows the pirates to operate. | question: According to Obama, what is the U.S committed to?, answer: halt the rise of piracy in that region," | question: Who is the president?, answer: Barack Obama