One cannot separate the pirates of Placid from the Federation, as the two are regularly intertwined; with pirate groups payrolled by the FDU on a regular basis. Not that it ultimately does them any favors with most pirate groups running headfirst into Caldari military units and getting embarrassed so badly they fade into obscurity or leave the entire warzone with their tails between their legs.
Even so, perhaps those like yourself will be able to change this pirate and privateer payrolling policy and the civilians of the warzone might just be a bit safer, regardless of which side occupies the system.