[galveston]

Thank God, the Seals, and HOORAY!

Since we already have lots on our plate, Obama needs to make up his mind what to do about thi pirate problem now that it has come to public attention.

Will he ignore the problem, much as Clinton did about Al Quida? That will result in more ships being taken. Not only that, but terrorist organizetions are using Somalia as training grounds. This is a war we are in.

Maybe we should cancel all that bail out and put some of the resources into winning the war.

A quick fix for shipping would be to get agreement from the nations involved and allow ships to carry armed security forces, but that would not be a complete solution.

This is a real test for Obama, and it ain't over yet.

[tomder55]

Yes I just heard the news . Captain Phillips has been rescued and 3 of the pirates are meeting their virgins.

[NeedKarma]

Yes I just heard the news . Captain Phillips has been rescued and 3 of the pirates are meeting their virgins.

Score one for Obama!

[galveston]

Score one for Obama!

Navy Seals had a lot more to do with it than Obama.

[NeedKarma]

Navy Seals had a lot more to do with it than Obama.

But Tom said it was Obama's test! Surely he was in control of the whole situation.

[jjwoodhull]

Navy Seals had a lot more to do with it than Obama.

Obama is The Commander In Chief... is he not?

[ScottGem]

Navy Seals had a lot more to do with it than Obama.

But Obama had to give the order. I doubt if anyone else made that decision.

[Wondergirl]

Navy Seals had a lot more to do with it than Obama.

From the AP --

"Navy snipers on the fantail of a destroyer cut down three Somali pirates in a lifeboat and rescued an American sea captain in a surprise nighttime assault in choppy seas Easter Sunday, ending a five-day standoff between a team of rogue gunmen and the world's most powerful military.

It was a stunning ending to an Indian Ocean odyssey that began when 53-year-old freighter Capt. Richard Phillips was taken hostage Wednesday by pirates who tried to hijack the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. The Vermont native was held on a tiny lifeboat that began drifting precariously toward Somalia's anarchic, gun-plagued shores.

The operation, personally approved by President Barack Obama, quashed fears the saga could drag on for months and marked a victory for the U.S."

From FoxNews --

"President Obama twice authorized the military to rescue a U.S. captain held by Somali pirates and whose life appeared to be at risk.

A senior administration official told FOX News that Obama granted the authority on Friday and Saturday to use appropriate force to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast. The Pentagon believed Phillips' life was at risk both times, officials said.

A senior administration official said the president's order authorized force for a group of military assets that arrived at the scene late last week. When more resources arrived, Obama added them to a roster of military personnel allowed to engage militarily with the Somali pirates."

[inthebox]

Yes, POTUS Obama allowed our military to do what they do best, and I think it is to his credit.

I'm glad that Obama did not handle this like Carter did with the Iranian hostage situation.





G&P

[tomder55]

Obama gave the order . It was the right call.

[tomder55]

Fred C. Iklé, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies writes in the Compost that the SOP of crews passive response to piracy is exactly the wrong approach to take . He writes :

Start by blaming the timorous lawyers who advise the governments attempting to cope with the pirates such as those who had been engaged in a standoff with U.S. hostage negotiators in recent days. These lawyers misinterpret the Law of the Sea Treaty and the Geneva Conventions and fail to apply the powerful international laws that exist against piracy. The right of self-defense — a principle of international law — justifies killing pirates as they try to board a ship.
Nonetheless, entire crews are unarmed on the ships that sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Shipowners pretend that they cannot trust their crews with weapons, but the facts don't add up. For one thing, in the United States most adults except felons are allowed to have guns, and the laws of many other nations also permit such ownership. Even if owners don't want everyone aboard their ships to be carrying weapons, don't they trust the senior members of their crews? Why couldn't they at least arm the captain and place two experienced and reliable police officers on board? …
Furthermore, the U.N. Security Council should prohibit all ransom payments. If the crew of an attacked ship were held hostage, the Security Council could authorize a military blockade of Somalia until the hostages were released.
Cowardice will not defeat terrorism, nor will it stop the Somali pirates. If anything, continuing to meet the pirates' demands only acts as an incentive for more piracy.

washingtonpost.com

Americans believe in the right to self defense. That attitude was on display during the boarding of the Alabama.
Merchant Marine and chief engineer "Zahid" Reza was on board and was the 1st to see the pirates boarding .

According to Times on line UK :

The crew had scrambled into a safe room once they realised the ship was being boarded.
The ship's chief engineer, A.T.M. Reza, said that he volunteered to show one of the pirates around the engine room. There he used an ice-pick to overpower the Somali, who turned out to be the gang leader.

Ironically the wound that Reza inflicted saved the pirate's life. He was being used as a negotiator while being treated for his wound on an American ship when the rescue went down.

The Alabama and it's crew would be captive today without the resistance .If the passengers of United Flight 93 had not resisted on 9-11-01 the plane would've most likely plunged into the US Capitol .

Last month it was reported that the President intended to end a program that trains pilots in the use of handguns so pilots could protect themselves and the plane from terrorist hijackers. But more recent reports say he is backing down and will let the program continue.
Gun program for pilots set for expansion, officials insist - Washington Times

[speechlesstx]

Kudos to Obama for making the call.

[ETWolverine]

First of all, I made a promise that when Obama did something I agreed with I would state my support for him.

Here goes:

Obama was correct on the decision to use military force to free American nationals from Somali pirates. He would have been right to do so even if Capt. Philips had died in the attempt, as hostages often do. ("It sucks to be a hostage" is one of the truisms of special forces hostage rescue trainers. Almost invariably, hostages die during attempts at rescue, either from the enemy's actions or by friendly fire. Hostages die.) The fact that the SEAL snipers were able to rescue the hostage is a testament to their abilities and training. But even if Philips had died, it would still have been the correct choice to make the attempt and to take down the pirates.

As Tom said, Obama deserves Kudos for this decision, and for his non-negotiation line of action.

He passed this test.

As it happens, I know that one of the regulars on this board is a former Navy SEAL. I also noticed that the person in question made a post on this string on Friday. He made another post on Saturday, but I haven't seen any other posts from him until this morning.

The rescue took place yesterday.

During which time said person was not on the board at all.

Hmmmmm...

I wonder... :)

Elliot

[galveston]

Yes, Obama did the right thing. He let those who know what they are doing deal with the problem.

If he continues this policy, he might make a president after all.

Of course, a lot hinges on that phrase "those who know what they are doing".

[speechlesstx]

Chris "I've got a thrill" Matthews felt a need to pursue the story as a matter of "luck."



What a dolt.

[ETWolverine]

Those were some darn good snipers, from what I hear. They took out all three targets simultaneously, at a distance, on moving ships that pitched in the waves.

The question that I keep hearing is why did all three of the targets look up (break cover) at the same time? I assume that the SEAL team did SOMETHING to get their attention as a distraction. Maybe they set off some fireworks, or blew a siren or something that made all three pop up for a look. Just a suspicion.

Those are some damn fine warriors.

The one thing that this was not is "luck". One sniper taking out a target might be luck. Two might be a coincidence. THREE is enemy action. And the SEALS were the enemy.

The only one lucky is Chris Mathews... lucky that he still has a job with his crappy ratings.

Elliot

[tomder55]

Luck ? it was cold blooded murder (John Murtha)

[speechlesstx]

luck ? it was cold blooded murder (John Murtha)

Now he was only speaking in his official capacity as a Congressman.

[tomder55]

Immunity works for Dem members of Congress like Murtha and cold cash Jefferson. But let a Republican President invoke it for himself and his staff and you can't stop the howling at the moon.

[tomder55]