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Comments

1. #101
   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:43 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

   Looks like the only reason one pirate survived is that he was on the USS Bainbridge “negotiating” at the time.

   I also just heard one of the crew members pleading for Obama to do something to protect shipping in the area.

   To my knowledge, the Maersk is one of the very few (only?) US-flagged ships plying its trade along the Somalian coastline, a stretch that is roughly the length of the US east coast. Rather than assign naval vessels to protect so few ships, wouldn’t it be cheaper to arm the merchant ships themselves?

   Also, the other pirated ships are reportedly moving away from the Maersk area and picking up speed as they do. Something is up. This is probably not over.

2. #102
   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm, publiuswarmac9999 said:

   I hate to be a party poop-er here because I am greatly relieved and please that the good captain has been rescued and that the pirates now fully comprehend the meaning of Davy Jones locker.

   However, the amount of time and resources involved was far too extensive and exhausting for such an event. This could and should have been resolved sooner and with less risk to the captain and the individuals on-aboard various US naval vessels in the immediate vicinity. The SEALs should have been given the go-ahead from the beginning when the deaths of the pirates and the rescue of the captain would have had much less media presence.

   There is something missing here, and I hope an investigation by some group other than the administration and left leaning press gets to the bottom of it. I suspect their report, if they can get access to the event facts through FOIA, will be rather critical. Of course, the Obama administration can tie things up for a long time under the banner of national security.

3. #103
   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:45 pm, reutersrutter said:

   I think Michelle loaned her spare balls to Obambi for the weekend!

4. #104
   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:48 pm, DagneyT said:

   I heard BO ordered the rescue, but sadly I am believing that he could have ordered it days ago.

   We did pray for Capt. Phillips today in church. Praise God, He hear us!

5. #105
   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm, DagneyT said:

   grr…hearD

   Note to DT, “remember ‘preview’ feature”.

6. #106
   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:55 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

   On April 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm, publiuswarmac9999 said:

   …the amount of time and resources involved was far too extensive and exhausting for such an event.

   How is this different from the many times the Coast Guard and Navy are deployed to search for a missing boat off the American coast? We stand behind our flag no matter what.

   The Navy is running up a tab no matter where they are. The incremental cost is minimal. It is their duty to defend any ship sailing under the American flag.

7. #107
   On April 12th, 2009 at 9:19 pm, tpitman said:

   Phillips ought to run for president. It’s been a long time since we’ve had someone with his grit as a leader.

   As long as they’re there, the Seals should be turned loose on Somalia, followed by the Marines. Let ‘em do what they were trained to do. And let them decide when the job is done.

8. #108
   On April 12th, 2009 at 9:51 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

   The US Special Operations “community” has plans for solving the Somalian Maritime Security Situation permanently and is only waiting for the word to “Go.” Now all we need is the National will, meaning a President with stones, to give the word.

   Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force. US Navy SEAL snipers rock! Clean out the pirates NOW! The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!

   ECS

9. #109
   On April 12th, 2009 at 9:53 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

   Would have been nice to hear those words directly from the commander-in-chief.

   He was too busy naming the dog and apologizing for America. Too bad we aren’t cleaning out that pirates nest now–our wimpieness continues–the fatheads, the lazy and the stupid might get upset if we do the right thing.

   But at least BroBama allowed the Navy to rescue the Blue Eyed Devil Honkey.

10. #110
    On April 12th, 2009 at 9:56 pm, happy2behere said:

    Wouldn’t it be nice if the MSM reported the truth, like this: “Taking credit for a military no-brainer, the White House today claims the president gave orders to shoot the pirates if the captain was in immanent danger.”

    AS IF there was any other choice.

11. #111
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:02 pm, nbarry said:

    The last time we fought pirates was in 1804, when Pres. Jefferson sent the Marines to the shores of Tripoli while the USS Constitution blasted the pirates’ lair. The Navy deserves all the accolades it gets for this operation, but the question remains whether we will take the fight to the enemy as Jefferson did.

12. #112
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:03 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    A couple of days ago, one of these pieces of trash said they weren’t afraid of the Americans. Well, are you afraid now?

13. #113
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:22 pm, corona said:

    This Fox News article seems to explain the whole scenario better than anything else I’ve seen.

14. #114
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:23 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    “Popularity is not leadership.”

    Rogue Warrior – this past week was like a return to the diplodinks that got us into trouble with Iran, Beirut and originally Somolia.

15. #115
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:30 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Admiral Gortney left with a warning that today’s outcome could lead to more violence in future hijackings, perhaps in the form of retaliation for losing three of their own.

    But, as I’ve said ten times today…

    not if they are DRT (dead right there).

    CLEAN THEM OUT…!!!

16. #116
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:51 pm, regularguy said:

    This is an obviously excessive use of force on the part of those thuggish SEAL’s. They had no need to kill the Somalis. If anything the Somalis could have been taken into custody by a United Nations peacekeeping force where an international court could have determined their possible guilt or innocence.

    Why couldn’t the United States sit down at the table of peace with the Somalis and explore all diplomatic options to ease the crisis? Why the rush to war with people only trying to better their living conditions?

17. #117
    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:52 pm, WarTip said:

    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:30 pm, Ragspierre said: Admiral Gortney left with a warning that today’s outcome could lead to more violence in future hijackings, perhaps in the form of retaliation for losing three of their own.

    Agreed. We did not ask them to attack unarmed vessels. They have brought this on all on their own without any help from us. The question is now that they have brought us into the fray, will our brave men and women be allowed to do their jobs or restrained in the interest of global implications political correctness run amok?

    If our military is allowed to deal with the problem without the interference of politicians being brought into the equation, then I have no doubt that these people will quickly decide to seek more gainful and long-term employment elsewhere. If not, there may be casualties and that is a tragedy of war no matter where it is fought. However, if someone breaks into my home specifically to do harm to me or mine, I was not asked to the fight but I will still dang sure finish it. Their situation is unfortunate to be sure but it is not our doing. Wasn’t the UN the one who vowed to make it safer and more stable there? Is that just more proof of the effectiveness of the global community?

    I would bet on the US Military more than I would on the entire combined forces of the UN any day of the week.

    They knocked on the door and now want to complain that it was answered. Then again, the cargo ships (or their companies) could use the same tactics that Jerry “The Spit” Rivers did and hire out some Israeli special forces to ride shotgun, though I daresay (again) that having an All American military presence on these ships would be just as effective.

18. #118
    On April 12th, 2009 at 11:06 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    forces of the UN

    Now that’s a big joke. What have these UN “forces” done lately?

19. #119
    On April 12th, 2009 at 11:19 pm, WarTip said:

    BlameAmericaLast said:
    forces of the UN Now that’s a big joke. What have these UN “forces” done lately?

    Well I do recall some news about brothels and oil?

    But that cannot be right can it? The Americans are the only forces that are unwanted anywhere aren’t they? And gosh, we just had some big fuss in some place called Iraq over a bunch of oil. Maybe I am missing something.

    Actual victims in Darfur were unavailable for comment and Kofi Annan was out with his son working on some kind of new venture so was unavailable as well.

    Excuse me … does my sarc tag show when I (don’t) bow?

20. #120
    On April 12th, 2009 at 11:36 pm, corona said:

    Do not read within an hour after eating.

21. #121
    On April 12th, 2009 at 11:43 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Corona, THAT was truly hurl-worthy.

22. #122
    On April 13th, 2009 at 12:25 am, MichaelO said:

    Corona, I commented on that already.

    His order involved force for imminent danger. With one negotiating and two others catching fresh air, there was no imminent danger. Had it gone badly, that same administration would have people calling for court-marshals. They had a window of opportunity and the line officers appropriately and professionally took advantage of it. But it wasn’t what Obama had in mind.

23. #123
    On April 13th, 2009 at 1:11 am, William said:

    From Post # 111

    On April 12th, 2009 at 10:02 pm, nbarry said:

    … but the question remains whether we will take the fight to the enemy as Jefferson did.

    Good question.

    I’ve got to get this off my chest …

    No!

    With Barrack Hussein Obama, the skinny legged, scrawny, weak, over sold community organizer, radical, leftist who all but despised the military before he was elected president, and now pretends to care, while cutting back on aspects of their budget, and likely cutting back on their effectiveness, and with his condemnation of our own nation before the entire world as he did last week, I expect Obama to do nothing constructive or effective, but pretend and talk.

    (Gee, thanks, Pres! With friends like you, who needs enemies? What kind of a leader are you that you condemn our own nation, and the citizens within it like, in an international summit, before the entire world like that that? You could have talked up our good points instead.)

24. #124
    On April 13th, 2009 at 1:29 am, Cristy Li said:

    On April 12th, 2009 at 8:45 pm, reutersrutter said:

    I think Michelle loaned her spare balls to Obambi for the weekend!

    I think you give him too much credit, much like the following story from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/04/12/starr.captain.faced.danger.cnn
    They themselves report that Pres. Obama gave the go-ahead to use force Friday evening. They don’t question, however, why it took so long. Certainly Capt. Phillips’ life was in “imminent danger” when he first jumped into the ocean and had the pirates shooting at him!! The way CNN is reporting how the “Commander-in-Chief” did this, and that, you’d think he was the one who took out the pirates himself.

    Yet, this could EASILY have ended differently, with the captain dead, if the pirates weren’t such bad shots. Then would the powers-that-be be so quick to link Obama’s “actions” to the events?

25. #125
    On April 13th, 2009 at 1:32 am, Cristy Li said:

    On April 12th, 2009 at 11:36 pm, corona said:

    Do not read within an hour after eating.

    corona, I just saw your post with the link. That is the type of “reporting” I was referring to!! And I forgot to include the title of the CNN video link I posted, which is, “Obama’s role in Navy Rescue.”

26. #126
    On April 13th, 2009 at 2:35 am, TomB said:

    The best possible outcome was achieved. Some may complain that it could have been achieved sooner, but I doubt any of them were present at the scene or have any experience in this sort of operation. One thing I can say, as a former destroyer crewman (2 of the 5 vessels I served on were tin cans), is that destroyers don’t carry sniper teams – those guys had to be assembled and transported in from who-knows-where and that can take time. So calm down, they guys with the guns did their jobs and I doubt Obama could have made it happen significantly faster, messiah or not. I’m glad he made the right call, give credit where it’s due.

    One thing I haven’t heard from the president is any thanks to the previous administration for leaving him a military with the skill and capacity to pull it off. Given that he’s blamed everything that hasn’t gone well so far on poor execution by the previous administration you’d think it would only be right for him to give credit where it’s due. I haven’t looked too hard though, maybe he’s said something.

27. #127
    On April 13th, 2009 at 3:36 am, Cosmo said:

    Pasadena Phil: I heard speculation over the last week that the reason merchant ships are not armed is to discourage the potential for mutiny amongst crews. I can only imagine in the current world economy that mutiny might be a tad bit more common than in the past.

    Interestingly enough, I’m aware from first-hand information that cargo airlines (ex. Evergreen) build bribes, payoffs and ransoms into their SG&A as a simple cost of doing business–especially in the more “lawless” regions of the globe.

28. #128
    On April 13th, 2009 at 5:08 am, GJCorby said:

    I tip my hat to my brothers in Navy Blue, Bravo Zulu, job well done. I know Captain Phillips appreciates your efforts as do the rest of us.
    SFC Corby
    U.S. Army

29. #129
    On April 13th, 2009 at 6:53 am, FruNobulux said:

    From the Reuters story on the rescue (my bold):
    

    So far, pirates have generally treated hostages well, sometimes roasting goat meat for them and even letting them phone loved ones. The worst violence has been the occasional beating. No hostages are known to have been killed by pirates.

    Oh, well, at least they don’t waterboard them. Sounds like they’re a pretty good bunch of guys, then.

    Isn’t Reuters’ tone a little different to that used in stories regarding Gitmo?

30. #130
    On April 13th, 2009 at 7:13 am, cabrerski said:

    A few random thoughts on this whole situation:

    No one deserves more credit in this whole scenario than Captain Phillips.

    Since the White House is basking in the glory of the outcome, you have to wonder who was set up as the fall guy if something went afoul.

    Watching the press conference was disgusting with the reporters in full “gotcha” mode. I was waiting for the following question: “Joe Blow, MSNBC News – Admiral, is it true that your Navy snipers were not fully briefed on the biographical data of each of the pirates. Why weren’t they shown pictures of the pirates’ families? Were they lectured on the amount of starvation that goes on in Somalia? And as a follow-up question, why did we use such an overwhelming and unbalanced response to the few AK-47s the pirates had? Wasn’t that less than fair?”

    Anyone care to bet if we fail to use the momentum of this victory to eradicate the piracy problem off the Horn of Africa?

    Movie after movie from Hollywood show us the disgust of Mafia-types shaking down businesses in “protection” racket schemes. So why is it acceptable for international shippers to be forced to pay the protection?

31. #131
    On April 13th, 2009 at 7:16 am, Ragspierre said:

    “Every country will be treated the way it treats us,” said Abdullahi Lami, one of the pirates holding a Greek ship anchored in the pirate den of Gaan, a central Somali town.

    “In the future, America will be the one mourning and crying,” he told The Associated Press by telephone. “We will retaliate for the killings of our men.”

    “From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them,” Habeb said. “Now they became our number one enemy,” he said of U.S. forces.

    Yeah, boy. We can count on the Somali government to “cooperate” as we try to “arrest” these guys, and to “allow” us to target their infrastructure…with what…a nasty letter from Sec. Clinton???

    Everyone one these pages needs to send a clear message to Washington…to their senators and representatives…

    CLEAN THE PIRATES OUT

    PS We should perhaps specify “Somali pirates”, so our senators and representatives don’t feel personally threatened…

32. #132
    On April 13th, 2009 at 7:32 am, et said:

    Reports say Captain Phillips jumped overboard again, and the US Navy moved in — killing three of the pirates and taking one into custody.

    ***

    The headlines are not quite right.

    They should read: “Daring Captain takes command again, second escape attempt successful; Navy captures three.”

    The headline is still not right.

    If you understand the dynamics of the situation you would understand that the captain never tried to escape. All he did was answer natures call. Thats why the Navy could afford to wait for calm seas and act when the snippers success was assured. They knew they would have multiple opportunities.

    The Captain is already a hero. There is no need for the media to elevate him to superman status.

33. #133
    On April 13th, 2009 at 8:15 am, prislamia said:

    Now we have to listen to Mike Barnacle and the MSM repeatedly say the Obama gave the OK to use force, that the left wing nut bloggers were wrong about OUR PRESIDENT! BS – he waited until FRIDAY! Until Friday to issue the order! That should have been issued on day one! Phillips’ life was in danger the minute he bravely gave himself up to save his crew and ship! The seals were in place for days – and Obama gave the order on Friday?? Now his spinners are all over the press spinning what a strong, decisive President we have! BS!

34. #134
    On April 13th, 2009 at 8:31 am, PJ said:

    Can’t help but wonder how long it will be before AG Holder and his minions depose the captain of the Bainbridge as well as the three snipers to determine just how they used ESP to conclude that the pirates were about to shoot Captain Phillips. Can’t you just hear the lawyers mock the Navy guys? And can’t you just see the indictments being handed down? With the Idiot-In-Chief in the Oval Office and with his anti-American AG in charge of “justice”, expect to see reality turned on its head.

35. #135
    On April 13th, 2009 at 8:40 am, pressto said:

    Gortney also said Washington had rejected negotiations with the pirates. “The United States government policy is to not negotiate,” he said.

    Would have been nice to hear those words directly from the commander-in-chief.

    I guess VADM Gortney didn’t get the memo that this is no longer the governments policy, because the Obama Administration sent an FBI negotiator out there to do exactly that. It was only after the pirates fired on this negotiators boat that the Administration FINALLY gave approval for military action.

36. #136
    On April 13th, 2009 at 8:40 am, cicerokid said:

    Those three won’t be dragging Americans through the streets, now will they?

37. #137
    On April 13th, 2009 at 8:46 am, jangar said:

    It was only after the pirates fired on this negotiators boat that the Administration FINALLY gave approval for military action.

    Are you kidding me? Not that I’d be surprised, quite eager to hear the whole story (if we ever get it).

38. #138
    On April 13th, 2009 at 9:43 am, Flyoverman said:

    On April 13th, 2009 at 8:40 am, cicerokid said:
    Those three won’t be dragging Americans through the streets, now will they?

    Cost of CH53E helicopter – $14,000,000

    Cost of cargo net – $750

    Cost of fuel for round trip to Somali coast – $675

    Dropping three dead pirates off at their village – Pirceless

39. #139
    On April 13th, 2009 at 9:44 am, Flyoverman said:

    ooops Priceless (need coffee)

40. #140
    On April 13th, 2009 at 9:46 am, vinny said:

    I don’t see how this lucky turn of events can be attributed to Obama’s efforts. If there is any attribute to the executive office, it should go to past presidents like Bush and Reagan who supported our troops with policy and financing. Obama want to gut our forces and spend money on his “domestic military”, what ever that really means. No, I will not give him credit for his this rescue. Is there any evidence that he actually played any part in this? Last I heard he was sending out for pizza, and looking for soldiers that voted for him for a photo rescue op.

41. #141
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:04 am, max said:

    On April 12th, 2009 at 5:02 pm, Flyoverman said:
    U.S.S Bainbridge -$163,000,000

    Knight’s SR25 Sniper Rifle – $410.00

    7.62mm matched sniper ammunition – $15.00

    Three U.S. Navy Seals with clear shoots -Priceless

    deserved reposting! (i also sent to some of my buddies…maybe i even took credit! Ok, so I pulled a “Biden”!

42. #142
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:04 am, rplatt said:

    Obama gave the most restrictive and politically acceptable approval possible when he declared that the captain’s life must be in imminent danger then left it up to the commanders on the ground to determine the meaning of that condition. Indications are that he refused to give permission for deadly force actions under lesser conditions. Obama adequately covered his butt by adding the imminent danger condition which gave him an escape if things went wrong. The real and total credit goes to both Captain Phillips, the commander on site and the Navy Seals because the were the ones shouldering the total responsibility for the action . . . you can rest assured that if something had gone wrong Obama would have thrown our military to the wolves.

43. #143
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:05 am, corona said:

    There are still discrepancies in the reporting, with a minority stating that the captain did initiate the firing by leaping from the boat.

44. #144
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:06 am, Flyoverman said:

    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:04 am, max said:

    Thanks Joe. You got my back.

45. #145
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:10 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    On April 13th, 2009 at 3:36 am, Cosmo said:

    Pasadena Phil: I heard speculation over the last week that the reason merchant ships are not armed is to discourage the potential for mutiny amongst crews.

    I’m not an expert on this but my understanding is that it is primarily a cost issue. Maybe someone here knowledgeable about international maritime laws can weigh in. Seems to me that arming merchant ships is prohibitively expensive. This is primarily a local problem that might be better dealt with by removing their bases in Somalia and that oft-mentioned mother ship.

    We also have troops and operatives on the ground in Ethiopia and Somalia who could factor into a solution.

    The main problem is as you said, shippers treat it as a cost of doing business. That guarantees that piracy will continue to be a growth industry that will only grow more greedy and violent. This is a cautionary tale for globalists who don’t believe in national sovereignty and/or American exceptionalism.

46. #146
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:14 am, nail49 said:

    Why the rush to war with people only trying to better their living conditions?

    regularguy: Did you forget the “sarc – off” at the end of your post?

    These are pirates, not peace-loving citizens of Somalia.

    A comment such as yours would be akin to wondering why the FBI shot Bonnie and Clyde because, after all, they were merely trying to improve their lot in life.

    These are pirates, taking other people’s property and putting other people’s lives at risk to include firing upon ships at sea. What they started must be stopped and stopped now!

    There is only one way to rid yourself of a cancer… you kill it!

47. #147
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:30 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    As more and more details are released, it is becoming difficult to see how this incident could have been handled any better. The objective was to end the situation without getting the hostage killed, without paying ransom and without the pirates escaping.

    Those of you who think you could have simply blasted your way out of it are fools. That only works in movies. Real life is much more difficult.

    For instance, there were no snipers on the Bainbridge when Phillips jumped/fell off the boat the first time. Even had their been, how could they be sure the guy falling off wasn’t one of the pirates? There was no apparent urgent need to rush to action.

    Then the problem of coordinating three precise shots while the shooting platform, the target platform and the targetted heads themselves were all moving. And all three heads had to be vulnerable at the same time that all three snipers were zeroed in.

    Give credit where credit is due. This was a fantastic operation all around. And because we acted like a civilized nation by establishing right before using might, we are now free to pursue the real solution, Somalian anarchy.

48. #148
    On April 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, publiuswarmac9999 said:

    To Pasadena Phil: You missed my point completely. The Navy patrols the seas no question, but the size of the Navy is substantially reduced from just a few decades ago – therefore, they cannot patrol every inch of the seas all the time. While the Navy spent 5 days surrounding a covered lifeboat, other Somali pirates apparently captured an American owned, Italian crewed tugboat. We cannot afford to surround lifeboats or even containerships and wait days to take action. This is no criticism of the SEALs or the Navy who, once given an appropriate order, took appropriate action. it is, however, a substantial criticism of the obama administration who has now been tested twice (N. Korea and Somali pirates) and has shown itself to be timid. This timidity in international affairs is dangerous in the extreme as it emboldens our enemies. Such is the world of geopolitics or, maybe better, real politics.

    By the way, the Navy now has less than 300 war and supply ships afloat and it looks like the numbers will continue to dwindle. We will have one less aircraft carrier under obama.

49. #149
    On April 13th, 2009 at 3:40 pm, Mercy4Me said:

    They better make sure that this guys was in danger, cause the Bush administration had no problems prosecuting our men and women in uniform.

50. #150
    On April 13th, 2009 at 10:22 pm, regularguy said:

    Yes, nail, that’s sarcasm. I was merely offering the left wing lunatic/ignoramus perspective.

51. #151
    On April 14th, 2009 at 4:18 pm, nail49 said:

    Yes, nail, that’s sarcasm. I was merely offering the left wing lunatic/ignoramus perspective.

    regularguy: Thanks, I just thought maybe lgm had hijacked your moniker.

52. #152
    On April 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pm, Ragspierre said:

    “We will seek out the Americans and if we capture them we will slaughter them,” said a 25-year-old pirate based in the Somali port of Harardhere who gave only his first name, Ismail.

    “We will target their ships because we know their flags. Last night, an American-flagged ship escaped us by a whisker. We have showered them with rocket-propelled grenades,” boasted Ismail, who did not take part in the attack.

    Which presents a great argument for…

    slaughtering them first

    and

    targeting their vessels.

    CLEAN THEM OUT…!!!!