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I think Obama should have flown out to a U.S. ship patrolling in the area for pirates, made an appearence on deck and proclaimed "mission accomplished".
I think Obama should have flown out to a U.S. ship patrolling in the area for pirates, made an appearence on deck and proclaimed "mission accomplished".
LOL, can you just imagine the right wingers reaction if he would've done that???? Especially since 4 more ships in the last 2 days have since been hijacked.
After Obama gave the go-ahead to have the Somali pirates killed to save Captain Phillips, I've seen no bashing by his opponents - those who said he had too little experience or was too weak to handle the job. I'd like to hear now from those who said this and what they think of what he did. Please don't bring up all the other things we've heard 1,000 times before i.e. socialism, taxes, etc. etc. which would be the expected tiresome typical response. See if you can stay on topic.
If it were Bush, the left-wing might cry that Bush just ordered the summary execution of three men (suspected pirates) who were never allowed their day in court. Bush never spoke to these men to address their grievances with our nation, in a cowardly fashion, he just gave the order to murder these men.
But we are not left-wing loons, and we understand that 0bama appears to have done the right thing.
I think Obama should have flown out to a U.S. ship patrolling in the area for pirates, made an appearence on deck and proclaimed "mission accomplished".
Did the navy accomplish their mission? Yes they did, so besides wasting a lot of airplane and helicopter fuel, what would be wrong in 0bama congratulating the men on accomplishing their mission?
Actually, I think it was handled pretty poorly. My understanding it that the order was to take the shots when the Captian's life was in "imminent danger", this order was issued several days after the Captian was kidnapped. Soulds like a good way to word the order to appease the do-gooders on the left. IMO the proper order would have been issued immediatly after they took to the lifeboat, with the order being to kill the pirates as soon as the SEAL team gets a clear shot and doesn't endanger the Captian. By delaying, they increased the risk and opportunity for the pirates to kill him.
First off, how do you know when the first opportunity for "good shots" arrived?
Were you there?
Do you have any training in hostage negoiations?
Do you understand the value of waiting until the hostage-takers are tired after being stuck on a small boat for several days?
Do you understand the value of managing to reduce by 25% the number of pirates capable of killing the hostage - the value of taking action when one of those pirates is NOT on the lifeboat, but rather is on the US warship in a position to be taken captive (and more to the point NOT in a position to kill the hostage)?
Do you understand the value of having the lifeboat tethered to the US warship - having it been towed into calmer water where the lifeboat isn't bobbing so much - the value of have the lifeboat secretly hauled in a little closer so the Marines can get a better shot?
Sounds to me like the Marines manipulated the situation to their best advantage then struck when the conditions were right (number of pirates diminished, boat hauled in close).
I actually think it's a little sad that the military has to get permission to do the obvious but by not getting in the way, Obama did good. I know the "getting permission" part is not just an Obama thing but had to be done with past Presidents, too. The Iran hostage thing under Carter comes to mind. You know, if it would have gone badly, though, Obama would have had an out.
Now that remaining pirate, I'm sure he'll get some stimulus money and an ACLU lawyer and of course he'll get off because CSI: Mogadishu won't have preserved the crime scene or because he had poor schooling, was a lonely poor child and was subject to peer pressure.
After Obama gave the go-ahead to have the Somali pirates killed to save Captain Phillips, I've seen no bashing by his opponents - those who said he had too little experience or was too weak to handle the job. I'd like to hear now from those who said this and what they think of what he did. Please don't bring up all the other things we've heard 1,000 times before i.e. socialism, taxes, etc. etc. which would be the expected tiresome typical response. See if you can stay on topic.
My goodness....it's such a non issue. It was 4 men in a rowboat. My 10 year old nephew could handle it. The fact it took Obama so long to handle it made him look weak. Any president would simply be expected to handle something so simple....kind of like breathing. Obama accomplished nothing.
Obama honestly can't do anything short of what the prez in Independence Day did, basically go in himself guns blazing, in order to garner respect from the right.
Congratulations, Gupstate, you get the booby prize.
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