For Pirates, Obama's Big Stick

Investor's Business Daily ^ | 9 April 2009 | Editorial

[IBD editorial writer]

Piracy: The Obama administration is making a strong but cool-headed military response to the gang of Somali pirates now holding a U.S. captain hostage at sea. So far in this critical first test, the right message is being sent.

Imagine what it's like to be a Somali pirate. In the past two years, the "business" of ship-hijacking has been good. Pirates steal ships, and shipping companies pay to save crews. In a failed state, there are no prospects of arrest, no court dates, no prison time. Military convoys are easily avoided, leaving ships vulnerable. And the ransoms flow in — some $150 million from 150 ships in 2008.

What pirate wouldn't think of branching into a new line of business, like a U.S. ship?

[WayneS]

The Obama administration is making a strong but cool-headed military response to the gang of Somali pirates now holding a U.S. captain hostage at sea. So far in this critical first test, the right message is being sent.

For God's sake, How about a "Barf Alert" on this?

Now I've got to clean up my keyboard and go brush my teeth.

RULES, man! We've got RULES about this sort of thing!

;^)

[HiTech RedNeck]

You mean, big schtick.

Now more pirates are coming in, with hostages. Summoned by the first four pirates.

This is the look of intimidated pirates? Tell me another one.

[ßuddaßudd]

I will refrain from comment....▓

[bigbob]

And I thought it was going to be a Bawney Fwank thread...

[tx_eggman]

IBD - if this editorial is one of yours ... you must be smoking crack.

[WayneS]

Ewwwwwww.

PS - NO photos, thank you very much!

[Obadiah]

Yes, Obama seems to be handling this appropriately, but the editorial writer purpose here seems to be solely to through bouquets of worship at Obama’s feet.

[bgill]

You mean, big schtick.

Beat me to it.

[IBD editorial writer]

What are they going to do with giant ships there? I think those ships are acting as a dirt magnet, suctioning them into one place like a garbage disposal. They will be rounded up.

[ScaniaBoy]

Humor? Sarcasm?

[HiTech RedNeck]

“Appropriately”?

If this was McCain, we would be serving the Somalis minced pirate pie.

[Tallguy]

This isn’t a bunch of misguided Somali yoots with a few Kalashnikov’s and a Zodiac. This ship was siezed over 300 miles offshore. That’s deep ocean. This is a highly-organized business and therefore vulnerable to disruption by the US military. All that Obama needs to do is grow a pair & give the order.

[Mr Rogers]

“It’s not force first, but the threat of force, with the saving of life paramount.”

Only for a weak nation.

[Veto!]

Big schtick indeed. Looks like Ibn al’0bama wants his own version of Black Hawk Down so he can rival BJClinton’s accomplishments.

[HiTech RedNeck]

No sir, it has been turned from a US incident into a multinational incident. The pirates have just exchanged a dog pack on their heels for a herd of cats.

[mosaicwolf]

What an amazing spin to this story now that BHO is at the White House. Incredible!

"Unlike other victims, unarmed crews that were easily overtaken, the highly trained 21-man U.S. crew unexpectedly fought back."

Highly trained? Fought back? Give me a break. Don't get me wrong, I admire anyone that fights back with what is available but if I were in charge my crew would be highly trained, prepared, and equipped with fire arms not a fire hose.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Maybe he’ll give them entrance, amnesty, and free college.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Where's the Barf Alert?

If this is a success, they'll think hard about messing with the U.S. before they do it again.

Big "If".

"we are working to do what we can,"
And yet, their one hostage is still...a hostage.

This article amounts to nothing more than a literary oral gratification of 0bama.

Most obvious in this is Obama's leadership, today's version of speaking softly and carrying a big stick,

If 0bama has such a big stick, the UDT or SEALS would have had this hostage freed and all pirates dead by now. I have no doubt that 0bama has strict orders in place protecting the lives of the pirates. Far from being the yough guy, this drama plays on and 0bama looks like nothing more than a hand-wringing namby-pamby.

[Matchett-PI]

Exurban League: Obama Reaches Out to 'Moderate' Pirate Community

"Since the pirates are still holding the captain, I have sent FBI negotiators to facilitate his safe and speedy release. I assure his friends and family that I will not stop until this man-made disaster is resolved in a peaceful, tolerant and ecologically-sound manner.... For too long, America has been too dismissive of the proud culture and invaluable contributions of the Pirate Community. Whether it is their pioneering work with prosthetics, husbandry of tropical birds or fanciful fashion sense, America owes a deep debt to Pirates." -- The full text of Obama statement can be found at that outpost of sanity deep in our southwestern wastes ..."

Continued HERE