The captain of the USS Bainbridge, a guy named CDR Castellano, offered to tow the pirates that were holding Phillips in a life-boat. Castallano wasn't a hostage, was he? And, not only did he tow them, he also offered them food & water. Surely, Castellano's trial will come before the FBI agent's, right?
"However, since this has become a legal discussion the chances of even a small amount of common sense showing up is slim."
That's right, even wars have laws, at least they do in the west.
Perhaps you'd feel better if we crowned Kings, rather than elect Presidents and legislators? Kings after all, aren't encumbered by all that legal business and stuff.
Good grief, the stupidity of some people who claim that they're conservative, is sometimes breathtaking.
You’re the one with the 25 years experience in the field of Naval Law. You pointed out a section of USC that says one thing, I pointed out another. So rather than use your vast knowledge and experience to show me how the FBI agents were not violating 18 U.S.C. § 1657 you started throwing up straw men and name calling.
You must have been a hell of a lawyer.