Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Obama Did Not Order the Kill That Freed Capt. Phillips
Gateway Pundit ^ | 4/12/09 | Gateway Pundit

Posted on 04/12/2009 8:19:45 PM PDT by Nachum

Sorry libs. Obama did not give the direct order to kill the Somali pirates. You'll have to wait another day for the cut-and-runner to earn his hero badge. Blackfive has the real story:

I just finished listening to the press conference w/ ADM Gortney about the rescue of Captain Phillips. At the time it happened the USS Bainbridge was towing the lifeboat to calmer waters as the sea state was deteriorating. One of the pirates was on board the Bainbridge as the talks about obtaining Phillip's release continued. The lifeboat was approx. 25 m behind the Bainbridge when snipers on the fantail observed one of the pirates in the pilot house of the lifeboat pointing an AK-47 at the back of a tied up Phillips and the other two pirates on board were visible (at least shoulders and heads). The standing authority gave them clearance to engage the pirates if the life of the captain was in imminent danger. The on scene commander deemed this to be true and gave the order to fire. All three bad guys were taken out and then a rigid inflatable boat went to the lifeboat to retrieve Phillips. It is unknown at this point whether the shooters were SEALs or Marine Scout Snipers as both would have been available.

This was not a rescue attempt ordered by National Command Authority i.e. the President. It was a reaction by the on scene commander under standard authority to safeguard the life of a hostage.

The AP is reporting that President Obama gave the order to use military force to rescue the hostage, that is misleading. They want so desperately for the community organizer to become a real hero.

More... They were pointing their weapons at the captain. Reuters reported:

"They were pointing the AK-47s at the captain," Vice Adm. William Gortney, head of the U.S. Naval Central Command, said in a Pentagon briefing from Bahrain.

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


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: bho44; gortney; kill; obama; order; phillips; pirates; snipers; somali; somalia; somaliapirates; somalipirates; usnavy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-126 next last
To: Nachum

But the u.s. press has been emphasizing he authorized TWICE the takedown. Can’t have it both ways...looks like the WACO retreads are trying to decide which is the right PR story. Pathetic. Good work u.s. military!


41 posted on 04/12/2009 9:03:20 PM PDT by spyone (ridiculum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
Pursuing this without more specifics aint gunna fly.

All the WH has to say is, Pres. Obama gave the order to take ‘em out based on opportunity.

The same opportunity Clinton had, to take out Bin-Laden and didn't\wouldn't give the order.

42 posted on 04/12/2009 9:06:55 PM PDT by stylin19a (Obama - the ethically excepted asterisk administration)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

43 posted on 04/12/2009 9:08:50 PM PDT by roses of sharon (Pray Hussein fails!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: usmcobra

No kidding. This is just another dim who is loyal to his party not to this country. Good for the USN and the Seal Teams. Take care of business where the pretend president couln’t make a decision. Same old same old. Carter, Clinton, Nobama.


44 posted on 04/12/2009 9:09:10 PM PDT by Texas resident
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

I see some hypocrisy here. Can’t torture a terrorist to save a city. But you can kill three pirates to save a sailor????

Am I missing something here?


45 posted on 04/12/2009 9:11:55 PM PDT by cruise_missile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

“The on scene commander deemed this to be true and gave the order to fire.”

Wondering which end of underneath the bus is open for this guy.


46 posted on 04/12/2009 9:17:40 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

I think it’s pretty obvious, that in a situation where things can happen in a few seconds, the clearance to use deadly force has to be obtained prior to the situation occurring. So no, they didn’t call and get permission at that split second.


47 posted on 04/12/2009 9:18:38 PM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kansas58

Someone stated it so well and used the words jackassery in describing the protocol Obami wants as he wants our military operating with it’s hands tied behind it’s back


48 posted on 04/12/2009 9:22:03 PM PDT by Blue Highway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Blue Highway
Btw, officials told that Obama “twice” approved the use of force - on Friday and Saturday...

Twice?! Are his approvals come with an expiration date of one day? Or he was just kind of lazy and did not approve it 10 times? That would show the “tough guy” he really is (after 2 Navy Captains and Navy SEALS basically saved the day on their own!)

49 posted on 04/12/2009 9:25:58 PM PDT by alecqss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
“It is unknown at this point whether the shooters were SEALs or Marine Scout Snipers as both would have been available.”

CBS 2 news in LA reported tonight that Marine snipers from Camp Pendleton were involved, for what it's worth.

50 posted on 04/12/2009 9:27:41 PM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hoosiermama

Of more interest, the Navy threw Il Douche under the bus. They made it super clear Obozo had nothing to do with the rescue. They cut him off at the knees.


51 posted on 04/12/2009 9:31:27 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: cruise_missile

“Can’t torture a terrorist to save a city. But you can kill three pirates to save a sailor????”

No fair. You can KILL a terrorist, you just can’t torture one.


52 posted on 04/12/2009 9:39:34 PM PDT by Brucifer (Proud member of the Double Secret Reloading Underground.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I bet some kind of photo with Obama looking Forceful and in charge of the military will appear ....

We can count on it. They have a LOT of work to do to keep this farce going for four full years.

53 posted on 04/12/2009 9:40:28 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (What did Obama's Teleprompter know, and when did it know it...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Arthur McGowan

No, they were WinMag’d.


54 posted on 04/12/2009 9:42:18 PM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: YoungBlackRepublican

You oughta hear Geraldo. You’d think he loved the military.


55 posted on 04/12/2009 9:45:33 PM PDT by Luke21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: roses of sharon

LOL!


56 posted on 04/12/2009 9:50:14 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Support Geert Wilders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: cruise_missile
Can’t torture a terrorist to save a city. But you can kill three pirates to save a sailor????

Nice observation...

57 posted on 04/12/2009 9:51:31 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Support Geert Wilders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

All well and good: but did they have to KILL them? The SEALS were apparently crack shots: why not shoot the pirates in the arms and legs? Muslims around the world will be angry, negating the president's outreach efforts. No good can come of this......
58 posted on 04/12/2009 9:51:58 PM PDT by Godwin1 (Cthol)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Kansas58
Obama did the bare minimum here.

Yes he voted Present. BUT ... he did do more than that dipwad Carter.

It's a beast but sometimes you have to give your enemies a little kudos for at least not being complete retards.

59 posted on 04/12/2009 9:55:50 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (01-20-2009 : The end of the PAX AMERICANA.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: roses of sharon; Mad_Tom_Rackham
Seen this?

“Cam Sham”: Obama’s Photo Op with Cheering, Camera Wielding Troops 100% Staged

60 posted on 04/12/2009 9:57:16 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Support Geert Wilders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-126 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson