The MOST important thing to keep in mind is the FUTURE!
And it is not at all clear that, had the Captain not jumped out of the boat a 2nd time, that Obama would have EVER done anything.
You concentrate on the hostage.
The hostage is and was important, but the FUTURE is even more important.
We need some massive retaliation now.
Which is why killing three of the four terrorists dead was so important.
And it is not at all clear that, had the Captain not jumped out of the boat a 2nd time, that Obama would have EVER done anything.
It may never be clear. But my sense is, the Captain's first jump was a clear indication that another jump was forthcoming. When it happened, the good guys were ready. Obama didn't have to "do" anything. All he needed to do was allow the use of deadly force (something BJC prevented on several occasions). He did. It worked. We're better served by giving him credit when and where it's due than by reflexively attacking him at every turn, which makes us look irrational.
You concentrate on the hostage.
I concentrate on the result. The Captain is alive, the hostages are dead or in custody, and the little seafaring jihadi bastards will think twice before boarding another American ship. That's as good an ending as we could have asked for.