.......saying that he wasn’t on the phone dictating specific orders just that he had given general orders......
The order allowed action at the commander’s discretion if the hostage was in imminent danger. This was considerable leeway. It would appear that the CIC said bring about a peaceful release but if there is imminent danger kill the pirates.
Obama did the right thing....he let the military do the job.
Note also, as suggested by Bert, the lifeboat was under tow.
Obama twice approved force to rescue hostage
By JENNIFER LOVEN and PHILIP ELLIOTT – 14 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama twice authorized the military to rescue a U.S. captain held by Somali pirates and whose life appeared to be at risk, administration official said hours after Sunday’s rescue.
The Defense Department twice asked Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast, most recently late Friday evening. On Saturday morning, Obama signed off on the Pentagon’s request, as he had a day earlier, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations......