Posted on 04/19/2009 8:50:32 AM PDT by NorwegianViking
WASHINGTON While Barack Obama is basking in praise for his "decisive" handling of the Somali pirate attack on a merchant ship in the India Ocean, reliable military sources close to the scene are painting a much different picture of the incident accusing the president of employing restrictive rules of engagement that actually hampered the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips and extended the drama at sea for days. Multiple opportunities to free the captain of the Maersk Alabama from three young pirates were missed, these sources say all because a Navy SEAL team was not immediately ordered to the scene and then forced to operate under strict, non-lethal rules of engagement. They say the response duty office at the Pentagon was initially unwilling to grant an order to use lethal force to rescue Phillips. They also report the White House refused to authorize deployment of a Navy SEAL team to the location for 36 hours, despite the recommendation of the on-scene commander. The White House also turned down two rescue plans offered up by the Seal commander on the scene and the captain of the USS Bainbridge. The SEAL team operated under rules of engagement that required them to do nothing unless the hostage's life was in "imminent' danger... Hours later, frustrated by the missed opportunities to resolve the standoff, the commander of the Bainbridge and the captain of the Navy SEAL team determined they had operational authority to evaluate the risk to the hostage, and took out the pirates at the first opportunity finally freeing Phillips.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
..he pulled a Sandy Berger.
I’m a retired US Army officer and my son spent 6 years in the Navy—approximately half of that aboard ship.
Soldiers and sailors, of course, are trained in handling and firing small arms. But that training does not make them truly skilled shooters. It is always possible that, by luck of the draw, someone might be assigned to a unit who is a target shooter or hunter. He or she could have the requisite skills to make difficult shots—especially in a hostage situation at sea when vessels are bobbing about in the water.
As to your core question—the US, along with the rest of the world, has chosen to ignore piracy for many years. We are told that unless you fix the economic and political problems in the countries they come from there really is not much that can be done. This is sheer poppery.
In the old days captured pirates were summarily hung. It seems today’s politicians do not have the stomach for that. If I were the US president I would order the military to shoot pirates on site and destroy their vessels. And I would put two “sea” marshalls on every US flagged vessel that must cruise in waters where pirates are active. Similar to the sky marshall program.
In addition, I would destroy any port from which they operated. It is clear that all governments are impedent these days. This is why pirates and pipsqueek countries like Iran, N. Korea and Venezuala are able to jerk the world around as they do.
“Surely, something of this nature was suspected. Phillips thanked a whole lot of folks for his rescue but never once mentioned POTUS”
I noticed that, too! Never did TOTUS come up.
I doubted not that Capt. Phillips’ rescue was the sole providence of the commander of the Bainbridge and the SEAL team - that The One had little to do with his rescue - just reinforces my opinion of the TOTUS.
It seems to me that the original mission was ill-defined and possibly compromised from the beginning.
More political show, than real action.
We are in for a long 4 years and the whole time our servicemen and women will be at heightened risk of injury or worse.
this needs to be got out and obviously the media will never do it s it puts their messiah in a bad light so it is up to us to get the message out by telling friends, family, neighbors, work associates etc.
Even if the conversation is not about this subject one could always turn the attention to this or if standing in line etc make sure the person in front or behind can hear you say this
Many a time I have done this and I am surprised to find that most actually agree or turn around and say OMG that is terrible .
Therefore hopefully they go on and say this to others and then the word spreads without the obama loving media
This was a small-scale incident.
What if something at a larger scale occurs ?
What if the Command takes responsibility and initiates action ?
Who is really in charge?
Who will the public back, the military who went beyond his orders, or the "CIC", and what if it comes to a court martial ?
True.
Well—May’s approaching. I’ll take any seven days.
Bump!
“this information coming out now will affect the careers of these fine Naval Officers. Ozer will seek retribution for their lack of loyalty...”
He’ll try, but they’ll have a lot of allies. A whole lot.
Hope you’re right. The Skipper of the Bainbridge has my lifelong respect and admiration!
As reliable as "some".
I just received this from a SEAL, who himself is passing it along. I have no idea of how true this is, if its over inflated, or what. It could be totally bogus. I sincerely hope it is.
XXXXX
Immediately after the four, not three, shots were fired, orders were sent to Bainbridge to "Preserve the crime scene". They made Anderson jump into the sea and be picked up by IRRB (rubber boat). The life boat was sealed and hoisted on board "as is" and blocked up on deck to wait for FBI. Seems that the shooting was not authorized, Obama actually ordered "peaceful solution", so prosecution for murder and more was initially under way. Obama bragged about the success so that may be off for now."
God help us, I pray it's not true..but with Obama in charge, who the hell knows. And just so you all know, this isn't the first time I heard this whisper.
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