Written by Dr. Jack Wheeler
Friday, 17 April 2009
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We can raise a full glass of your favorite adult beverage to all the Tea Party participants - and to the one group of Americans the Zerocrats despise above all others: our soldiers in the US military.
All of us want to raise our glass the highest this week to the Navy SEALs who popped those three Somali pirates. And I’m sure you want to hear the real story of what happened. Especially because there is a revoltingly opportunistic and cowardly side to it. Guess which side Zero is on.
Why, for example, did it take SEAL Team Six (aka DEVGRU, Navy Special Warfare Development Group, the Navy’s equivalent of Delta Force) over 36 hours to get to the scene?
Because Zero refused to authorize the SEAL deployment for those 36 hours, during which the OSC - the on scene commander, Cmdr. Frank Castellano of the USS Bainbridge - repeatedly requested them.
Once the SEALs arrived - parachuting from a C-17 into the ocean near the ship - Zero then imposed Rules of Engagement (ROE) specifying the SEALs could not do anything unless the life of the hostage, Captain Richard Phillips, was in “imminent” danger.
Thus, when Capt. Phillips attempted to escape by jumping off the lifeboat into the ocean, the SEAL snipers had all four pirates (one later surrendered) sighted in and could have taken them out then and there - but they could not fire due to Zero’s ROE restrictions.
When the SEALs approached the lifeboat in a RIB (rigid-hull inflatable boat) carrying supplies for Capt. Phillips and the pirates, the pirates fired upon them. Not only was no fire returned due to the ROE, but as the pirates were shooting at the RIB, SEAL snipers on the Bainbridge had them all dialed in. No triggers were pulled due to the ROE.
Two specific rescue plans were developed by Cmdr. Castellano and the SEAL teams. Zero personally refused to authorize them.
After the second refusal and days of dithering, Cmdr. Castellano decided he had the Operational Area and OSC authority to “solely determine risk to hostage” and did not require any further approval of the president.
Four hours later, the White House is informed that three pirates are dead and Capt. Phillips has been rescued unharmed. A WH press release is immediately issued, giving credit to the president for his “daring and decisive” behavior that resulted in such success.
Zero has absolutely no military knowledge or experience whatsoever. He demanded decisional control over the entire hostage drama to the last detail. All actions required his personal approval. He dithered like a coward while the world laughed at our warships flummoxed by four illiterate teenagers with AKs in a lifeboat.
Only when the Navy Commander decided to ignore his Pantywaist-in Chief and take action and responsibility himself, were the incredible skills of the SEALs put into play.
That Zero could cynically and opportunistically claim that his “bold” “calm” “tough” leadership was responsible should remind everyone that not a single action, not a single word of this man can be trusted. He is bereft of honesty and moral character. That’s why he’s Zero.
The HFR raises a glass full of pride and gratitude to Navy Commander Frank Castellano, the Navy SEALs for their incredible competence, and our military. Let’s hold a Tea Party in their honor.
“Only when the Navy Commander decided to ignore his Pantywaist-in Chief and take action and responsibility himself, were the incredible skills of the SEALs put into play.”
Actually, the OSC used Dear Leaders guidance. Think about it for a second, even Dear Leader couldn’t ignore the bad press that would surely follow if the captain was killed and it came out he never approved ROE allowing action on the part of the Navy. And, if the Navy acted and things went south, Dear Leader can point at the Navy and say, “hey, those guys acted irresponsibly and without my direct order, they misinterpreted the situation and acted wildly.”
By keeping his nose in the second-by-second decision-making process, he did more damage than if he just said to the Navy; “Got everything you need? Good. Call me back when it’s over.”
The Dear Leader said use of deadly force was authorized when there is “imminent” danger to the live of the captain. With pirates holding a gun to the captain the entire time, it is clear to the most casual observer that the captain life was in imminent danger-—always! Period.
So, the OSC and SEALS took Dear Leader at his word and acted.
The one’s at the scene make the call if “imminent” danger was present, not Dear Leader and his apologists and enablers, you know, the ones that don’t trust (like) the military and fault the military for acting in accordance with ROE.
The Navy acted in accordance with ROE.
Wow! Great idea to hold a Tea Party in honor of Navy Cmdr. Frank Castellano, SEALS and Captain Phillips. I will hold my glass high in appreciation of their bravery. Thanks also to Dr. Walker for the excellent account-—which our Main Stream Media will probably ignore. Many thanks Mach9 for the post. At least our military knows how to handle the situtation! Yea Cmdr. Castellan, yea SEALS, and yea Captain Phillips!!!
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 ?