Don’t picture your usual rubber tube life raft. This boat holds a 10 day supply of food for 34 PEOPLE. It is covered.
And, “if” the pirates are “firing” they also have to count how many bullets they get to keep in their chambers.
Let alone that the FBI understands that hostage negotiations, by definition, need to take a long time. To the pirates? This is an eternity. They’ve also got their eyes peeled for a rescue vessel. And, on has not appeared.
That means during daylight hours they get to look at the horizon.
And, if you think the Bainbridge sent out a “rescue boat” that makes enough noise; or that could be seen during daylight hours, you don’t know a thing about Navy Seals. Or, for that matter, how long Seals can “stay under water.” Out of sight.
Navy seals borded the Maersk Alabama! Yes, they did! Captain Phillips had “anti-terror training.” He told his crew (ORDERED THEM!) into a room where they could lock the door!
And, all you know, now, is that “somehow” US NAVY SEALS got to be on board. Rescuing the crew. And, putting the M-Alabama back under sail. Where she has already arrived in port with her humanitarian aid.
While there are thousands of American sailors near the life boat, out on the Indian Ocean. No ransom has been paid. And, I bet, none has been offered.
Because it’s a hostage crisis, you need enough time to pass for the pirates to get very sleepy. During the first few days? All they get is grumpy.
What do they do to pass the time of day?
At what point would they realize there’s “no rescue ship?” Let alone a DECOY!
Hello. America isn’t without options, here! While all Obama has done was go into the mode of RADIO SILENCE. Why? Because MEN are working to solve this one. Without a loss in life. And, without a ransom payment, either.
Go ahead, think of the pirates, now without a good night’s sleep. While all the sailors out at sea have provisions provided by our very worthy navy.
Yes, I’m betting on American competence! Nothing less.
This is my hoped for outcome too, very well expressed. The only downside of course is that Obama will claim credit.
There you go talking sense. If this was anything, it was a probing mission not a rescue mission.
Great post. You are a voice of reason and sanity. Thanks!
You are full of “HOPE” it appears.
Obama has ordered that competence will not be allowed!
Great points.
Something is very strange here!
The lifeboat run our of fuel, hello!!
It does not make sense to me that the fuel tank in the lifeboat from Maersk Alabama was not topped up. Maybe the captain "fooled" with fuel supply to the engine!!!
Very informative.
Thank you.
Well said, sir. I think your bet is a good one provided Obama delegates enough authority to the people on site with full situational awareness. One the other hand considering the current CIC’s score of ego and incompetence Im concerned the military cant act without his final ok. Those few minutes or seconds can make the difference between Capt. Phillips coming out alive or dead.
“”All they get is grumpy””
They obviously chew that weed (Khat?) that Somalis chew so they are going to run out of that shortly. Probably what their buddies will be taking out to them from shore.
And if the MEN get the job done, Obama will crawl out from under the bed he's been hiding under and take all the credit.
“Because it’s a hostage crisis, you need enough time to pass for the pirates to get very sleepy.”
But Democrats view sleep deprivation as torture. Remember, Democrats will only use force against their own citizens (Waco, Elian Gonzalez), but they coverup (OKC, TWA 800) and investigate without end (1993 WTC, Cole, African embassies, etc etc) acts by terrorists.
Well and good. But what if Obama isn't an American?
While that’s all nice and good, it’s not going to affect the next boatloads of pirates.
I hate to call you delusional, but you are. American competence isn't in question here, it is Bozo incompetence that is the problem. He is silent because he has nothing to say, because he really wants the pirates to win and get away.
He evidently has given orders to do nothing, meanwhile the latest word on the life boat is that it is NOT out of fuel after all and they are making their way to shore, now being about 20 miles from landing. That has been posted twice on FR now, so you might want to find those posts and read them.
While I would love to think we have a real CIC in charge we don't. The proof of that is the fact he sent in the FBI and is talking about trying these pirates in court, which will never happen because they will never be captured.
Once they get the Captain ashore any hopes of getting him back are shot.
As for playing the waiting game, tell that to the French who have rescued their people, even though suffering one loss, and they killed the Pirate scum. I would bet any French ships will be pretty safe from now on, not so with US vessels.
I think your entire post is plausible, except I’m having a hard time believing the part about Zero keeping silent for strategic reasons. And while I think silence by the POTUS would in fact be an excellent and correct strategy (don’t give these terrorists ANY media play), I just don’t believe our current administration is that savvy.
But if they are keeping the Prez silent on the topic on purpose, then I guess I will give them kudos. Because I think the correct way to handle this is as silently as possible while it is ongoing, then a simple press statement afterwards... “And in other news this weekend, The Unit recovered an American crewmember who had become separated from his vessel while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Kenya. The crewmember is in good health and will rejoin his vessel in Kenya.” ;-)