One of the things that I’ve been reading about in hostage situations, and it covers a wide range of hostage events (not just pirates in Somalia), is that it was found out that chances are greatly improved for the hostages lives, if time is taken to have someone talking and negotiating with the hostage takers even if you are going to storm them at a later time.
Apparently, this is something that the authorities have learned, over time, and so now, “patience” is the key element to these things — unless — there are clear moves to kill hostages, and then you move quickly...
So, from what I’ve read (in other situations, other than this one...), it appears that this situation was carried out in the same manner
It appears to have been a successful resolution and one done according to long-time experience and with the elements of negotiation and patience and trying to improve your odds for success.
I don’t have a problem with the core approach. I do have a problem with not allowing the SEALs to take the first opportunity they had to end it.
Yes it's called the Stockholm Syndrome, and is a basic class for anyone that works in law enforcement, corrections or the military.....I'm not sure where you are trying to go here Star...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome
I think that depends on whether the intent is to arrest the criminals and press charges or to rescue the hostages and hold funerals (Lord, we send these otherwise worthless pirate bodies to feed your undersea critters, the first and only good they will have done with their lives. Amen). In both cases, there is an advantage to getting assets in place and allowing fatigue to build, but with the second option and skilled shooters you gain less. Dead pirates are a whole lot easier to control during a rescue than living "suspects".