What, no polls to help the decision process????
What did his teleprompter tell him to do?
Actually, I think that's basically what happened here. People were getting restless wondering why the hell the world's superpower with a lethal warship on scene couldn't deal with four amateur pirates on a dinghy. Throw into the mix a scenario where the pirates get pissed at FBI delay hostage negotiation tactics and kill the Captain, and poll numbers for national security start heading south fast.
Now, Zero's crew is grabbing credit for a tactic they never wanted to use. Pond Scum.