Posted on 04/16/2009 7:09:51 PM PDT by mrmargaritaville
Having spoken to some SEAL pals here in Virginia Beach yesterday and asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I got the following:
1. BHO wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to the scene for 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander) recommendation. 2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their ROE that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in "imminent" danger 3. The first time the hostage jumped, the SEALS had the raggies all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction 4. When the navy RIB came under fire as it approached with supplies, no fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the raggies were shooting at the RIB, they were exposed and the SEALS had them all dialed in. 5. BHO specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the Bainbridge CPN and SEAL teams 6. Bainbridge CPN and SEAL team CDR finally decide they have the OpArea and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead raggies 7. BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behaviour. As usual with him, it's BS.
So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Oohbaby's performace to D-. Only reason it's not an F is that the hostage survived.
Read the following accurate account.
Philips first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean hadnt worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his countrys Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison, enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear shot at his captors and none was taken.
The guidance from National Command Authority the president of the United States, Barack Obama had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the hostages life was in clear, extreme danger.
The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the floating raft was fired on by the Somali pirates and again no fire was returned and no pirates killed. This was again due to the cautious stance assumed by Navy personnel thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a mandate from the commander in chiefs staff not to act until Obama, a man with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of decisiveness, decided that any outcome other than a peaceful solution would be acceptable.
After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the on scene commander decided hed had enough.
Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostages life and having heard nothing from Washington since yet another request to mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before, the Navy officer unnamed in all media reports to date decided the AK47 one captor had leveled at Philips back was a threat to the hostages life and ordered the NSWC team to take their shots.
Three rounds downrange later, all three brigands became enemy KIA and Philips was safe.
There is upside, downside, and spinside to the series of events over the last week that culminated in yesterdays dramatic rescue of an American hostage.
Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration and its supporters claimed victory against pirates in the Indian Ocean and [1] declared that the dramatic end to the standoff put paid to questions of the inexperienced presidents toughness and decisiveness.
Despite the Obama administrations (and its sycophants) attempt to spin yesterdays success as a result of bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and its team of NSWC operators to steam to the location became an embarrassing four day and counting standoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship.
Never heard it.. very funny.
I think: the captain jumped overboard the first time, as CNN reported,.......
I agree
The second jump maybe but I don’t think so because he was tied up plus if they didn’t kill his captors after the first jump he will be thinking “Why will they do it if I jump again? They must be under orders to negotiate”
But who knows because you lose clear thought after being cooped up in a sweltering life boat for 4 days
It must have been a crowded scene there with FBI hostage negotiators, FBI lawyers, State Department honchos and State Department lawyers. With the Navy Seals the lowest in the pecking order because they use guns (oh horrors!) instead of words
The Navy Seal snipers were given orders to keep an eye on the hostage situation while the real geniuses in charge from the State Department went to work with their negotiating skills. The FBI hostage negotiators were also given priority over Navy Seals because they’re just gun toting thugs
But we CAN and DO know human nature, absolutely -- there's no fooling anyone there. The kinds of men who become SEALS are a very particular type: self-disciplined, above-average in intelligence, driven, tight-knit team players to the hilt, and above all, proactive people with intense mechanical, technical and physical skills. These are men who get things done, and it's a consistent trait in their whole life philosophies. They don't talk about doing something, they plan a strategy and DO it. They don't have much time or patience for those who just talk.
Likewise, the personality types who become bureaucrats, negotiators, lawyers, State Department "honchos," may be very good, disciplined, and honest men, but the general personality type is reactive. They hum and haw and ponder and pontificate, take their time, and strategize ad nauseum. They are generally not going to possess much in the way of technical, mechanical, or physical skills; theirs are mainly intellectual.
In real front-line situations, whether it's on the battlefield or in tackling a home improvement project, the first type will run circles around the second type, and do it before the second type even catches on. So I can easily envision a scene where the SEALS come up with, and execute, a plan to take out the pirates right beneath the State Department and FBI honchos' noses. Claiming that the captain jumped a second time would be the way they'd do it and they'd be able to gamble pretty safely that the captain would back up their story, even if he'd been tied up tighter than a drunk on a three-day binge.
SEALS' claims of a "second jump" triggering their move to action would back everybody else into a corner defensive position and protect the SEALS. These guys are smart -- smarter than the guys in the State Department.
If the imaginary "second jump" story stood, it would make Obama to be a fool because it would be clear that the captain, not Obama, instigated the rescue. They knew damned well Obama couldn't stand that, and that the story would be changed to whatever version would be necessary to save face for Obama, and that's what happened, at least that's what I think. The SEALS defended our nation and saved the captain in whatever way they needed to, as devious as it was -- mission accomplished.
Your post #92 says it so well: The Seals also sent a message from the entire militarily to 0bama which was - Dont make us your fools, we will turn the tables on you for a righteous cause.
“The first time the hostage jumped, the SEALS had the raggies all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction”
No one thought that the Capt was in imminent danger after he was in the water??
Thanks for the ping
I got the joke from Dr. Jack Wheeler at www.tothepointnews.com
have a great day!
Oh REALLY? I had not heard this before....
ROTFLMAO
It probably was, but the "imminent danger" exception to the "peaceful resolution" had not yet been granted by the Most High Messiah. That came later.
Of course in the normal course of events, it would not have been required. But The One is "different" and his ROE was "peaceful resolution.
Well at least three of the pirates are now peaceful "good pirates".
He's a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, Mass.. Many of their Grads receive a commission in the Naval Reserve. Many serve a tour of active duty before going into the commercial world, some stay in the military.
By their nature, such academies are at least quasi-military.
Even if the SEALs were not yet in place, the Bainbridge's own security personnel could have riddled the pirates and the life boat with 7.62x51 fire from their M-14s and maybe M-240s. Even with their M2 .50 cals.
If not worried about hitting Captain Phillips, almost anyone qualified with the 7.62 weapons could do that.
Given that they did not do it, I'd say they had orders (or at least "strong suggestions" not to do so.
How did we get into this mess? I hate everyone who voted for this idiot.
BAH!
bookmark
Thanks for the info. He sure seemed to understand what needed doing and when to do it. If he had recieved a Commission then he likely still felt bound by it. Politicans can call it what they wish but that act on high seas is an act of war to those being attacked.
The President of the MMA is a very accomplished man—a Navy P-3 pilot and impressive credentials.
Maybe he can get owners and insurers to listen to reason. You can’t keep sending ships through those waters unarmed. About 300 ships ago the USN had the strength to patrol there indefinately. We no longer have those extra nearly 300 ships.
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