Just kill the pirates !

[ZLTFUL]

Not to make a political statement but more to point out the facts, the Captain of the navy vessel made the call feeling that the captain of the Maersk Alabama was in imminent danger. Not the Obama administration. Let's give the credit where the credit is truly due.

I won't get into the dicussion of who's idea it was to talk the pirates into surrendering without having a backup plan beyond that.

[That Nice Guy Beck!]

Seals 3
Pirates 0

[junior varsity]

and French 2, interestingly.

[mitt]

and French 2, interestingly.

Actually, they are +4 pirates, and -1 hostage that was killed over the last couple months, plus capturing ~6 more pirates.

mitt

[KnightofNi]

Actually, they are +4 pirates, and -1 hostage that was killed over the last couple months, plus capturing ~6 more pirates.

mitt

so does that mean a record of liek 6-4-1?
or 5-3-1?

[herm]

i cant wait to see all the outcry over the killing of innocent pirates. after all, they were just trying to make a living.

[junior varsity]

it was a sign of aggression!

...because, taking hostages at gun point isn't .. a ...sign...of... aggression?

[Grampa]

we should have just bowed


and


they shall no longer be refered to as pirates.... the new term is Deppheads

[Langanobob]

Not to make a political statement but more to point out the facts, the Captain of the navy vessel made the call feeling that the captain of the Maersk Alabama was in imminent danger. Not the Obama administration. Let's give the credit where the credit is truly due.

One of my concerns the last few days was that the White House and/or Pentagon would try to micro-manage a rescue attempt from the other side of the world and bungle it badly.  Seems to me that they did it exactly right. According to the latest reports, Obama did authorize the use of deadly force, but left the detailed planning and execution up to the guys on the scene who clearly knew exactly  what they're doing. 

[herm]

i agree that it was handled well.
and i could care less who made the "final" decision.
job well done!

[Ddan]

Not to make a political statement but more to point out the facts, the Captain of the navy vessel made the call feeling that the captain of the Maersk Alabama was in imminent danger. Not the Obama administration. Let's give the credit where the credit is truly due.

I won't get into the dicussion of who's idea it was to talk the pirates into surrendering without having a backup plan beyond that.

And you know this "fact" how?

[ZLTFUL]

And you know this "fact" how?

It's called command discretion. And ithas been in place on every military installation both floating and stationary since the beginning of this country. Just ask someone like Nakid or Slowpoke what they would be ordered to do if they were being approached by an un-responsive plane or boat while at sea...and since the Cole, the shoot first ask questions later thing tends to be a little more obvious.
As for what actually transpired, several news outlets including CNN, BBC, CNBC, et al stated that "The captain felt that Mr. Phillips' life was in imminent danger and ordered teams to take action." That of course was quickly replaced with "The Obama administration authorized deadly force".

Fact is, every military officer in a command position has commad discretion and can use it any time they feel that anyone under their charge is at risk. End of story.

[Kopfjager]

And you know this "fact" how?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,514719,00.html

[Drjones]

Common sense?

Probably went something like this:

Upon entering the area:

Captain - So can we take them out if the opportunity arises?
Administration - Erm. Well. We need to consult. *Looks at public opinion* Sure.

A bit later:

Captain - They're making threats and holding a gun to the captive. Shoot the f'ers.
Seals - Eliminated!

A bit later:

Captain - So we killed the piwates, rescued the hostage and have a captive.
Administration - Wow! Really!? "Quietly to themselves" Damn we need to jump on this PR coup!

[Langanobob]

One long term solution to the pirates is to declare a well  publicized "No Float" zone starting 12 miles off the Somali Coast.  If we've got satellites that can read my license plate in my driveway we can also monitor boat movement off Somalia.   Station a carrier a couple hundred miles out to sea and anytime a boat leaves the Somali mainland and goes past the 12 mile limit, the boat sinks.

I think the piracy would stop pretty fast, if not instantly and it will be good training exercise for the Navy.

Sure, some innocent Somali fishermen and traders will be economically hurt, but I think enough is enough and their problems fall  under the category of not our problem.