Obama twice approved force to rescue hostage

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama twice authorized the military to rescue a U.S. captain who was being held by Somali pirates and whose life appeared to be at risk, administration officials said after Sunday’s rescue.

The Defense Department twice asked Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast. Obama first gave permission around 8 p.m. Friday, and upgraded it at 9:20 a.m. Saturday. Officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations said the second order was to encompass more military personnel and equipment that arrived in the Indian Ocean to engage the pirates.

Somali pirates last week boarded the Maersk Alabama off the Horn of Africa. The crew fought back, but Phillips surrendered himself to safeguard his men. Navy ships soon were on their way to the area.

White House officials on Sunday said Obama received regular updates by phone and in person at the White House - including 11 memos - and during his daily intelligence briefings with senior officials. The National Security Council last updated the president on a contingency plan for Phillips at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a timeline of events released Sunday afternoon by the White House.

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Obama twice approved force to rescue hostage

OK, if this story is to be believed, and I have no reason to think that even AP would put out a totally false story in favor of Obama, so, if this is true, we have got to give Obama his due and say way to go.

I have always been as fair and balanced as I possibly could since I began blogging. I blasted George W. Bush all to hell and back when I felt he had done the wrong thing and I sang his praises when I felt he was correct in his estimations and actions.

Barack Obama deserves the same level of respect from me that former President Bush got. You see, unlike the loony left and the hard core libberpukes that would never say so much as 1 good word concerning President Bush, I have no problem with sending kudos to President Obama if he does the correct thing, and quite honestly, I was totally surprised to see this story. I didn’t think he had it in him to give the orders. Apparently, I was wrong.

“We remain resolved to halt the rise of piracy in this region. To achieve that goal, we must continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks, be prepared to interdict acts of piracy and ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes,” Obama said.

I am posting that last paragraph for future reference. I hope Obama means every word, I intend to check up on it on a regular basis. I hope you will all do the same.

Don’t go getting ANY ideas that I am becoming an Obama fan, I am not. Barack Obama is still a huge disaster concerning the economy, global alliances, protocol, military leadership abilities, any number of endeavors, but as the old saying goes, on occasion, even a blind hog finds truffle. This was one of those occasions.

Official: US sea captain freed in swift firefight

MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) - An American ship captain was freed unharmed Sunday in a swift firefight that killed three of the four Somali pirates who had been holding him for days in a lifeboat off the coast of Africa, the ship’s owner said and a U.S. official said.

A senior U.S. intelligence official said a pirate who had been involved in negotiations to free Capt. Richard Phillips but who was not on the lifeboat was in custody.

Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vermont, was safely transported to a Navy warship nearby.

Maersk Line Limited President and CEO John Reinhart said in a news release that the U.S. government informed the company around 1:30 p.m. EDT Sunday that Phillips had been rescued. Reinhart said the company called Phillips’ wife, Andrea, to tell her the news.

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Official: US sea captain freed in swift firefight

I have NO idea yet regarding WHO ordered this, but, if it was Obama, maybe he’s not the wimp we believe him to be. Maybe. All I know is that it took about 3 days too long to come to a conclusion. You can’t negotiate with these people, they do NOT understand reason! Kill them and be done with it!