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 Muslim terrorists 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" behavior.  As usual with him, it's BS.
 
So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Oohbaby's performance 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 hadn't worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his country's 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 hostage's 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 chief's 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 he'd had enough.  Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostage's 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 hostage's 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 yesterday's 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 declared that the dramatic end to the standoff put paid to questions of the inexperienced president's toughness and decisiveness.

A.P./Townhall's Jennifer Loven remains infatuated with Obama.  She writes, 'President Barack Obama's "no drama" handling of the Indian Ocean hostage crisis proved a big win for his administration.'  What is the "drama" they could have infused without looking silly, having press secretary Robert Gibbs in pirate garb jousting with 'Peter Pan' Rahm Emmanuel?

Obama authorized the Navy to take necessary action if Capt. Richard Phillips' life was in imminent danger.  In other words, being kidnapped isn't good enough for a rescue, especially when poor black muslim community organizers are on the other end of the gun.

What is this "if" his life is in imminent danger, anyway? Could the pirates have washed up on shore weeks later (surely they would have been allowed food and water, and probably Korans and Playboys) and still been allowed their hostage if say, he had been in chains, incapable of escape, ergo no need for gun pointing, ergo, no imminent danger?

Showing her stripes, Loven writes '(T)his crisis, while topping the news now, may fade into distant memory by the time voters get a chance to take any new measure of Obama and his party.'  What, will we have the Congressional Black Caucus taking credit for the rescue?  More likely, they'll junket over to Somalia or other dirt bag African country to meet with the families of the 'murdered' community organizers.

Townhall's Loven continues, 'But it also showed a new commander in chief who was willing to use all the tools at his disposal, bringing in federal law enforcement officials to handle the judicial elements of the crisis.'

Loven gushes, 'He didn't call in his Cabinet for a high-profile command meeting.'  Whoop-de-do.  So the military didn’t have the benefit of Joe Biden’s input?  Kathleen Sebelius, Hilda L. Solis, Ken Salazar, et.al.?  How did the Seals pull it off alone?

'He weighed in with two critical decisions allowing the military to take action to save Phillips' life.'  Not to rescue him, mind you, only to save his life.  If the pirates had behaved in a civilized manner (white Anglo-Saxon, thankyou very much), there’s no telling how long they could have kept him.

'White House officials said the Justice Department is already reviewing evidence to determine whether to file criminal charges against the captured Somali pirate.'  Wow!  Already?

Or what, let him go??

Townhall’s Loven ends with this groupspeak that is sure to keep her in the front row at WH press conferences: 'it's notable that in an administration that has virtually banned the phrase "war on terror," no one called the pirates "terrorists."  Yes, no one called the smelly community organizing black muslim pirates...terrorists.  But we were watching, weren't we, Jennifer?   

Michelle Malkin said it best about Loven on 10/27/2008: 'Jennifer Loven of the Associated Press/Townhall isn’t just in the tank for Obama. She’s drowning in her drool cup.'

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk about unfolding operations (like if he attempts an escape, blow the frinkin' row boat out of the water?), say Phillips was retaken by the pirates after he jumped from the boat around midnight local time in open ocean off the Somali coast.

A U.S. Navy ship patrolling nearby (what is it there for, news updates???) was able to see Phillips moving around and talking after his return to the pirate's boat.'

The defense officials think he is unharmed.'

Glorious Leader with His Squealer awaiting next update from U.S. Navy news team.

Which Muslim country will receive Obama's largesse for negotiating the release of the ship's captain?

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
To call upon a neighbor and to say:—
“We invaded you last night—we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away.”

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you’ve only to pay ’em the Dane-geld
And then you’ll get rid of the Dane!

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say:—

“We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!”