"Sarkozy Engages Pirates - Obama Ducks Questions?" (from American Thinker)

[KVLG]

by Tom Suhaldonik

While four pirates armed with AK47s bobbing in a lifeboat hold a US Navy destroyer at bay, a French commando team storms a sailboat held by pirates and rescues French citizens. The world truly has gone mad.

According to the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7994201.stm), President Sarkozy's office released a statement saying a French sailboat, seized Saturday off the coast of Somalia, was the target of a French commando raid Thursday. The French sail boat had four adults and one child on board. According to the release, two pirates and a hostage were killed in the operation and three others taken prisoner. This is the third time in recent memory French commandos have been used to free hostages held by pirates in the region.

Meanwhile in the USA, when asked about an American being held hostage by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, President Obama refused (http://www.*******.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5383TQ20090409) to answer any questions. Various reports (http://news.google.com/news?um=1&ned=us&cf=all&ncl=1326385294) say Obama has delegated the handling of this incident to high level administration officials and military commanders.

Unlike the pirates killed by French commandos, the pirates holding the American seem emboldened. There have been various reports today that allies of the pirates holding the American have requested and receiving backup (http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-10-voa34.cfm) from other pirates. Several large vessels seized with the last few weeks are heading to the site of a standoff.

The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pirates-put-American-naval-might-to-test/articleshow/4387101.cms) may have the most succinct description of the standoff between the US Navy and the pirates and its implications.

"The Indian Ocean standoff between an $800 million United States Navy destroyer and four pirates bobbing in a lifeboat showed the limits of the world's most power military as it faces a booming pirate economy in a treacherous patch of international waters."

Most historians agree when JFK first met Khrushchev (http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/obama_should_rethink_jfkkrusch.html) in 1961, JFK's abysmal performance emboldened Khrushchev to make increasingly aggressive moves culminating the Cuban Missile Crisis. This may be Obama's Khrushchev moment.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/sarkozy_engages_pirates_obama.html

Questions? Comments? I myself may not go so far as to say that this is Obama's "Khrushchev moment", but I'm kind of worried what others may think of the matter.

[BAJACAL]

Why don't these cargo/container ships have armed security knowing very well the dangerous of crossing through the waters off Somalia. I know that after an incident with one ship I believe from France, an 18 men security force was on board...

[Arnie100]

I think it's illegal, but I'm not sure on that.

[budgie]

So the article has manufactured a complaint about Obama that is neither warranted nor valid. Is it the President's job to micro-manage every boarding operation? Didn't US crews board and successfully liberate a whole ship only a week ago?

So the pirates got away with a seaman - what is the President supposed to do about it? Fly down there and kick in a few doors himself? Cool,, he could to an oh-so-tasteful carrier landing stunt like his predecessor.

The commanders in theater have the situation under control don't they? What has it got to do with Obama? Oh, I heard he still hasn't caught bin Laden yet while we're at it....

[ronnieraygun]

Look man, Obama is starting to suck like this big gal I met at a Taco Bell, but this is not his Kruschev moment. We get it. He'll get called on his BS at some point in time and he will either sink or swim. Piracy off the coast of a non-functioning East African statelet does not qualify.

Also, what really pisses me off about the article is the whiff of anti-French bias I detect. The American Thinker has a conservative bent, which is just fine, but I get the feeling they find it inconceivable that the French would do something to protect their own self-interest. I suspect it was mentioned in the article to provoke a contrast like "oh, man, the French actually did something and we didn't." That's bull****. I wasn't happy about Operation Torch or about how half of the Vichy would have fired upon my great uncle, but I'm really sick of how US conservatives want to constantly pick on the French. The conspicuous placement of the French in this article was not accidental.

[Chimera]

Also, what really pisses me off about the article is the whiff of anti-French bias I detect. The American Thinker has a conservative bent, which is just fine, but I get the feeling they find it inconceivable that the French would do something to protect their own self-interest. I suspect it was mentioned in the article to provoke a contrast like "oh, man, the French actually did something and we didn't." That's bull****. I wasn't happy about Operation Torch or about how half of the Vichy would have fired upon my great uncle, but I'm really sick of how US conservatives want to constantly pick on the French. The conspicuous placement of the French in this article was not accidental.

Thank god someone else spotted the BS.

I am sure the reason the American hostage hasnt been released yet is because the US is doing everything it can to negociate a release without bloodshed. And that takes time. When the US Navy realizes they have no choice but to storm the boat, we'll see something in the news. But so far, the author of this BS article had better STFU untill we hear the end of the story. Just another attempt to bash Obama.

I really hope the guy makes it.

[Panchito12]

Why don't these cargo/container ships have armed security knowing very well the dangerous of crossing through the waters off Somalia. I know that after an incident with one ship I believe from France, an 18 men security force was on board...

Believe it or not, but their reasoning is that it's cheaper to payoff the gomers (can't find any other better word for the fighting skills of a Somali Pirate) than to hire a a professional private security team and pay insurance for them.

[Invisigoth]

Yeah they attacked the yacht and really showed them, and now one hostage is dead, as oppose to the American hostage who, luckily for his family, is still alive.

nuff said.

[Empulse]

What's the problem exactly? I thought they had made a corridor? I know the area is bigger than it looks like, but is it impossible to make a save corridor with the present fleets?

[Drew21]

Isn't negotiating the most sensible option? I'm sure that the French would have done so before they decided to take military action. If the Americans stormed the lifeboat at the earliest opportunity then the anti-American bandwagon would get back on their highhorse and slam them for being gung-ho.
(Can you be on a bandwagon and on a highhorse?)

[Macs.]

Maybe the great thinker of this article never thought about that not all hostage situations are the same, especially here where we talk about a large commercial ship and in the other about a very small private ship... Add to this different kind of weapons, another location etc etc.

It's pretty complex... :roll:

[JKD]

Various reports say Obama has delegated the handling of this incident to high level administration officials and military commanders.

Wow, so The President with his vast hostage rescue experience isn't personally handling the situation?

[Paveway]

Obama has hostage rescue experience?

[Roaming East]

Wow, so The President with his vast hostage rescue experience isn't personally handling the situation?
According to my extensive knowledge of movies, this is the part where the President makes a catchy one liner and jumps out of a exploding helicopter on top of the pirate lord while wearing nothing but Blood Diamond pants and a tactical wife beater.


@Paveway: He did save the Democratic Party from sinking into obscurity if that counts for anything...

[sinophile]

I'm waiting for the poll numbers to come back on a failed raid, versus world leaking the Saudis paid off the hijackers on the US's behalf. Once those numbers come back I'll make my recommendation to the President.

--- D Axlerod

... or something like that.

[JKD]

According to my extensive knowledge of movies, this is the part where the President makes a catchy one liner and jumps out of a exploding helicopter on top of the pirate lord while wearing nothing but Blood Diamond pants and a tactical wife beater.
And armed with nothing but a plastic spoon.

[GoBlue95]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNpSYiaQ9d0

[Winger]

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Third_Party_Graphic/2009/04/10/sw0410cd__1239376642_3804.jpg



http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Third_Party_Graphic/2009/04/10/and0410d__1239376643_1291.jpg

Funny & related.

[JKD]

More deep thoughts from American "Thinker"


Let us thank the Somali pirates

By James Lewis

Flashback: It's 1979, and President Jimmy Carter is facing a hostage crisis, with American diplomats being kidnapped by Islamist "students" in Tehran. Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew our Cold War ally, the Shah of Iran, with the tacit of the Carter Administration, because it thought of the murderous Ayatollah as "some kind of saint," in the words of former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

Jimmy and Zbig have been trying to explain their disastrous ignorance ever since; and because they are mentally stuck in appeasement thinking, they have infected the Obamanites with the same plague bacilli.

Flashforward to 2009, and an American merchant marine captain is being held hostage by Islamist pirates off the coast of Somalia. It's a repeat of 1979, and the world is watching to see if Obama is going to be any more effective than Jimmy Carter was.

Obama may think this is a "distraction". The rest of the world sees it as a test. And so, far Obama is flunking. The world will draw its own conclusions very quickly

Thank heavens for the pirates! Why? Because we must know as soon as possible if the Obamanites are as incompetent and foolish as they proudly claim to be -- or whether they can summon up the guts to try to rescue the captain. We have plenty of special ops forces who are trained for hostage rescue. The West has forty years of experience in knocking over hostage takers, as Israelis did in Entebbe. But similar methods have been perfected by now, as shown most recently in Colombia, where US forces advised the Colombian government how to deal with another hostage situation.

It always comes with real risk, both to our own troops and to the hostages. And yes, Mr. Obama, we may have to knock some pirates' heads as well.

If Obama fails to take action, watch for Russia to make a move on the Ukraine. China will get more aggressive toward Taiwan. Iran will openly throw sandals at Obama effigies, and the rest of the world will realize -- uh-oh, no more cop on the international beat. North Korea will launch another missile over Japan -- pahdon me, another satellite launch will somehow go astray, heading toward Hawaii.

That means one of two things: either the aggressors start winning, or somebody else has to play the international cop -- the role the United States has carried for sixty years.

So who do you want to play the world's cop?

Russia will happily volunteer do it for Europe, since Europe won't do it for itself. China could squeeze concessions from Japan and South Korea to stop the Norks. And in the Middle East it will either be Israel -- which can protect the Arab countries from nuclear attack by Iran -- or it will be the mad mullahs of Qom. I would guess that the Israelis will bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, with the covert help of Arab Gulf states.

Welcome to the age of American weakness. The whole world, we were told in the last eight years, wanted to bring the US down a notch or two. Well, just be careful what you wish for.

Maybe we should thank the Somali pirates for testing Obama this early in the new administration.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/let_us_thank_the_somali_pirate.html

[WarDancer]

Well, what have we seen so far from BHO's regime in terms of foreign policy? A European Apology tour, ipod for the queen, non-functioning DVD's to the prime minister, a weird non-bow to the Saudi king, no response to Korea's test launch of an ICBM, an out of control virtual Mexican narco-war spilling over to the US, Afghanistan spiraling out of control, Iran refusing to end its nuclear program and I'm sure other gaffes I havent mentioned or havent made the press yet.

All of this exudes weakness and indecisivenes which lead to 9/11. Is it any wonder why Americans just dont trust Democrat party on issues of national security? Guaranteed that this standoff is being orchastrated by Al-Quaida behind the scenes to gauge BHO's response for further operations.

[James]

I don't know about the comparison of this sea captain being held by pirates and the Iran hostage crisis... I'm pretty sure President Carter sent Delta Force to rescue the hostages in Iran, but the mission failed with the loss of a number of American lives.

Aside from the comparison of Obama and Carter, I think the article was pretty close to the truth. I didn't vote for Obama because I think he was and is woefully inexperienced. At age 23, as a USMC Infantry Squad leader, I had more executive experience than he does. I think he means well, and wants to do the right thinking, but I think he is very naive in the ways of the world. Being President of the United States shouldn't be an entry level job.

[yetibit]

I'm not saying that in this specific situation that taking these idiots out is the appropriate response. While that is exactly what I'd like to see happen, I don't have enough information to back up that opinion.

The Tom Sudaldonik article is not the most well written article I've ever read. But, one of the points it eludes to is that we (the US) are losing our aggressive edge. Which I have to agree with. The powers that be seem too concerned with international opinion and avoiding anti-American sentiment. Bottom line, we are no longer feared the way we once were and I find that alarming.

[James]

I'm not saying that in this specific situation that taking these idiots out is the appropriate response. While that is exactly what I'd like to see happen, I don't have enough information to back up that opinion.

The Tom Sudaldonik article is not the most well written article I've ever read. But, one of the points it eludes to is that we (the US) are losing our aggressive edge. Which I have to agree with. The powers that be seem too concerned with international opinion and avoiding anti-American sentiment. Bottom line, we are no longer feared the way we once were and I find that alarming.

I'd much rather be respected than feared. We're not a nation of tyrants.

That said, I value the respect of adversaries, which I think we're losing.

[sinophile]

I'd much rather be respected than feared. We're not a nation of tyrants.

That said, I value the respect of adversaries, which I think we're losing.

You're not going to get that respect if you lose SOF personnel in a failed attempt to rescue a ship captain. Give it some time. There are several ways to address this kind of hostage taking that don't have to involve paying ransom. I agree ... its a test.

[Gleipnir]

Flashback: It's 1979, and President Jimmy Carter is facing a hostage crisis, with American diplomats being kidnapped by Islamist "students" in Tehran. Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew our Cold War ally, the Shah of Iran, with the tacit of the Carter Administration, because it thought of the murderous Ayatollah as "some kind of saint," in the words of former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.What? Saw the Ayatollah as some kind of Saint? The Shah was overthrown with the 'tacit' of the Carter administration? (I thought tacit was an adjective)

This kind of slippery revisionism reeks of nothing more than spin.

[yetibit]

I'd much rather be respected than feared. We're not a nation of tyrants.

That said, I value the respect of adversaries, which I think we're losing.


I'm not saying we need to be tyrannical. But, I see nothing wrong with a healthy balance of respect AND fear.

[KB]

from AP

A Nairobi-based diplomat, who receives regular briefings on the situation, said the four pirates holding Phillips had tried to summon other pirates from the Somali mainland. The diplomat, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said that pirates had been trying to reach the lifeboat.

He said that at least two American ships and U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft had been attempting to deter pirate ships and skiffs from contact with the lifeboat but he did not know if the pirates and Navy ships had come into contact.


A Somali who described himself as having close ties to pirate networks told The Associated Press that pirates had set out in four commandeered ships with hostages from a variety of nations including the Philippines, Russia and Germany.

A second Somali man who said he had spoken by satellite phone to a pirate piloting a seized German freighter told the AP by phone Saturday that the pirate captain had reported being blocked by U.S. forces and was returning Saturday to the pirate stronghold of Harardhere.

Abdirahman Osman, a resident of the town who says he knows the pirates well, said the pirates returned home later Saturday, looking tired. He said the pirates told him they had abandoned their plan to help fellow bandits on the lifeboat because it was surrounded by U.S. forces.

The man who spoke to the pirate captain, who sought anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the pirate captain told him the ship was in sight of a U.S. Navy destroyer Saturday morning, received a U.S. warning not to come any closer and, fearing attack, left the scene without ever seeing the lifeboat.

The second Somali man said the pirate also told him that two other commandeered ships from Taiwan and Greece that were trying to reach the lifeboat feared a showdown with the U.S. Navy and returned Friday night to Eyl, a port that serves as a pirate hub. It was not immediately possible to contact people in Eyl Saturday.

A Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations said in Washington Saturday morning that there had been no developments overnight. He declined to comment on the report that the U.S. Navy had turned back the pirates.

However, two U.S. officials said Saturday that FBI agents are investigating the Somali pirates who are holding Phillips hostage, raising the possibility of federal charges against the men if they are captured. The officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

"FBI officers will debrief members of the crew on board the vessel before they disembark," Maersk said.

The captain of the USS Bainbridge has also been getting direction from FBI hostage negotiators and talks have taken place between him and the pirates, U.S. officials said.

The Bainbridge was joined Friday by the USS Halyburton, which has helicopters, and the huge, amphibious USS Boxer was expected soon after, the defense officials said. The Boxer, the flagship of a multination anti-piracy task force, resembles a small aircraft carrier. It has a crew of more than 1,000, a mobile hospital, missile launchers and about two dozen helicopters and attack planes.

On Friday, the French navy freed a sailboat seized off Somalia last week by other pirates, but one of the hostages was killed.

The vice president of the Philippines, the nation with the largest number of sailors held captive by Somali pirates, appealed for the safety of hostages to be ensured in the standoff.

"We hope that before launching any tactical action against the pirates, the welfare of every hostage is guaranteed and ensured," said Vice President Noli de Castro. "Moreover, any military action is best done in consultation with the United Nations to gain the support and cooperation of other countries."

France's defense minister promised an autopsy and investigation into the death of the hostage killed during the commando operation, which freed four other captives and was prompted by threats the passengers would be executed. Two pirates also were killed. Three pirates were captured and are to be brought to France for criminal proceedings.
Somali pirates are holding about a dozen ships with more than 200 crew members, according to the Malaysia-based International Maritime Bureau, a piracy watchdog group. The bureau lists 66 attacks since January, not including the Alabama.

[GoBlue95]

I don't know about the comparison of this sea captain being held by pirates and the Iran hostage crisis... I'm pretty sure President Carter sent Delta Force to rescue the hostages in Iran, but the mission failed with the loss of a number of American lives.

Aside from the comparison of Obama and Carter, I think the article was pretty close to the truth. I didn't vote for Obama because I think he was and is woefully inexperienced. At age 23, as a USMC Infantry Squad leader, I had more executive experience than he does. I think he means well, and wants to do the right thinking, but I think he is very naive in the ways of the world. Being President of the United States shouldn't be an entry level job.
x2.......well said

[G-AWZT]

I hope Obama does the right thing and attacks the pirates whenever they appear. This country has had a long history of dealing with pirates, and the policy carried a big stick.

On a side note, I never liked Carter, however I do wonder if the rescue mission would've been successful if we had more CH-53's slated for the job. It seems we went in with a minimum number and that didn't give us much wiggle room as history has shown.

[drunken sailor]

I'm still shocked that some Seals have not pulled him out of the boat at night for the pirates to wake up and find him gone or just never wake up period. Has to be the design of that boat holding them up. Or Obamas wussyness has shown again.

[sinophile]

I'm still shocked that some Seals have not pulled him out of the boat at night for the pirates to wake up and find him gone or just never wake up period. Has to be the design of that boat holding them up. Or Obamas wussyness has shown again.

:slap:

Yeah, it can't be mission prep, or better alternatives, unfeasibility, or simply the unattractive cost/benefit of doing so.

[California Joe]

Pretty sure the dead hostage is real impressed that Sarkozy showed them who's boss. Carla probably gave it up real good for her Big Daddy decision maker.

[tennesseedave]

I'm glad that the President is keeping his mouth shut on this issue and allowing other officials and military commanders to handle it. Early in Bush's term when the Navy jet incident with China happened, he took alot of criticism for keeping his mouth shut and letting Sec. of State Colin Powell handle that. I think it says a lot for a leader to trust the people he has put in place and allow them to handle certain situations.

Having said that, whatever action we take needs to be decisive and send the message that this will not be tolerated. When pirates see a ship waving the American flag, they need to have enough fear that they head in the other direction.

[Invisigoth]

Pretty sure the dead hostage is real impressed that Sarkozy showed them who's boss. Carla probably gave it up real good for her Big Daddy decision maker.

But you forget that's the awesome and cool, manly thing to do. Fcuk the Captain, he's just another symbol for the great media anyway, dead or alive the value is the same - a live interview.

Sarkozy showed them who's boss. Cause the first time he hunted down dem terrorists really deterred them from capturing another french-flagged vessel..right?

[khaz]

Dont worry it will end being Bushs fault all this happened, cant disturb obama with this he is in the middle of practicing his bows to foreign Kings.

[California Joe]

Gee, that was fair and balanced. Kudos on being completely irrelevant and bitter.

Are we sure this article wasn't in American Drinker?

[Gleipnir]

Dont worry it will end being Bushs fault all this happened, cant disturb obama with this he is in the middle of practicing his bows to foreign Kings.
if that is what helps you sleep at night

[Drew21]

I'm glad that the President is keeping his mouth shut on this issue and allowing other officials and military commanders to handle it. Early in Bush's term when the Navy jet incident with China happened, he took alot of criticism for keeping his mouth shut and letting Sec. of State Colin Powell handle that. I think it says a lot for a leader to trust the people he has put in place and allow them to handle certain situations.

Having said that, whatever action we take needs to be decisive and send the message that this will not be tolerated. When pirates see a ship waving the American flag, they need to have enough fear that they head in the other direction.

Have to agree with you, if Obama, or any other President/Prime Minister etc decided to take the lead of every situation like this it would be micro-managing at its worst. Taking control would mean undermining any minister/department who's remit it is to deal with it and therefore reduce the amount of clout that said minister/department would have. Wheeling out the big guns (be it Obama, or SOF/Special Forces personel) so early means that you no longer have any aces up your sleeve. When Obama needs to weigh in he can, whether people respect him as an individual or not, the Seal of the President of the United States does still carry some serious weight, this alongside his popularity amongst foreign nations means that whatever military or diplomatic action he may choose to take they will most likely support, if not publicly than privately. If the diplomatic process isn't successful, I think that the US have more than enough military options, and Obama has potentially enough foreign support to attemp to broker a more forceful solution to the problem of these pirates

[James]

I couldn't help but come back to this thread now that, after less than a week of captivity, the U.S. Navy rescued the American hostage, killed 3 pirates, and captured the 4th. Apparently President Obama authorized the military commander on the scene the authority to do what was necessary, then turned to other things. I am not a fan of Obama, but I think that he made the right decision. His perceived inactivity was nothing of the sort.

This is a very good example of how, just because nothing is being reported doesn't mean that nothing is being done.

[Macs.]

Pretty sure the dead hostage is real impressed that Sarkozy showed them who's boss. Carla probably gave it up real good for her Big Daddy decision maker.


But you forget that's the awesome and cool, manly thing to do. Fcuk the Captain, he's just another symbol for the great media anyway, dead or alive the value is the same - a live interview.

Sarkozy showed them who's boss. Cause the first time he hunted down dem terrorists really deterred them from capturing another french-flagged vessel..right?

This is now was the third time the French ended a hijacking with force in the gulf of aden... The negotiations went on for days, they even had a child as hostage, I doubt the assault was carried out because Sarkozy didn't have enough champagne. :roll:

The skipper, and father of the child, decided to go on a holiday in the most dangerous waters on the face of this planet, he repeatedly ignored direct warnings from the French Navy to NOT go there...

Now he is dead.

[muttbutt]

Pretty sure the dead hostage is real impressed that Sarkozy showed them who's boss. Carla probably gave it up real good for her Big Daddy decision maker.
Joe they were warned repeatedly not to go, they even joked about the pirates on the blog they kept.....then those guys had to risk their lives to save people who were too dumb to do the right thing in the first place.:|

[California Joe]

I couldn't help but come back to this thread now that, after less than a week of captivity, the U.S. Navy rescued the American hostage, killed 3 pirates, and captured the 4th. Apparently President Obama authorized the military commander on the scene the authority to do what was necessary, then turned to other things. I am not a fan of Obama, but I think that he made the right decision. His perceived inactivity was nothing of the sort.

This is a very good example of how, just because nothing is being reported doesn't mean that nothing is being done.

Well said James. The situation didn't require micro managing.


This is now was the third time the French ended a hijacking with force in the gulf of aden... The negotiations went on for days, they even had a child as hostage, I doubt the assault was carried out because Sarkozy didn't have enough champagne. :roll:

The skipper, and father of the child, decided to go on a holiday in the most dangerous waters on the face of this planet, he repeatedly ignored direct warnings from the French Navy to NOT go there...

Now he is dead.

Don't you ever roll your eyes at me again Macs.



Joe they were warned repeatedly not to go, they even joked about the pirates on the blog they kept.....then those guys had to risk their lives to save people who were too dumb to do the right thing in the first place.:|

Well that puts it in the correct perspective....then f*ck them for being retards. Like the asshats that decide to go hiking wearing loafers and carrying a cell phone, "just in case" and end up requiring a massive search and rescue operation.

Hell, we have a retard Congressman being mortared right now cause he thought it'd be a good idea to take a tour of Mogadishu today. :roll:

[KVLG]

Well said James. The situation didn't require micro managing.



Don't you ever roll your eyes at me again Macs.




Well that puts it in the correct perspective....then f*ck them for being retards. Like the asshats that decide to go hiking wearing loafers and carrying a cell phone, "just in case" and end up requiring a massive search and rescue operation.

Hell, we have a retard Congressman being mortared right now cause he thought it'd be a good idea to take a tour of Mogadishu today. :roll:

I suspect all of that is bascially the same reason why people still drink and drive, even after all those car accidents-namely they think that it can't happen to them. IMO, it's always wise to err on the side of caution.

[JKD]

Now American Thinker doesn't think George W Bush is getting the credit he deserves for the rescue of Capt. Phillips


April 13, 2009
What? No Praise for the Bush Military?

Richard Henry Lee

President Obama rails about the failed Bush economy and the failed Bush foreign policy, but Obama fails to credit Bush for a fine military that he could order into action to rescue Captain Phillips from the Somali pirates.

Obama has been in office fewer than three months so he has yet to leave his mark on the military (although the initial signs are not encouraging). The military Obama ordered into action against the pirates is a military that is part of the Bush legacy. It is a military that is well trained and equipped. It is a military that is proud and courageous. It is a military that a President can confidently order into harm’s way to rescue a gallant Captain held hostage by lawless Somali pirates.

Yet, neither Obama nor the main stream media offer any praise for Bush’s contributions in leaving behind this fine military. Indeed, it is Obama who gets credit for ordering the successful attack, but it would seem only fair for Bush to get some credit as well since it was the Bush military which carried it out.

Perhaps the New York Times or the Washington Post will devote a story to correct this oversight.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/what_no_praise_for_the_bush_mi.html

[muttbutt]

Now American Thinker doesn't think George W Bush is getting the credit he deserves for the rescue of Capt. Phillips


http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/what_no_praise_for_the_bush_mi.htmlDo former presidents usually get credit for actions taken after they leave office?