Never Really Cared For Eating Crow,

[seapower]

But I'll take it like a man this time. My hesitation with the election of Mr. Obama had serious root's in a situation like we just saw. I have to say, Sir you just passed your first test with me. It ain't over yet and there's more suprises yet to come in the next 4 year's. But right now I"m happy and proud to see he has the "jewel's" to stare em' down.
As stated in a few post's back, a member said to me "this is why the rest of the world see's America as knuckle dragging thug's". I really couldn't give a rat's behind what the rest of the world think's. That was one of our citizen's they had hostage, and Mr Obama took care of his own. Thank You Sir!!! Frank, SeaPower

[clt_capt]

I guess my knuckles are still dragging. I'm thankful that Mr. Obama made a very good decision for this situation, but there is still a major issue with pirates - If anything this will cause more issues...

Jamac Habeb, a 30-year-old self-proclaimed pirate, told the AP from one of Somalia's piracy hubs, Eyl, that: "From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them (the hostages)."

"Now they became our number one enemy," Habeb said of U.S. forces.



Either the International Community is going to step up and deal with the issue head on, or We have to.

[seapower]

Like I said it ain't over yet. But the long and short of it is we know where they stand, being they declared us public enemy #1. Been on that list before haven't we? And they now know where Mr Obama stand's. Nothing like a clear line in the sand. That way there no suprises, you know what'll happen if you cross it. We need to impliment very clear and very firm bounderie's, for our ship's and crew's anyway. That's the way it should be, if you ask me. Frank

[reel fool]

Shoot 'em then. IF they approach any ship, their intentions have been stated. Shoot them b4 they can shoot their potential victims. What's difficult to understand about that? Whatever happened to the way pirates used to be dealt with?

[Mark Ray]

Kudos, reel fool. They are nothing more than the taliban on the water!

[Joey Herring]

Sounds like a good way to test some new rounds for me.....

[Deep C]

Damn right they need to be shot. Now I don't run a ship or freighter or tanker but I do run a boat. Down here we had genuine pirate issues for years and its starting to creep back in, this time with smuggling human cargo.
Until you have had a close encounter you have no clue what it feels like... That feeling of shear terror is hard to forget. All the machismo talk is bullshit... I've been close to it a few times through the years and it aint no fun.
At the hump off Islamorada in the early eighties, two go fasts came racing in toward the fishing fleet with Coast Guard hot on their heels... The lead boat slowed a bit and the other pulled along side. Then the passenger in that one opened fire on his buddies... Fuguring the coasties would have to stop and render assistance...
Thats the kind of bullshit ruthless mentality these guys are toting. Negotiate this...

I almost pissed my pants as a boat came on me while swording off Key Largo one night. Thought it might be Coast Guard sneeking in to do an inspection. I called CG on 16 and they said they had no boat in the area... I grabbed the rifle and prepared. They pulled up real close and all the lights came on... A mother ship packed with bales... I guess they thought we were the pick up boat. I have never been so scared in my life as they were all packin autos... They simply turned the lights off and went back off in the dark... Could have easily eaten us for breakfast...

Being armed and keeping it low profile though got me out of another potential siituation off cat key... A gofast with a ton of smoke pouring out of it. I had three long guns and two hand pieces ready to go but out of sight. I pulled close and they wanted to come aboard my boat and get some oil?
"Not a prayer pal... Strip down and swim..."
He started yelling in spanish. At this point I was now idling and comming behind them. I could plainly see a smoke bomb in their exhaust pipe pumponmg out the fake smoke... Up came the pieces and caught them off guard. They hit the throttles and were gone in a flash...
Good thing because I intended fully to cut loose and run my ass out of bullets,,,

They need to get security people on these ships or arm the crews. This no arms policy is a bunch of crap...

[marine4003]

I don't know if i'd be so quick to heap praise on Bama, ok, so he allowed his Admirals to make decisions..but that's supposed to happen anyway,who i would praise is the Captain of the Bainbridge, he's the one who has balls.

"Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said Phillips was tied up and in "imminent danger" of being killed when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to order his men to shoot. Gortney said Navy snipers took aim at the pirates' heads and shoulders."

[anthony]

I don't know if i'd be so quick to heap praise on Bama, ok, so he allowed his Admirals to make decisions..but that's supposed to happen anyway,who i would praise is the Captain of the Bainbridge, he's the one who has balls.

"Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said Phillips was tied up and in "imminent danger" of being killed when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to order his men to shoot. Gortney said Navy snipers took aim at the pirates' heads and shoulders."

EXACTLY SIR!! This took NO balls on the part of Obama...thank you USN for quick, decisive action. Now Obama has a chance to show he has a set in how he deals with piracy in the future...we need to be proactive and not reactive.

[Big Fish Billy]

I don't know if i'd be so quick to heap praise on Bama, ok, so he allowed his Admirals to make decisions..but that's supposed to happen anyway,who i would praise is the Captain of the Bainbridge, he's the one who has balls.

"Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said Phillips was tied up and in "imminent danger" of being killed when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to order his men to shoot. Gortney said Navy snipers took aim at the pirates' heads and shoulders."

I agree with your assessment, I think Obama hopped in after the rescue was made, to take the credit. The Navy had their plan in place and was waiting for the next opportunity after missing the first. 4 or 5 days bobbing around in that cork had taken it's toll and the pirates were likely glad for the offer of "calmer water." The best thing Obama could have done is keep quiet and let the credit go where it was deserved, a simple "job well done." I heard one story that I think has credibility though, once the Taliban sees how successful these misfit pirates have become, and the millions they are easily making, they are going to get involved in piracy too, so a better security plan for these merchant ships needs to get in place quickly. We've all watched enoughTV to know hostage negotiation is a 50%-%50% game, and it's a science. This case exhibited the value of it, if the pirates would have responded positively, everyone would have went home for supper, unfortunately for them, they didn't. As for the threat from the pirate clan, the die is cast, the cards are on the table, if you go through that area, without protection....But SEALS, great shooting...........