>>>> > This was past on by a Naval friend................
>>>> >
>>>> > Having spoken to some SEAL pals here in Virginia Beach yesterday and
>>>> > asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I got the following:
>>>> >
>>>> > 1.  BHO wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to the scene > for
>>>> > 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander) recommendation.
>>>> > 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 raggies 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"
>>>> > behaviour.  As usual with him, it's BS.
>>>> >
>>>> > So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Oohbaby's performace 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
>>>> > onscenecommander 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 [1] declared that the
>>>> > dramatic end to the standoff put
>>>> > paid to questions of the inexperienced president's toughness and
>>>> > decisiveness.

>>>> > Despite the Obama administration's (and its sycophants') attempt to
>>>> > spin yesterday's success as a result
>>>> > of bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the
>>>> > reality is nothing of the sort.
>>>> > What should have been a standoff lasting only hours - as long as it
>>>> > took the USS Bainbridge and its
>>>> > team of NSWC operators to steam to the location - became an
>>>> > embarrassing four day and counting
>>>> > standoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S
>>>> > Navy warship.