The Commander-in-Cheat

Russian Proverb:-
“Words are like a sparrow. Once released, they cannot be recaptured.”

I first came across the following story several days ago. To me it was so controversial that I dare not post it until I had checked it out. Well, now I can tell you that four separate sources have confirmed the entire essence, if not every detail and acronym, it contains. I will not jeopardize those sources by naming them but you, of course, are welcome to do your own research.

Anyway here goes with the real story of Obama's 'Decision-Making' with respect to the pirates and their hostage.

According to some Navy SEALs from Virginia Beach this is why it dragged out for 4 days.

1. Barack Hussein Obama (BHO) wouldn't authorize the SEAL teams to go to the scene for 36 hours against the OSC (on scene commander) recommendation and request.

2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their ROE (rules of engagement) that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in "imminent" danger.

3. The first time the hostage jumped into the sea, the SEALS had the pirates all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction

4. When the navy RIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) came under fire as it approached with supplies, no fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the pirates 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-based authority and SEAL teams.

6. The Bainbridge’s Captain and the SEAL team CDR (commander) finally decide they have the OpArea and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead pirates.

Those are the bare bones; now read a fleshed out account and in the interests of accuracy I have made no attempt to clean up the typos.

“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 spin side 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.”

“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.”

Further comment from me would be superfluous and unhelpful.