Jeff Emanuel at Redstate.org provides a fairly partisan view of the Maersk-Alabama incident in the Indian Ocean. If you check out his editorial, you'll get a heaping spoonful of Obama contempt. Emanuel argues that the administration is essentially stealing credit for a situation that they completely bungled by allowing it to go on for some time - almost 5 days.
We're waiting to hear David Axe's assessment. David (over at warisboring.com and WIRED) is an independent freelance journalist who has spent time tracking Somali pirates. He's also a lot less inclined to let his possible partisan views taint his evaluation of situations. At the time of this writing, David has not posted anything; but we understand he's travelling in Afghanistan, and we continue to pray for his safety...and for his ability to access the Internet.
Emanuel was in the military and would seemingly have a good grasp of military tactics. Based on that background he asserts that the administration showed its inexperience and indecisiveness in this latest foreign policy flare-up. "Inexperience" and "Indecisiveness" are the running memes/narratives on the right these days...that along with referring to Obama as "President Pantywaist."
But looking at the basic facts, wasn't patience possibly a virtue (He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.)? When the Indian Navy (pictured above in the AP photo) took out a Thai ship that was being used by the pirates as a mother ship, Thai hostages were killed. When French commandos stormed a ship over the past few days, a hostage was killed. In the case of Captain Phillips, he was in an enclosed lifeboat being towed by a US destroyer. Waiting the pirates out would seem the best way to get an optimal ending. A rush to action may have been emotionally satisfying, but could have led to a similar tragic outcome. In addition, the Indian Navy's isolated aggressiveness during the last quarter of 2008 did not deter pirate activity. More coordinated work from a variety of navies is likely necessary. This assessment is based on the actions that can be correlated with reduced pirate activity around Indonesia. It would have only been fair to explore that perspective.
It's fair to assert that the administration may have been latching onto something they had little to do with except to give the folks on the ground (both the Navy and the FBI) the space to operate freely with explicit direction to take drastic action when deemed appropriate. But to be fair, the White House has not held even a meaningful press conference to "take advantage" of the events. As one Skewz.com commentator mentioned, there was no "Mission Accomplished" banner.
Deconstructing a situation in a meaningful way would at least involve looking at the advantages and disadvantages of various possible decisions. The commenting class is focused on persuading versus informing. That persuasion too often relies primarily on emotional appeals versus intellectual ones.
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"Indian Navy Destroys Pirate Ship in Gulf of Aden
By Steve Herman
New Delhi
19 November 2008
For the second time in a week, India's navy has repelled pirates in the Gulf of Aden. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that compared to other navies patrolling the pirate-infested water, India's warships are showing no hesitation in opening fire to thwart hijackings and protect their national interests beyond its shores."
1. Emmanuel repeated the inaccurate info that Captain Phillips dove overboard a second time and allowed the snipers a clear shot at the pirates. In fact CNN has already cleared that up- Captain Phillips did NOT dive overboard a second time. In fact the snipers started shooting when they saw the pirates point an AK47 at Cpt Phillips' back.
2. Emmanuel gave absolutely on sources for his assertion that Obama insisted on a 'peaceful resolution' where no pirates are harmed in the production. In fact Obama gave clear orders to shoot if Cpt Phillps' life is in danger
3. Emmanuel made it sound like Obama did not do anything and wrung his hands while the commander of the Bainbridge took amtters into his own hands. When in fact the Navy snipers were flown in. They secretly parachuted onto the Bainbridge. Far from sitting there wringing his hands- somebody in the Obama administration actively put things together for this rescue.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53900
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/12/captain-richard-phillips_n_185983.html
It is always easy to second guess a situation. The president is not omnipresent. My question just how much do we expect from one man or woman republican or democrat. It seems every event that happens in the world we lay at the feet of the president. This is why we have the CIA, navy, army, air force and diplomatic core. They should be handling a handful of pirates.
Also, you would think if a ship owner has a tanker with 100 million dollars of cargo, they would at least have a security force on board. It is their job to protect their property in international waters not wait for the president of the United States to fix it.
These guys just want some screw-up to hang around our president's neck. It's sad that even something like this becomes partisan fodder. I'm sure if Captain Phillips had not survived his ordeal the right would be blaming Obama alone somehow.
With one of the pirates on the Navy ship trying to get the other 3 to give up there was no need to take the fatal action that finally happened until the Captains life was believed to truly be in danger.
Truth be know, I'll be willing to bet the okay to use deadly force came from President Obama. When to pull the triggers, I'm also sure, was left up to the on scene commander.
Way to go Obama!
Not smart.
I think Obama did exactly the right thing. He told the commander on scene to exercise his judgment and let him make the call. Just imagine what would have happened if that guy had to call Obama to get the okay to take the shot. That delay may have proven fatal to the hostage.
The French lost one hostage in their attempt. Sad, but still the correct move. Good for Obama and the French. Criminals can never be rewarded. And all the more reason for our highly skilled military.
This situation will prove to be a great test of international cooperation and I look to the UN to show its worth in dealing with piracy. The laws on the high seas are a perfect showcase for international cooperation. We shall see but I am optimistic.
This is not a new problem. It's just the first American ship taken in something like a hundred years. So where has all this "international cooperation" and the UN been over the years? There are lots of ships and hundreds of hostages being held currently.
Guess what todays news brings? Yup, another ship taken. Who is going to go and get it back, or will they just pay the ransom?