Quote Originally Posted by BoomBoom View Post
Spicoli, the president is the commander in chief, yes we can lay it at his feet. He should have to answer on his failure to use military force when an oppotunity presented itself. He should have never put out a statement that he wanted the situation resolved with no loss of life. That tells me that he equates a Somali pirates life with an American heros.

The damage has already been done reguardless of the outcome as far as America showing weakness. The second the captain jumped, im sure he thought he would have reinforcement from his fellow countrymen. They should have unloaded on that boat. They should have lit it up. Pirates were never brave enough to even attempt hijacking a US ship, that is until our peacemaker, no violence president took office. I cant help but think that if it was Bush who was still in office it wouldnt have happened, and if it did those pirates would be at the bottom of the ocean right now. Its scary to think how a large scale terrorist attack would be dealt with by this administration of cowards.
I hear you Boom but I'm not coming at this from a pro or con dem or republican...they can all get bent as far as I'm concerned.History is littered with Presidents and bureaucrats hampering and impeding the judgment of the boots on the ground and the ones dealing with it in actuality as opposed to politicos behind a desk,mugging for the camera.Clinton,and the congress for that matter when it came to Somalia in 93'.That was a farcical and total disgrace with the U.N playing lead,they should all hang there heads in shame.Bush administration &that mental midget Donald Rumsfield unwilling to take the gloves off in the very early stages in Afghanistan.Jimmy Carter and his stutter stepping with the Embassy hostages in Iran.Reaganand the Marine Barracks in Beirut.Unfortuanatly,poll numbers and public opinion often trump just cause.

Totally agree that these f!!!!kers should be feeding the fish right now but its just not that open and shut about striking when the Hostage jumped into the water.I am not sure about the communications but am sure the Captain did not have a chance to give the Destroyer a warning.We're talking a matter of yards between he and the pirates and a spontaneous attempt done in an instant.Even if its sighted,they could have just as easily blown the hostage to shite with the Phalanx or other systems.We dont need a dead hostage.The Military is so over regulated and hand cuffed,no crew in a hostage situation is on a fire at wiil status with heavy ordinace involved,ecspecially with the world watching.Is it right...hell no,it gets soldiers killed and lets the opposition pull the strings.Again...there is NO way they can let them reach shore,I think this will be done at close quarters,at night and quickly.Hope it all ends well with he and other hostages intact and this raggedy lot of thugs taking a permanent saltwater nap.

Its equally incumbent on all nations effected to ensure proper escorts to avoid some criminals in patched together rafts and AK's from bringing commerce and security to a screethcing halt.