Vicious Rants of an Angry Yellow Man

It was, of course, great news that Captain Phillips was rescued. The captain, his crew, and the navy SEALS all did their job heroically. What I don't understand is why people are saying that Obama passed his first crisis as president. Just like when people questioned before if Obama had the strength to lead the military, I am confused. I asked then: what strength do you need to send the best trained and best equipped military to fight? It is not as if the president has to pick up a gun and fight the bad guys himself. In this case, he did what he and any other reasonably intelligent person would have done: give the authority to the people on the scene to make the judgment to kill if necessary. It is like going to Afghanistan after 9/11, anyone could have made that call. It is making stupid calls like going to Iraq that really separate the dumb ones from the smart ones.

Obama did what he was supposed to and got lucky. If the captain had been harmed during the rescue, he would have been blamed even though he had given the same order. Luck plays a big role, just ask Jimmy Carter whose rescue attempt of the Iranian hostages ended miserably through no fault of his.

Now what do we do about the pirates. Obviously the navy can't protect all of our ships not to mention those of other countries. Going to Somalia would be a risky proposition even though some have suggested that it would not be like going into Mogudishu during the Clinton years because the pirates are located on the coast. But if we are to attack their position, wouldn't they try to hide among the civilians inland like Hamas do in Gaza? Certainly we cannot go in without support of other countries. In the short term, the commercial companies will have to hire mercenaries to protect the ships. In the long term only by helping Somalia estabish a stable government will these acts of piracy become extinct. Good luck with that!