Pirates seize U.S. freighter, hold captain for ransom

[Don Corleone]

Sorry for the delayed response there, chief.

What is a "vote present" attitude, please?

Rather than taking an active position for or against particular legislation, President Obama set new records with recording a "present" vote (essentially abstaining) while serving as a legislator in the Illinois State House. He brought that trick with him to the Senate, and I was expressing dismay that it would guide his executive policies as well, and relief that early signs seem to point to my being mistaken in that belief.

I'm intrigued why you think the Commander in Chief should be discussing options in public. Wouldn't that rather compromise any operation, such as the one just completed?

Commenting on the planning of a response? Absolutely, he should keep quiet about it. Expressing outrage? Seems like a no-brainer. I would have thought he would have made a pretty loud saber rattling speech about the whole affair within the first couple of days.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Rather than taking an active position for or against particular legislation, President Obama set new records with recording a "present" vote (essentially abstaining) while serving as a legislator in the Illinois State House. He brought that trick with him to the Senate, and I was expressing dismay that it would guide his executive policies as well, and relief that early signs seem to point to my being mistaken in that belief.

Ah, thank you for explaining.

Commenting on the planning of a response? Absolutely, he should keep quiet about it. Expressing outrage? Seems like a no-brainer. I would have thought he would have made a pretty loud saber rattling speech about the whole affair within the first couple of days.

I think sabre-rattling speeches are over-blown and usually counter-productive. Sometimes (hostages being a very good example) the bluster backfires and you look a right fool. Speak softly and carry a big stick, which is what he seems to have done - and sent a useful message into the bargain.

[Tribesman]

I think sabre-rattling speeches are over-blown and usually counter-productive.

Don't be silly , we meed Obama to do a good old wanted dead or alive ,with us or against us, round up a posse and launch a crusade to head the pirates off at the pass sorta speech .
Thats what real leaders do , and Obamas refusing to do it is just him selfishly denying people the oppertunity to laugh at him for it .

[Vuk]

Not sure if you all have seen this, but it looks like our dear pres was playing political games with this man's life. If the SEALS could have taken them out with less risk to the captain, why the was it not done? Why did it take Obama so long to make up his mind in a situation like this that could have gotten ugly in a split second. Sure, we don't want to rush into things like idiots, but at the same time, we need someone who can make logical and fully thought out decision in a very pressed time frame. That is one of the most important things that a Commander in Chief should be judged on. If he is this slow with a tiny situtation like this, how is he gonna be when he has something really serious, where the actions he takes could result in WWIII or in a peaceful resolution? If what this article says is true, I think Mr Obama is a pretty poor CiC indeed.

[Husar]

Not sure if you all have seen this, but it looks like our dear pres was playing political games with this man's life. If the SEALS could have taken them out with less risk to the captain, why the was it not done? Why did it take Obama so long to make up his mind in a situation like this that could have gotten ugly in a split second. Sure, we don't want to rush into things like idiots, but at the same time, we need someone who can make logical and fully thought out decision in a very pressed time frame. That is one of the most important things that a Commander in Chief should be judged on. If he is this slow with a tiny situtation like this, how is he gonna be when he has something really serious, where the actions he takes could result in WWIII or in a peaceful resolution? If what this article says is true, I think Mr Obama is a pretty poor CiC indeed.

So you really think the pirates would have shot the guy? And what would then have stopped the SEALs from shooting the pirates? So if the pirates where trying to get out alive, why would they shoot the guy? The only reason they could not get away alive and release the captain was that the US forces did not want them to, they endangered the captain by not allowing the pirates to escape in the first place.
The only reason to shoot the captain would have been to take him with them if they thought they'd die anyway. the pirates make mones with ransoms, once they start killing people they start destroying their own "business".
I'd say the captain endangered himself when he jumped off the boat, the pirates could have shot him if his life hadn't been that important for their own.

[Lemur]

In other words, no matter what happens, we can still blame Obama. That's a relief.

Would have been better if I linked to New York Times, huh? :P

Yeah, why bother with any media outlet that even tries to be accurate? Everybody knows that sourced reporting has a liberal bias.

P.S.: Vuk, I have an article about how Obama bathes in the blood of virgins in a vain attempt to preserve his youth. You're gonna love it!

[Vuk]

Yeah, why bother with any media outlet that even tries to be accurate? Everybody knows that sourced reporting has a liberal bias.

P.S.: Vuk, I have an article about how Obama bathes in the blood of virgins in a vain attempt to preserve his youth. You're gonna love it!

lol Lemur...come on. Are you seriously denying that the New York Times is biased toward the left? That would be like me denying that Fox is biased toward the right. Give me a break, please.

[Swoosh So]

Id be more worried that you have such biased media, thats not true news and reporting your getting in such a case.

[Lemur]

lol Lemur...come on. Are you seriously denying that the New York Times is biased toward the left? That would be like me denying that Fox is biased toward the right. Give me a break, please.

Why the name change, Vuk?

I would argue that news sources that attempt to be accurate are more reliable than news sources that don't even bother, in much the same way that a man who attempts to be virtuous is superior to a man who doesn't try. They may both fail, but they fail in different ways, and one is objectively superior to the other.

[Furunculus]

So you really think the pirates would have shot the guy? And what would then have stopped the SEALs from shooting the pirates? So if the pirates where trying to get out alive, why would they shoot the guy? The only reason they could not get away alive and release the captain was that the US forces did not want them to, they endangered the captain by not allowing the pirates to escape in the first place.
The only reason to shoot the captain would have been to take him with them if they thought they'd die anyway. the pirates make mones with ransoms, once they start killing people they start destroying their own "business".
I'd say the captain endangered himself when he jumped off the boat, the pirates could have shot him if his life hadn't been that important for their own.

and of course people are perfectly rational when they are staring down the barrel of a warship whilst committing an illegal act which gives carte blanche to anybody to retaliate against you..............

[Husar]

and of course people are perfectly rational when they are staring down the barrel of a warship whilst committing an illegal act which gives carte blanche to anybody to retaliate against you..............

Yes, you're right, it would have been less dangerous for the captain without all those warships around...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Yes, you're right, it would have been less dangerous for the captain without all those warships around...

Absolutely. And it would be far less dangerous if we just paid the ransom for the ship & crew promptly -- after all, the pirates have the primary rights to that property anyway. We should probably be thankful that they set the tolls so reasonably.

[Furunculus]

Yes, you're right, it would have been less dangerous for the captain without all those warships around...

awesome idea, and when i'm being mugged the police shouldn't intervene either, as that may introduce additional risk to both myself, the mugger, and the police themselves.

it would be a brutal violation of all of our inalienable human right to personal safety, at all times, and in all circumstances, available to all, without discrimination of any kind (including common-sense), and supplied with a free bunny for all involved (not a living creature of course, that would be cruel).

[Vuk]

Speak softly and carry a big stick, which is what he seems to have done - and sent a useful message into the bargain.

Yeah, a big, slow stick, being swung by an indecisive CiC it sounds like. Not the ideal message we want to be sending. A fast, hard, accurate and effective strike would have sent a much better message than the sloppy job he did according to that article.

[Tribesman]

according to that article.

WND is known for reliability

[Vuk]

WND is known for reliability

Would have been better if I linked to New York Times, huh? :P I do not visit WND, I got this article from a friend, so I do not know how reliable it is, but a quick google search did not bring up any reason for me to believe it is an unreliable site.

[Strike For The South]

Would have been better if I linked to New York Times, huh? :P I do not visit WND, I got this article from a friend, so I do not know how reliable it is, but a quick google search did not bring up any reason for me to believe it is an unreliable site.

Every time you link to WND God kills an infant

when this is the top headline