In our initial installment of this timely question, let’s direct it towards the Somali pirate/hostage situation. For some reason, the Obama Administration hasn’t made any pertinent public statements about this maritime pestilence, and as the Navy was called to the scene to watch the container company comply with a ransom, I ask “What would Bush do?
U.S. military commanders have already prepared battle plans for ending the scourge of piracy on the high seas off Somalia if President Obama pulls the trigger, sources told the Daily News Wednesday. The Navy sent a warship to intercept Somali pirates Wednesday who hijacked a U.S.-flagged freighter, as commanders weighed military options for nailing the brigands’ bases.
Retired U.S. Ambassador Robert Oakley, who was special envoy to Somalia in the 1990s, said U.S. special operations forces have drawn up detailed plans to attack piracy groups where they live on land, but are awaiting orders from the Obama national security team.
“Our special operations people have been itching to clean them up. So far, no one has let them,” Oakley told the Daily News.
It may be the conservative in me clouding my judgment, but something tells me President bush would have “pulled the trigger” yesterday. He wouldn’t be playing the ransom game, setting future ships up for further boardings and ransom demands.
We’ll just have to wait and see IF President Obama pulls the trigger. He may have more important things to do.
Yeah, like ensuring that his teeth remain pearly-white and ensuring his wife gets her exercise for those lovely biceps of hers…
yeesh…
They might be relatives, ya know.
It’s the part of me that holds justice and restitution to a high caliber that would have let the special ops guys do the job. When you do wrong you should have to pay restitution for it, regardless of who you are.
Besides, paying ransom only encourages the bastards.
I suppose that a White House party is in order for his return from giving the US away.
@Kushin – I agree, I’m surprised they didn’t slip a few SEALS in the water to take the guys out of the lifeboat at night, for this situation.
Given that this has been a problem for a few years, I’d be interested to know how long this plan has been in place. Did Bush hear it and give it a pass? I liked Bush MUCH better than O, but there were a number of things regarding international relations that he did that seem out of place; Ramos and Compean come to mind.
While Bush may have pulled the trigger, I honestly believe that after the election when Bush told Obama let me know what you need me to do so you can just walk in here and start going. I don’t believe this was something Obama wanted to do so Bush in being the Respectful guy he is showing himself to be he didn’t do anything.
W would have sent the SEALs.
Bob Parks: “It may be the conservative in me clouding my judgment, but something tells me President bush would have “pulled the trigger” yesterday. He wouldn’t be playing the ransom game, setting future ships up for further boardings and ransom demands.”
At the same time, it must be recognized that Bush did not “pull the trigger” on this situation in all the years of his administration. The piracy has been going on for years.
How long before Jessie Jackson volunteers to go negotiate for the captain’s release. Maybe he can’t swim. Why not work out an exchange? Trade Nancy Pelosi, Hary Reid and Barney Fwank for the captain.
But Ilion, this is the first US-flagged ship that’s been taken.
“..He may have more important things to do.”
like going on vacation