Remember, journalists don’t get into the business to tell us all what happened anymore. They get into journalism to “make a difference” and one might add, “by any means necessary”….
Obama’s quiet backstage decision to authorize the Defense Department to take necessary action if Capt. Richard Phillips’ life was in imminent danger gave a Navy commander the go-ahead to order snipers to fire on the pirates holding the cargo ship captain at gunpoint.
Obama’s handling of the crisis showed a president who was comfortable in relying on the U.S. military, much as his predecessor, George W. Bush, did.
The rescue appeared to vindicate Obama’s muted but determined handling of the incident. What won’t be known for some time is whether Obama will benefit politically.
So, using the military like President Bush did is now a good thing, but at the end of the day, it’s a question if his using the military is of benefit to him. Thanks, Ms. Loven, for spelling it out to all of us.
somehow the precision of the operation seems to be outside of O’s comprehension. It’s hard to imagine giving the go-ahead to this. I’m glad the situation worked out the way it did, but for MY money, it could’ve been an issue of “save them now, screw what the brass says”
we don’t know for sure, but again, it just screams “beyond O’s area of expertise”