First Conservative - Political Humor and Obamatudes

Over the weekend, the United States Navy ended the forced captivity of Captain Richard Phillips who was being held by pirates off the Somali coast.  The Captain of the USS Bainbridge ordered Navy SEALs to open fire when the situation deteriorated to the point where – in the Commander’s judgment – Captain Phillips’ life was seriously threatened.  The SEALs killed three pirates with three simultaneous shots.  All’s well that ends well.

Receiving the news of Captain Phillips’ freedom, the press was quick to present the operation as proof positive of President Obama’s ability to handle a foreign crisis.  Although the extent of Obama’s involvement appears to be providing the battlefield commander permission to use force in the event Captain Phillips’ life was threatened, the press celebrated His “hands-off” approach as a major success. 

Obama may soon regret receiving credit for freeing Captain Phillips.  During the rescue, three thugs – or Somali nationals – were killed.  Naturally, the remainder of the Somali thug community is incensed at the loss of their business partners.  Vowing to take revenge on other hostages and to kill crew members unfortunate enough to be caught up in future hijackings, the pirates have escalated at least the war of words.  Should these outlaws make good on their threat to kill US nationals in future raids, Obama will have a test of a much different sort. 

Should a loss of life under these circumstances occur, Obama would naturally visit the UN to develop new sanctions against starving Somalia.  Consistent with past liberal foreign policy efforts (incidentally including yesterday’s UN condemnation of North Korea) this would not only fail, it would prove laughable.  Should the pirates take US captives, Obama would have to use military force – probably unilaterally – to affect a rescue.  It would be very interesting to see how the press would handle an Obama-led unilateral military action.  Acting unilaterally to fight world terrorism was a key point of contention during the campaign.  However, hostages in Somalia would have the same electoral impact as hostages in Tehran.

Obama actually has a mess on his hands now.  He assuredly will take the case to the United Nations even though the current situation is resolved, as He wants to see some kind of action taken against piracy.  It will be difficult to craft a statement of condemnation stern enough for pirates who can’t read.  And when it comes time for action, Obama will be content to make a speech.  Of course this will encourage the next act of piracy unless the USS Bainbridge is nearby. 

Obama’s lack of experience and unwillingness to use military force elevates the risk that he will be compelled to use it.   But in the words of Captain Jack Sparrow - ‘Silly old world isn’t it?”  President Obama is now viewed in parts of Africa as the American Bully that Obama Himself campaigned against.

Every international incident involving Americans held against their will generates pressure upon US leadership to ‘do something.’  After weeks of listening to Secretary of the Treasury justify several radical moves to take over parts of the US economy using the phrase, “we had to do something,” the administration to date has done nothing about the Somali pirate crisis.  When asked on Thursday about the pirate crisis, President Obama responded “we are talking about housing now.”  The pirate community in Somalia was relieved.

Last week, pirates based in lawless Somalia attempted to seize the Maersk Alabama – a US flagged cargo ship as it was headed for Kenya.  Without weapons, the ship’s crew outwitted the attackers, but Capitan Richard Phillips was taken hostage and is being held onboard the ship’s lifeboat.  US destroyer Bainbridge is on the scene but has not been able to affect Philips’ rescue.

Late Saturday it was reported that other pirate ships were in the area attempting to rendezvous with the lifeboat on which Phillips is held.  The US policy is unclear at this point.  Should the pirates holding Phillips be able to make contact with others in their network, Phillips would be assured of hostage status for some time to come.  If other vessels approach Alabama’s lifeboat, the captain of the Bainbridge would require permission to use force to prevent it. 

Would the Commander in Chief authorize using force to keep other boats away?  Based on Obama’s housing comment, it isn’t clear that the President would authorize the Bainbridge to fire on other ships.  This invites an escalation of the crisis.

Of course the US administration is concerned for the safety of Phillips.  The decisions made in dealing with outlaws will be watched by the entire world – especially terrorists hostile to the US.  Should the US allow the situation to drag on, or allow Maersk to pay ransom for Phillips’ return, terrorists would rightfully view this as a sign of weakness and an invitation to take other hostages.   Without protection from the US Navy, ships and crews in this area would be at increased risk.

Pirates will now take careful look at the flags flown by prospective target vessels.  Earlier this morning, the French military managed to recover a French-flagged yacht on which three hostages were being held.  One hostage was killed in the action along with all the pirates.  French military now has three successful recovery missions in Somali waters to its credit.  Although one hostage was killed, pirates are looking carefully at what flag a target is flying before moving to capture it.  Pirates are averse to being killed.  If the ship is French-flagged, pirates who don’t want to be killed will wait for the next possible victim.

Should President Obama extend this crisis by allowing negotiations to drag on, or by allowing Captain Phillips to be taken to shore, every US flagged vessel becomes a more valuable and vulnerable target.   US taxpayers would then get the bill for extended military protection of shipping through the Horn of Africa and Captain Phillips’s future would be in doubt.

Obama really only has one choice – allow Bainbridge or a detachment of special forces to take back the lifeboat – capturing the pirate if possible – killing them if necessary.  Does Obama have the backbone for this?  Constituents at home and terrorists abroad want to know soon. 

Obama would do well to follow the French lead and react firmly with force.  Following a European nation might suit the President.  Unfortunately, forcefully defending American interests is not our Leader’s strength.

Modern pirates attempted to seize control of a US flagged vessel Wednesday morning off the coast of Somalia.  The crew outwitted the invaders once they had boarded, but when the pirates left the ship, they took Captain Richard Phillips with them in the ship’s lifeboat.  When informed of the incident, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that she was “Deeply Concerned.”

Clinton should be ‘Deeply Concerned’ over the incident.  There are many international considerations to juggle.  First, it must be determined whether or not the crew of the Maersk Alabama acted in accordance with international maritime law in resisting the attempted seizure.  The Secretary must also determine whether or not the crew violated the Somali pirates’ human rights if they defended themselves.  Included in this consideration would be the question of torture.  Did any of the crew torture a Somali pirate by helping him overboard? 

President Obama has additional worries.  Although this is the first US flagged vessel to be boarded in this area, other nations are currently negotiating for the return of their ships and crews.  Obama must be conscious of injuring these nations’ self esteem should the US be successful in retrieving ship and crew from the pirate’s control.  After his European apology tour, Obama has taken responsibility for preserving the national pride of every nation on earth except the United States.  Successfully regaining control of the Alabama might reflect poorly on those nations with insufficient resources to do the same.  And if the US Navy successfully recovers the ship’s captain, He will have to apologize for being a bully.

The crew should be honored for resisting capture and President Obama deserves some credit.  Watching the pirates approach, the crew may have had thoughts of months of captivity (or worse) running through their minds.  With Obama handling the negotiations, though, the crew probably considered that their chances for survival were much improved by resisting.  Getting killed defending one’s ship or trying to avoid capture is better than rotting in a Mogadishu mud-house while the President and Secretary of State try to be nice to the hostage-holders.

The most interesting part of the story will be revealed when  the crew tells its story and discusses motivations.  When confronted by Somali pirates, crews from other nations simply consent to be captured.  Something in the American sprit drove this crew to do otherwise.