Obama has missed the boat
Gary Loftis
April 12, 2009
Where are our leaders? Foreign pirates have taken a US ship and, once driven back, kidnapped her captain, whom they now hold in a stationary lifeboat within visual range of his ship.
According to a Reuters story, dated April 9, "The Obama administration was careful not to give the crisis too much prominence, with delicate negotiations under way to try to secure the captain's release." The vice-president was quoted as saying, "This is being worked on around the clock since this happened. I'm not in a position right now (to comment)."
What is there to negotiate? The pirates attacked a US-flagged ship -- legally US territory -- in a blatant attempt to take control. They attacked the US as much as the 9-11 terrorists. One does not negotiate with an occupying force; you must crush it not only to regain your territory but also to send a message to future aggressors that any such action will be met with decisive force.
The Obama Administration has already missed the boat on handling this crisis. The first night the pirates held the captain, a SEAL team should have been dispatched in an underwater attack. By now, the pirates would already be in a remote site interrogation, Barack Obama would be enjoying the accolades from both the left and the right, and future pirates would be on notice. Instead, our president, who seems determined to address the world from a position of weakness, is busily "negotiating."
There is a difference between a politician and a leader, as we are witnessing. If this incident is indicative of Mr. Obama´s approach to being Commander-in-Chief, perhaps the American people and our representatives in Congress should reconsider his fitness to hold office.
Where are our leaders?
According to a Reuters story, dated April 9, "The Obama administration was careful not to give the crisis too much prominence, with delicate negotiations under way to try to secure the captain's release." The vice-president was quoted as saying, "This is being worked on around the clock since this happened. I'm not in a position right now (to comment)."
What is there to negotiate? The pirates attacked a US-flagged ship -- legally US territory -- in a blatant attempt to take control. They attacked the US as much as the 9-11 terrorists. One does not negotiate with an occupying force; you must crush it not only to regain your territory but also to send a message to future aggressors that any such action will be met with decisive force.
The Obama Administration has already missed the boat on handling this crisis. The first night the pirates held the captain, a SEAL team should have been dispatched in an underwater attack. By now, the pirates would already be in a remote site interrogation, Barack Obama would be enjoying the accolades from both the left and the right, and future pirates would be on notice. Instead, our president, who seems determined to address the world from a position of weakness, is busily "negotiating."
There is a difference between a politician and a leader, as we are witnessing. If this incident is indicative of Mr. Obama´s approach to being Commander-in-Chief, perhaps the American people and our representatives in Congress should reconsider his fitness to hold office.
Where are our leaders?
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