U.S. captain freed in rescue operation

WIP · April 12, 2009

I haven't seen anyone put it up yet, so if you haven't heard yet, the Navy Seals have rescued the captain who was taken hostage by Somali pirates. This is good news for everyone except the right wing fascists and fanatics like Glenn Beck & Co. who have some deranged dreams of starting an insurrection with their stupid tea party protests!

BTW how is FoxNews spinning this story today? If it hadn't been a successful operation, they would have gone into default soft on terrorism mode!

WASHINGTON — An American sea captain was freed unharmed Sunday in a U.S. navy operation that killed three of the four Somali pirates who had been holding him for days in a lifeboat off the coast of Africa, a senior U.S. intelligence official said.

The official said a pirate who had been involved in negotiations to free the American but who was not on the lifeboat where the captain was being held was taken into custody.

Capt. Richard Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vt., was safely transported to a navy warship nearby.

The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Link http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/2009...12/9093541.html

Edited April 12, 2009 by WIP

Pliny · April 12, 2009

I haven't seen anyone put it up yet, so if you haven't heard yet, the Navy Seals have rescued the captain who was taken hostage by Somali pirates. This is good news for everyone except the right wing fascists and fanatics like Glenn Beck & Co. who have some deranged dreams of starting an insurrection with their stupid tea party protests!

I think Glenn is probably as happy as any other American about the outcome. Good ole Navy seals doing their job.

"Tea party protests" sounds so American - doesn't it?

It isn't a mob like we saw at the G20 summit. Mobs tend to run amok using force and destroying things in their path. Now those are stupid protests. Groups of individuals tend to balance force with reason, mobs are bereft of reason.

daniel · April 12, 2009

If the rescue attempt had been a failure, no doubt the right-wing critics of Obama would have held him responsible in some way - like America is already weakening, etc. But then Rush Limbaugh would have to explain what he means by hoping that Obama would fail if it means a death to an American.

Of course, now that the rescue attempt was successful, there will be no credit given to Obama.

(Somebody will be sure to respond by stating "why would they, Obama had nothing to do with the rescue?")

Edited April 12, 2009 by daniel

Pliny · April 12, 2009

If the rescue attempt had been a failure, no doubt the right-wing critics of Obama would have held him responsible in some way - like America is already weakening, etc. But then Rush Limbaugh would have to explain what he means by hoping that Obama would fail if it means a death to an American.
Of course, now that the rescue attempt was successful, there will be no credit given to Obama.

(Somebody will be sure to respond by stating "why would they, Obama had nothing to do with the rescue?")

So you think Obama deserves credit? But if it had been a failure he should not be blamed?

Obama will most likely offer reward with further cuts to the military budget.

Edited April 12, 2009 by Pliny

jdobbin · April 12, 2009

So you think Obama deserves credit? But if it had been a failure he should not be blamed?

I think FOX's point was that Obama deserves no credit for ordering the successful rescue but that he should be blamed if it went badly.

Obama will most likely offer reward with further cuts to the military budget.

What were the first cuts that he made?

Pliny · April 12, 2009

What were the first cuts that he made?

I will amend my statement to...." further 'potential' cuts."

"President Obama's intention to gut our nation's military will deal a powerful blow to our national and economic security, as well as the future readiness of our forces," Inhofe said.

"While President Obama's short-changing of America's armed forces is deeply disappointing, it is - unfortunately - not a surprise," Cole offered.

Boren said Gates' announcement "of sweeping changes to key defense programs is a significant concern."

"President Obama's military budget cuts reflect misplaced priorities and a sense of naïveté we can ill-afford," Fallin said.

And, according to Sullivan, "Defense cuts like this make you question the Obama administration's spending priorities."

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4026653

Pliny · April 12, 2009

I think FOX's point was that Obama deserves no credit for ordering the successful rescue but that he should be blamed if it went badly.

Do you mean Daniel's point about what he thought would be Fox's response?

jdobbin · April 12, 2009

Do you mean Daniel's point about what he thought would be Fox's response?

I have no idea what Daniel thought FOX would say. My comment was on what FOX has been saying which is that situation was Obama's fault to begin with and that he deserves no credit for ordering the rescue.

jdobbin · April 12, 2009

I will amend my statement to...." further 'potential' cuts."
"President Obama's intention to gut our nation's military will deal a powerful blow to our national and economic security, as well as the future readiness of our forces," Inhofe said.

Inhofe doesn't want to end wasteful spending but McCain does.

From your link:

By far, the strongest statement of support came from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
"I strongly support Secretary Gates' decision to restructure a number of major defense programs," McCain said. "It has long been necessary to shift spending away from weapon systems plagued by scheduling and cost overruns to ones that strike the correct balance between the needs of our deployed forces and the requirements for meeting the emerging threats of tomorrow. Today's announcement is a major step in the right direction."

Shady · April 13, 2009

It's pretty sad that for whatever reason, some of you feel the need to turn this into a partisan political issue. Let's just all be glad the captain was rescued, and leave Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News, and Glenn Beck out of the discussion, since they have absolutely nothing to do with it.

You guys are pathetic, but not suprising.

punked · April 13, 2009

It's pretty sad that for whatever reason, some of you feel the need to turn this into a partisan political issue. Let's just all be glad the captain was rescued, and leave Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News, and Glenn Beck out of the discussion, since they have absolutely nothing to do with it.
You guys are pathetic, but not suprising.

I agree with Shady we should just be happy that the Military, Commander and Chief, and most of all Captain Richard Phillips were amazing success today. I don't know if any other combination could have pulled off such a success. Awesome good job everyone.

bush_cheney2004 · April 13, 2009

I agree with Shady we should just be happy that the Military, Commander and Chief, and most of all Captain Richard Phillips were amazing success today.....

No fun in that....best to extract as much spin and partisanship as possible for another day watching the US of A.

jdobbin · April 13, 2009

It's pretty sad that for whatever reason, some of you feel the need to turn this into a partisan political issue.

That already happened with your conservative friends in the media who blamed Obama for this to begin with and have said Obama deserves no credit for ordering a rescue at the first opportunity.

tango · April 13, 2009

It's pretty sad that for whatever reason, some of you feel the need to turn this into a partisan political issue.

pssst! shady! That's what party hacks are paid here for!

Let's just all be glad the captain was rescued, and leave Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News, and Glenn Beck out of the discussion, since they have absolutely nothing to do with it.

HEAR HEAR!!

WIP · April 13, 2009

I think Glenn is probably as happy as any other American about the outcome. Good ole Navy seals doing their job.

I'll bet! I've seen the clips of this deranged lunatic babbling about Obama being a communist and a coming New World Order. FoxNews is playing a dangerous and reckless game by feeding conspiracy theorist hysteria, by leaving Beck unsupervised, and inviting in fringe internet conspiracy lunatics like Alex Jones, who were never welcome when George was the president. Now that they have lost control of the levers of power in Washington, Republican conservatives are going insane, and Beck and his network are feeding that insanity.

"Tea party protests" sounds so American - doesn't it?

Well, here's another thing that's as American as apple pie: wealthy corporate lobbyists posing as grassroots organizations. Freedom works and Americans For Prosperity, have been identified as the organizers of most of the "spontaneous" local protests planned for April 15th. http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/09/lobbyi...ing-teaparties/

It isn't a mob like we saw at the G20 summit. Mobs tend to run amok using force and destroying things in their path. Now those are stupid protests. Groups of individuals tend to balance force with reason, mobs are bereft of reason.

The G20 protests were bogus! It was a continuous loop of the same protesters breaking the same windows, all because 24 hour news channels have to manufacture headlines when there is no real interesting news to report. Now, if you want to see a real angry group of protesters, check out the continuing demonstrations in Thailand that forced the cancellation of the ASEAN summit, and the evacuation of world leaders by helicopter: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-13-voa7.cfm

The problem with this cynical game of whipping up hysteria in feeble-minded supporters is that this propaganda is already having an effect on mentally unstable fans who have a tenuous grip on reality already: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-sto...er-was-watching

Pliny · April 13, 2009

I have no idea what Daniel thought FOX would say. My comment was on what FOX has been saying which is that situation was Obama's fault to begin with and that he deserves no credit for ordering the rescue.

Now who on Fox said that? I think whoever did needs a reprimand.

I took it that daniel's comment was his opinion of what Fox might say. He didn't say that Fox actually said those things nor did he give a link.

WIP · April 13, 2009

I will amend my statement to...." further 'potential' cuts."
"President Obama's intention to gut our nation's military will deal a powerful blow to our national and economic security, as well as the future readiness of our forces," Inhofe said.

When Dwight D. Eisenhower left office after two terms as president, he warned in his final speech about the growing power of the Military-Industrial Complex. He feared that arguments to spend more and more on building new weapons systems and increasing the size of the military were too seductive, since if they failed the logic test, they could always appeal to fear and insecurity to get their way. Since Eisenhower, no president has been able to deal with the largest and most expensive apparatus in the U.S. government. A good argument can be made that many of the proxy wars over the years, have been deliberately instigated to provide the excuse for bigger, more expensive weapons.

But now the U.S. is at a point in its history where the demands of controlling the world's oceans and trying to control the world's oil supplies may be too much of a burden to bear, added with defense commitments in Germany, Eastern Europe, Bosnia, Albania, South Korea etc.. Like it or not, the U.S. is not going to be able to grow their way out of debt this time, and big cuts to military spending are the only realistic way it's going to happen. That said, the cuts proposed by Robert Gates hardly qualify as major surgery. What you're hearing are the screams of well paid defense contractors and the military bureaucracy in the Pentagon that wants to maintain the status quo.

"President Obama's military budget cuts reflect misplaced priorities and a sense of naïveté we can ill-afford," Fallin said.
And, according to Sullivan, "Defense cuts like this make you question the Obama administration's spending priorities."

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4026653

These Republican clowns have been demanding budget cuts in every domestic government program, but when cuts are made in the war program, Republicans like Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, are whining that it will cost jobs in his state! So tell me, how does spending tax dollars on maintaining military bases provide jobs, but spending on domestic programs does not?

jdobbin · April 13, 2009

Now who on Fox said that? I think whoever did needs a reprimand.

It was on Hannity last week where he blamed Obama for the escalation in pirate attacks and for leaving the American ship without escort.

I took it that daniel's comment was his opinion of what Fox might say. He didn't say that Fox actually said those things nor did he give a link.

FOX wasn't the worst of the bunch. This is what Rush Limbaugh said:

http://mediamatters.org/limbaughwire/2009/04/09#0027

[p]iracy is rebounding precisely because of the American left and the European left's lack of intestinal fortitude -- gonads, if you will -- to categorize these people as they really are and to pursue them on that basis." According to Rush, "enemies of America are friends of the Democrat Party."

bush_cheney2004 · April 13, 2009

.....The problem with this cynical game of whipping up hysteria in feeble-minded supporters is that this propaganda is already having an effect on mentally unstable fans who have a tenuous grip on reality already: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-sto...er-was-watching

Why is this a problem? It's just the usual infotainment news cycle, soon to be replaced by more of the same. Let's see....about time for the annual seal hunt fiasco and news cycle to start up, eh?

Americans kill pirates = dog bites man.

Pirates kidnap/kill Americans = man bites dog.

BubberMiley · April 13, 2009

It's pretty sad that for whatever reason, some of you feel the need to turn this into a partisan political issue.

Yes, because if it went badly, you would never have turned it into a partisan issue against Obama. :lol:

WIP · April 13, 2009

Why is this a problem? It's just the usual infotainment news cycle, soon to be replaced by more of the same. Let's see....about time for the annual seal hunt fiasco and news cycle to start up, eh?
Americans kill pirates = dog bites man.

Pirates kidnap/kill Americans = man bites dog.

That might be true under normal times, but the added pressures of an economy in decline could be the spark to ignite race wars and real violence between Marxist and fascist right wing groups. The former Yugoslavia was able to manage decades of ethnic and religious hatreds between Serbians and Croatians, and Bosnians and Serbians, and Slovenians and Serbians etc. until the economy collapsed in the 90's and scores of unemployed militia members hurried off to storm the armouries for weapons before the other guys could get to them. It didn't take very long for full scale civil war to erupt.

What right wing radio, Foxnews and right bloggers are doing is trying to throw the match in their competing efforts to draw attention to themselves. If Limbaugh finds himself under seige in his South Beach gated community with a mob waiting outside the gates, he may yet live to see the day where he has to regret his greed, selfishness and carelessness about the things he says!

bush_cheney2004 · April 13, 2009

That might be true under normal times, but the added pressures of an economy in decline could be the spark to ignite race wars and real violence between Marxist and fascist right wing groups.

Are you serious....."race wars"....how quaint. There is plenty of "real violence" even in the best of times.

The former Yugoslavia was able to manage decades of ethnic and religious hatreds between Serbians and Croatians, and Bosnians and Serbians, and Slovenians and Serbians etc. until the economy collapsed in the 90's and scores of unemployed militia members hurried off to storm the armouries for weapons before the other guys could get to them. It didn't take very long for full scale civil war to erupt.

Then "we" bombed the shit out of them..."white people" no less....it was a one sided turkey shoot. (

What right wing radio, Foxnews and right bloggers are doing is trying to throw the match in their competing efforts to draw attention to themselves. If Limbaugh finds himself under seige in his South Beach gated community with a mob waiting outside the gates, he may yet live to see the day where he has to regret his greed, selfishness and carelessness about the things he says!

What part of free speech and US of A do you not understand? Stay in Canada if you are afraid of a bit of action after dark.

Edited April 13, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

xul · April 13, 2009

Good ole Navy seals doing their job.

Honestly, I bet it would be more good to some "right wings"(not include "right wing" economists ) if the pirates were killed by "missile shields", "stealth destroyers" or "F-22s" not by a few cheap navy seal snipers...... :unsure:

bush_cheney2004 · April 13, 2009

Honestly, I bet it would be more good to some "right wings"(not include "right wing" economists ) if the pirates were killed by "missile shields", "stealth destroyers" or "F-22s" not by a few cheap navy seal snipers......

Not so cheap....HALO insertion requires aircraft, and SEAL Team training is very expensive. One Arleigh Burke class DDG cost about $800 million USD, with more expense for Aegis System upgrades.

No problem.....China is happy to pay the check.

Oleg Bach · April 13, 2009

Not so cheap....HALO insertion requires aircraft, and SEAL Team training is very expensive. One Arleigh Burke class DDG cost about $800 million USD, with more expense for Aegis System upgrades.
No problem.....China is happy to pay the check.

Somolians are one huge inbred extended family - most pirates are not to swift...most are as young as 17 who barely know how to load an Ak... getting the "priates" was a lot like sniping a drunken hillbilly standing on a hill in the Kentucky back waters. Big deal..not impressed...would be impressed if you opened up the doors to this nation and brought in 59 thousand of them to displace Mexican illegal workers - at least you could keep an eye on them seeing they all look like twins - Toronto has a ton of these tribes men - and they all look EXACTLY the same.. :rolleyes: