On Pirates...

Pirates are for hanging.

Pirates are not a law enforcement issue.

You do not negotiate with pirates.

Pirates are why Marines were invented.

Christ on a crutch, if M'bonga is bungling this little test, how much is he going to fuck up something big.

I made jokes about Carter, but M'bonga is making Carter's foreign policy disasters look positively Churchillian.

Captain Free...3 Skinnys Dead

 U.S. officials said a pirate who had been involved in negotiations to free Phillips but who was not on the lifeboat during the rescue was in military custody. FBI spokesman John Miller said that would change as the situation became "more of a criminal issue than a military issue."

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said prosecutors were looking at "evidence and other issues" to determine whether to bring a case in the United States. The pirate could face a life sentence if convicted, officials said.

See No. 1 Above

    Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over the shooting of their comrades, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday.

    "The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now," Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.

I read this and heard Scooby Doo's voice in my head...

Ruh-roh!

I applaud being on the same side as the frogs on this one...at least until their (or ours for that matter) politicians get into the act.

Update:  From Ace

It was not a planned assault. What they are saying is that there was an imminent danger to Captain Philips and the on scene commander (I think that's the commander of USS Bainbridge) gave the order to take the pirates down. Apparently there was an AK pointed at Philips and the commander authorized snipers to take their shots. It was a split section decision.

They had standing authority from the President to take action in the case of an imminent threat to the hostage's life.

The SEAL snipers were on Bainbridge about 20 meters or so from the life boat and sea conditions were 'deteriorating'. It sounded like Bainbridge had the life boat under tow at the time.

I'm guessing the early reports of a 'fire fight' were somewhat over stated. It seems 3 shots, 3 ex-pirates is more like the case.

As for Obama's role in this, it seems it was neither heroic nor stupid. This is as it should be. He seems to have given his approval to the military's requests for authority and then let them do their thing. He did his job, that's enough for now.

Comment of the Day...

Dont bring a Somali to a SEAL fight. - Kempermanx on Ace