Subject: FW: Pirate/Seal True Story This was received from a friend who has a contact in the army. I can't verify whether these are the facts surrounding the event. RR <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>Subject: Pirate/Seal True Story This is from a fellow I was in the army with who stayed in. This is some of the banter he had with his contacts. Having spoken to some SEAL pals here in Virginia Beach yesterday and asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I got the following: 1. BHO wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to the scene for 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander) recommendation. 2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their ROE that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in "imminent" danger 3. The first time the hostage jumped, the SEALS had the raggies all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction 4. When the navy RIB came under fire as it approached with supplies, no fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the raggies were shooting at the RIB, they were exposed and the SEALS had them all dialed in. 5. BHO specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the Bainbridge CPN and SEAL teams 6. Bainbridge CPN and SEAL team CDR finally decide they have the OpArea and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead raggies 7. BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behaviour. As usual with him, it's BS. So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Oohbaby's performace to D-. Only reason it's not an F is that the hostage survived. Read the following accurate account. Philips’ first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his country’s Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison, enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear shot at his captors — and none was taken. The guidance from National Command Authority — the president of the United States , Barack Obama — had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the hostage’s life was in clear, extreme danger. The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the floating raft was fired on by the Somali pirates — and again no fire was returned and no pirates killed. This was again due to the cautious stance assumed by Navy personnel thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a mandate from the commander in chief’s staff not to act until Obama, a man with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of decisiveness, decided that any outcome other than a “peaceful solution” would be acceptable. After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the onscenecommander decided he’d had enough. Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostage’s life and having heard nothing from Washington since yet another request to mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before, the Navy officer — unnamed in all media reports to date — decided the AK47 one captor had leveled at Philips’ back was a threat to the hostage’s life and ordered the NSWC team to take their shots. Three rounds downrange later, all three brigands became enemy KIA and Philips was safe. There is upside, downside, and spinside to the series of events over the last week that culminated in yesterday’s dramatic rescue of an American hostage. Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration and its supporters claimed victory against pirates in the Indian Ocean and [1] declared that the dramatic end to the standoff put paid to questions of the inexperienced president’s toughness and decisiveness. Despite the Obama administration’s (and its sycophants’) attempt to spin yesterday’s success as a result of bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours — as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and its team of NSWC operators to steam to the location — became an embarrassing four day and counting standoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship. I got this through some local PD channels....that are ex military and have many friends and family still serving today... Bill
I had thought by reading between the lines of the first reports out that this was probably the case. The commander of the Bainbridge was adament in stressing the fact that he interpreted the pirates actions as posing and "imminent threat". I believe that the orders were only to inervene if he was in immediate danger of being killed. The commander says " they have guns and thier pointing them in his direction, okay take em out." The hero of this story is the Bainbridge Captain, certainly not Obammy. I was just reading this article on WND last night http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=95451
Yes, dammit, there was. The initial reports indicated that zero gave permission (not ordered) to act as COS recommended, and that permission was granted after the skipper jumped off the lifeboat. There was nothing in the press, anywhere, that said zero had restrained COS hand ahead of that time. I am dismayed at the ROE. And now, more than ever before, convinced that zero is unsuited for the office. We cannot continue to issue ROEs that hold our hand for fear of irritating some pissant warlord. TR had it right; we just have to use the big stick a few times. Thus spake me, and maybe me only.
I figured the same, reading between the lines. Kudos to the Bainbridge skipper for having the cojones to give the order, and to the SEAL snipers for ending the threat. As for Zero, I continue to have nothing but the utmost contempt. Again it shows this man has NO business warming the Big Chair in the Oval Office. We need a PRESIDENT, not a popstar with delusions of granduer.
"Was there any doubt(?)" Zero would obstruct the whole operation Sorry just being my ol' negative self...
When the skipper left the boat for his swim, the boat should have disappeared. I thought it amazing at the time that the skinnies were blown out of the water when they had a clear shot. The ROE should be dictated by the Commanding Officer on scene, there is no reason that skipper should have been in that life raft for five frickin' days. Osama is indeed ignorant, unsuitable, and does not have the balls to be the CIC.
It reminds me of something my dad wrote in his Korean War journal when he was an Army Aerial Observer. "... once we’re airborne, I’m in command of the flight and the sole judge of where to go."
Can't agree more, the commander on the scene is trained. prepared, and has always had a far better grasp of the situation than any politician or appointee 15,000 miles away. Thought we learned that lesson with LBJ and Mc namara???
