Those “3am” calls Hillary talked about just seem to keep coming. NK missile test. First American flagged vessel overtaken by pirates in over 200 years. Obama’s response; declines comment, no response and no action. Hillary laughs. Robert Gibbs on the subject: “ah, um, ah, well.” Obama doesn’t even offer a prayer for the safety of Captain Richard Phillips, instead, outsourced the issue to minor funtionaries
Advisers say he’s leaving the heavy lifting — and, clearly, the commenting — to high-level administration officials and his military commanders.
As the current saying goes “what would the Left say if this was Bush in charge?” Certainly not a conference in the kiddie playground.
Meanwhile, pirate test 2
Pirates captured a U.S.-owned and Italian-flagged tugboat with 16 crew including 10 Italians on Saturday in the latest hijacking in the busy Gulf of Aden.
“We can confirm that 10 Italians were kidnapped but we have no further details,” an Italian foreign ministry official said.
I guess we’ll have to wait to see if the Obama administration, which, last time I looked, was Constitutionally charged with defending American citizens and property, will even comment, much less do anything. Will anyone do something about the 260+ hostages that pirates are holding? Pretty sad when the French government has more cajones then the American government.
And, of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without a progressive making excuses for the pirates. Piracy may be somewhat romantic, and cool in the movies (FYI: my blog and screen name come from having gone to East Carolina U, the home of the pirates, not because I think piracy is great,) but, in reality, it is something that needs to be stamped out.
And another who goes with the tired old “let’s blame Bush.”
Others: Pajamas Media, The Strata-Sphere, A Blog For All, Michelle Malkin, Hot Air, Ace, and The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room
Teach during the Bush years the pirates collected 200 million in ransoms. Obama doubled our Navy presence there. Now just how bad is this ? Well the US ship got away pretty much immediately. We have one hostage taken. Did you ever realize tat the piracy began in Puntland in northern Somalia and that this was the aresa that was allied with the USA against the islamist Islamic Courts Union ? These were our pirates in the begining. Sort of like our heroin selling warlords in Afghanistan fighting the islamic Taliban.
Also exactly who loses when the pirates take a ship ? Not the crew they continue to be paid at the extra haz duty pay supplement. Not the insurance companies they have been able to raise their premiums 1000% percent. Did you realize that at the biggest pirate port Ely that they now have multiple NEW restaurants that exist only to cater meals to the foreign crews ? If you were crew on a boat would YOU risk your life to fight for the owners of the ship and the owners of the cargo ? I thought you rooted for the pirates anyway?
And as far as this new tug, American owned but Italian flagged ? Well maybe if they were paying taxes to the American government like I do I would be a bit more anxious to see us involved. Let the Italians handle it they were making the money
Also Teach smaller vessels have been taken often that were American documented and flags. MAny were used for drug smuggling
[…] another ship. This time it was flagged with Italy’s colors. William Teach at The Pirate’s Cove wonders when the Administration will even comment on the situation, let alone […]
Somali islamopirates hijack Italian-manned tugboat…
The seabound criminals are continuing their reign of terror, and have added a tugboat from Italy to their hit list…
yeah Teach let’s go in with guns blazing like the French did so what if a hostage dies.
Het wait a minute the French negotiated for months and offered to pay the ransom Are you sure this shows more balls than us ?
John, he does seem rather unengaged, though. The least he could have done was say something about the captain. But, not, he has said nothing. Apparently, getting the new puppy was more important.
The French realized the futility of negotiations. It just leads to more hostage taking.
A US flagged ship had not been taken by pirates, John.
Teach do you think that the fact that these “[pirates” were fighting the islamic courts union had anything to do with the fact that for many years under a unnamed POTUS they were allowed to collect 150-200 million in ransoms ?
Teach I think that this is probably best left to the commanders on the ground to deal with, without interference from D.C. don’t you ?
“William Teach” ??? Was that the name of one of your college instructors ? Is Somalia part of your Pirate Republic ?
OBAMA now tested and APPROVED !!!!
John, I think it is best handled by the commanders on the ground. My issue with Obama on this is that he could have at least said something in support of Captain Phillips. Obama seemed detached from the situation.
My middle name is William. Blackbeard spent lots of time on the North Carolina coast. His real name was supposedly Edward Teach. Check my about page for my real name, if ye want.
But, the question is, will they keep testing? I would like to see him lay the smackdown on them, such as coming out and saying “any pirate taking any American or American flagged vessel hostage will be severely dealt with, with the might of the US military.” That is not a blast at Obama, since no one, not Bush, not Clinton, nor other world leaders, have stated they will use the might of their nation against this pissants who can create quite a bit of trouble. Someone needs to out the fear into these pirates, and regardless of my disdain for Obama’s politics, I would like to see him do it.
Teach now it turns out at the pirates were never in control of the ship at all. They were on the bridge and were able to take the captain BUT control of the ship had been transferred downstairs to the engineering spaces. And Teach let’s not forget that these pirates are from Puntland which we were supporting with gunships and special forces when Bush was POTUS looks like they have now gone rogue