Article

2009-04-19 Africa Horn

Real Story of Obama's Role In Freeing US Captain

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Captain Crereling7731 2009-04-19 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 Sounds like the Bainbridge commander violated orders in authorizing the shooting - Phillips was in no more imminent danger than he had been at several times previously. But the orders may have been intended to be disobeyed, such that any negative outcome (or spin) could be blamed on him, while positives would pass through to Zero. It would certainly not be the first time such situations were set up. It will be interesting to see what happens to the commander's career.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2009-04-19 00:46|| 2009-04-19 00:46|| Front Page Top

#2 Listen to the good Cap't words -- even the first words released by Adm ??? from him were that his recusers were the heros. He has repeated that over and over. His wife repeated it at their reunion press conference. The good Cap't remained on the Bainbridge to sail into port, rather than quickly being flown to Kenya and whisked home. He wanted and was getting the full story of what happened.

The pirates were firing at the SEALS, he went over the side... you know the rest of the story.

He and his wife know the story --- watch that video again.... he lets the world know, who rescued him. I kinda get the idea, he's daring anyone to go after anyone that was involved in his rescue. Even included that the Cap'ts of the Bainbridge and the Boxer, were "cool as cucumbers." There was a reason for that statement. He wasn't with them, when the decisions were being made.

He knows the results of their decisons.

Bet he still hasn't taken off that Bainbridge cap!

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2009-04-19 01:45|| 2009-04-19 01:45|| Front Page Top

#3 Obama: Inexperienced, Unqualified, and Unsuitable for the presidency of this great nation.

God help us all.

Posted by Scooter McGruder 2009-04-19 01:54|| 2009-04-19 01:54|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't think there will be any direct retribution against the Bainbridge captain. I think there are plenty in the Navy who will tell him quietly, "well done" and make sure his career doesn't suffer. He was right, he made the right decision, and the freighter captain is alive to tell everyone.

Obama would have to be truly stupid as a politician to throw a wrench into the man's career -- lord knows how many people would leak such news. Obama isn't that stupid.

Posted by Steve White 2009-04-19 02:45|| 2009-04-19 02:45|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm sure Obama just thought "make a peaceful solution" and it would somehow happen. Remember, he's a transnationalist who doesn't really represent the USA, but he's more like a UN-appointed steward for the USA's interests abroad. No way he's going to order anything but fuzzy bunnies and rainbows for everyone.

Posted by gromky 2009-04-19 03:24|| 2009-04-19 03:24|| Front Page Top

#6 Obama: Inexperienced, Unqualified, and Unsuitable for the presidency of this great nation.

Can you give us, for example, a name of a country for the presidency of which he is suitable?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-04-19 03:38|| 2009-04-19 03:38|| Front Page Top

#7 Grom, I guess he'd probably be fine for Venezuala, or some marginal African country like Chad....

Posted by Scooter McGruder 2009-04-19 06:04|| 2009-04-19 06:04|| Front Page Top

#8 Or the land called Honalee...

Posted by Grunter 2009-04-19 06:31|| 2009-04-19 06:31|| Front Page Top

#9 Venezuela is taken.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-04-19 07:44|| 2009-04-19 07:44|| Front Page Top

#10 Or the land called Honalee...

Grunter takes the early Sunday lead for Snark o' the Week...

Posted by Seafarious 2009-04-19 09:30|| 2009-04-19 09:30|| Front Page Top

#11 Can you give us, for example, a name of a country for the presidency of which he is suitable?

ZimBobWay. Hands down.

Posted by lotp 2009-04-19 09:33|| 2009-04-19 09:33|| Front Page Top

#12 ...and g(r)om gets credited with the assist.

Posted by Seafarious 2009-04-19 09:33|| 2009-04-19 09:33|| Front Page Top

#13 Second the motion, Zim-Bob-Way for sure, he can't be worse (He doesn't have the guts to massacre and THAT will ensure a VERY Short "Reign")

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2009-04-19 13:55|| 2009-04-19 13:55|| Front Page Top

#14 Follows is UNCONFIRMED reporting.

Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:44:24 -0400

This is the first-hand account from one on board the USS Boxer.

Note: Jargon key located at the bottom.

I've been taking notes on facts, speculation and rumors. What I know is on the eleventh of April, 2009 at 1600 two C17 cargo planes flew over USS Boxer and four parachutes emerged out of the back. Then out came the boats! Four very fast 1300 hp SWCC's with radar and guns!

After those were safely extracted, the personnel and SEALs jumped. About 95 people in all splashed down near the USS Boxer. They swam to the ship and entered the well-deck. I spoke with one of the SEALs in the hangar bay as he was stowing his gear He was talking to a younger looking Ops guy with shoulder-length hair
and I struck up a conversation with them. They were really friendly.

The older SEAL finished with his bag and reached for a rifle case. Then he casually unzipped it and pulled out a Mark 416. This is a highly specialized carbine and as he explained "it's basically an M -4, but made by H&K so it's better! It has visible and non-visible lasers and a collapsable stock. It's nice."

"And is that an advanced armament suppressor?" I asked. "yeah that just makes it sound better, and the ladies love it!" I asked him if it's the coolest job in the navy.

"Well I haven't ever flown an F-18 off a carrier, but yeah, pretty much!" "You guys don't wear any insignia."

"We don't wear it, but we're still in the Navy."
"I know that but what's with that?" "Well I'm a Chief, and he is a Second-Class"
"oh, ok"

"So, Chief, did you come in as a SEAL?"
"yep, you don't have to be formal, that's why we don't wear it. It gets in the way and
besides, we know who's in charge."

"Well I have to get back to my watch."
"OK, any time you see us over here and just want to chat, feel free!" "Cool, thanks"
"Any time"

I also found out from the CPO that the guys flew in from VB on C17's and that took 18 hours!
They parachuted into the ocean! That's' cool as hell! At 2100 on Saturday we were headed for the area where the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) was
already in position (several hundred miles east off of Somalia's coast).

And on Sunday there were so many parts of our engine that were broken from traveling at flank speed (full Bendix) that we stopped the shaft, engaged the jacking gear, pinned the gear and tagged it out.

I spent three watches fabricating parts, helping replace sight-flow indicators on journal bearings and running around the ship.
On Easter Sunday night at around 1530, as I was making my hourly rounds through the
hangar bay, I heard four distant rifle reports and knew exactly what had happened.

There was an orange capsule being towed by USS Bainbridge. Two SEAL snipers laying prone on the fantail with Barrett .50 cal rifles pointed at the small craft. CAPT. Richard Phillips of Vermont was swimming toward the RHIB
sitting close to the lifeboat.

When the Navy said that we want to see proof of life, the good captain jumped into the water
and started to draw fire from the pirates. The Snipers fired. I had to return to my watch station and at close of business, I
assumed my next watch: CNN's Live broadcast of speculation and grievous bullshit! I have to
decipher all of this crap for you.

At 2300 Africa time the Maersk Alabama safely docked in Mombasa, Kenya and the crew was
debriefed by the FBI for some reason.
Captain Phillips was logged onboard Boxer at 1836 and one skinny, short, pitiful-looking
(and never in a million year is he sixteen) pirate, who was escorted handcuffed despite the wounds, wearing blacked out ski goggles, through the hangar bay by like 20 marines and MA's.
He has asked for amnesty. He'll probably get a UN Trial for international piracy.

Me, four hours ago. Monday, APR 13, 2009.
At 0930 USS Boxer sits of the coast of Somalia and the Bainbridge is at her stern on
the port side in tow, the life boat containing three lifeless pirates dispatched into oblivion by the best sharpshooters in the world.

The corpses are transferred under the heaviest morgue security I've seen since President Ford's funeral to the USS Boxer's chilled holding facility. At 1000, the lifeboat from Maersk Alabama is hoisted onto Boxer's flight deck by the local crane.

Probably the most interesting Easter I've ever spent!

Looking closely at the boat, I see four large bullet holes on the STB side where "justice"
entered the pirate's mind's. Some brain matter sloshed around in the boat.

I was told before I left San Diego that I would hate the Boxer. I'll tell you now, I wouldn't rather be on any other ship. Broken parts and all, I like it.

1025 "Maersk Alabama, Departing." is heard over the 1MC. The name of the ship is used to describe the Captain as he is at the
top of the command. Personal speculation and trusted brass scuttlebutt says that our AOR
has shifted from the gulf of Aden where there aren't any pirates, to where we sit now.
16 ships and 200 hostages from various countries still remain stranded. Not for long, I predict.
As always, keeping it real on the high seas with the US Navy,
'
KEY:
SWCC, special warfare combatant crewman, brown water H&K, Heckler and Koch, famous german weapon's designer's world renound for their popular .45 cal USP (universal service pistol)
And other highly precise firearms.

CPO, Chief Petty Officer, USN, E7
VB, Virginia Beach, Virginia, East coast headquarters of Special Warfare.
DDG, Guided Missile Destroyer Flank, the fastest speed the ship can travel, equal to about 35 knots RHIB, (rib) Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
STB, Starboard (right) 1MC, numeric designation for the main announcing circuit used on U.S. Navy vessels. AOR, Area Of Responsibily, the confines within which we roam.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-04-19 14:16|| 2009-04-19 14:16|| Front Page Top

#15 I would imagine that the good Captain on the Bainbridge had made the decision to sacrifice his career, if necessary, in order to save the life of Capt. Philips by ordering the action. They are both 10^6 more men that the Big O could ever dream to be.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2009-04-19 14:26|| 2009-04-19 14:26|| Front Page Top

#16 This may be a fine point, but I hadn't really heard The One talk about it:
BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behaviour.

Well, did HE take credit? My perception is that the credit was heaped on him by Big News.

That said, I suppose failure to not deflect the credit to where it was due is just about as bad.

Posted by eLarson 2009-04-19 15:29|| 2009-04-19 15:29|| Front Page Top

#17 Those ROE sound exactly like the ones that were around when Clinton was in office.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-04-19 16:09|| 2009-04-19 16:09|| Front Page Top

#18 Why does the whole pirate episode reminded me of Blackhawk Down?

With OBama its all 'image' and appeasement - nothing about making a stand or principal or honor. Worse then Carter. And far, far, worse then Clinton.

God save our soldiers from a CIC who will let them down or trade their lives away just to 'have the right image'. And Obama is exactly that kind of person.

Israel and Japan should take a good hard look at the president we foolishly elected - I don't think it'll be wise to depend on him (or any democrat) to support them if things get tight. It'll be another Saigon but much, much, worse.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-04-19 16:42|| 2009-04-19 16:42|| Front Page Top

23:59 trailing wife
23:52 GirlThursday
23:51 trailing wife
23:48 GirlThursday
23:43 CrazyFool
23:40 Cornsilk Blondie
23:29 Zorba Craising6734
23:11 Zorba Craising6734
23:06 JosephMendiola
22:58 JosephMendiola
22:57 JosephMendiola
22:56 JosephMendiola
22:50 JosephMendiola
22:45 JosephMendiola
22:39 JosephMendiola
22:37 JosephMendiola
22:36 JosephMendiola
22:29 trailing wife
22:18 Mike N.
22:16 trailing wife
22:14 trailing wife
22:13 Broadhead6
22:03 Free Radical
22:01 whatadeal