Captain Phillips freed, 3 pirates killed
posted at 1:45 pm on April 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Here’s a happy ending on Easter Sunday for Hot Air readers. Captain Richard Phillips is now free from the pirates holding him hostage, and three of the four captors are now free of oxygen use as a result:
U.S. intelligence official tells the Associated Press Sunday that an American sea captain held hostage by Somali pirates has been freed and was safe aboard a Navy ship. Three of the pirates were killed and one was in custody, according to the official.
U.S. warships and helicopters had been stalking the lifeboat holding Capt. Richard Phillips and his four Somali captors as a Somali official and others reported earlier that negotiations for his release had broken down. …
“The negotiations between the elders and American officials have broken down. The reason is American officials wanted to arrest the pirates in Puntland and elders refused the arrest of the pirates,” said the commissioner, Abdi Aziz Aw Yusuf. He said he organized initial contacts between the elders and the Americans.
Two other Somalis, one involved in the negotiations and another in contact with the pirates, also said the talks collapsed because of the U.S. insistence that the pirates be arrested and brought to justice.
Looks like we brought three of them to justice. The fourth will get more protection than he deserves, but at least we’ve freed the captain and delivered something of a message. We’re not going to let pirates run free, and if “elders” think we will, they found out differently today.
From now on, though, the “negotiations” should be us telling the pirates and their envoys that if they surrender, we’ll let them live. If not, no quarter. That should be our first and last offer. If we keep dancing around with Somali “elders” and treat pirates like bank robbers, we’re going to be doing a lot more of these negotiations in the future.
Update: Second time’s the charm. Phillips jumped overboard again, and this time, the Navy was ready to take out the pirates. Great work, Navy!
Update II: Looks like the initial reports were incorrect. After being authorized to use force by President Obama, Navy SEALs took their shots when it appeared the pirates were about to shoot Phillips. Kudos to the SEALs, and kudos to Obama for making the right call. If this had gone badly, he would have taken the blame, so it’s fair to credit him with taking the steps necessary to finally bring this to a happy conclusion.
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toliver:
Oh come on. Do you honestly think that is not standard operating procedure for Navy Seals to rescue people? I mean really. I refuse to give Obama credit for not telling the Navy Seals to not do their jobs. In fact, if not for the days and days of screwing around with the FBI and God knows what else, they might have been able to do this some time ago.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:32 PM
LOL!
+100!
profitsbeard on April 12, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Let’s not forget Obama’s character… or lack of….
he got lucky because he has command of the greatest Navy on the planet.
Obama is COWARD!!!!!!!!!!
I am a proud sufferer of ODS.
katy on April 12, 2009 at 2:32 PM
In memoriam of flight 93, ordinary Americans have once more met the challenge.
docdave on April 12, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Ah, now the KOS kid accusation…
How… predictable…
Next? Nazis?
Romeo13 on April 12, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Let’s not forget the inevitable civil suit when he get’s off because his ‘rights’ were violated or some other horse$hit.
Dead men file no law suits.
BigWyo on April 12, 2009 at 2:33 PM
romeo13: you are so right. this whole thing was mishandled. what the hell did the FBI have to do with it? and eric holder? gosh, i hope no guns were used saving capt. phillips.
capt. phillips is the hero here today. our military are heroes everyday.
kelley in virginia on April 12, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Your hate has clouded your thinking. Logic and objectivity: TRY IT, you may like it.
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Good luck with that here.
SnarkVader on April 12, 2009 at 2:34 PM
I wonder if the “elders” would have been so reticent had we been shelling their villages from offshore.
Kafir on April 12, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Ordinary Americans performing extraordinarily.
thomasaur on April 12, 2009 at 2:35 PM
So, when are we going to take out the rest of them? I can’t believe we can’t destroy their ships in the gulf. They’ve murdered over 200 people. Has Obama woken up from his nap and praised our military for their courage and work rescuing Hoffman?
Blake on April 12, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Woo Hoo!
Kick @$$ and collect body parts!
Hats off to the brave Captain, and the sailors who smoked his captures.
Count to 10 on April 12, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Oops! I mean Capt. Phillips – not Hoffman.
Blake on April 12, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Hurrary for the Navy and Captain Phillips, a true American hero. Once again, ordinary people outdo our feckless political class.
PattyJ on April 12, 2009 at 2:37 PM
If they have this rescue on video are the KOSkids going to rip it apart like they did with the Jessica Lynch rescue?
Bicyea on April 12, 2009 at 2:37 PM
toliver: look, if bambi wants to take credit, we can’t do anything about that–he owns the press.
we are praising capt. phillips here. and the USNavy. it is not all about bambi.
kelley in virginia on April 12, 2009 at 2:37 PM
That doesn’t make any sense. The N word is what they call us.
The fact is most of us thought CINC ordered a total stand-down. I’m big enough to admit when I’m wrong, how about you?
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Okay that’s two that didn’t show up.
CNN says that the fourth pirate was aboard the Bainbridge when the Captain made the second escape attempt.
Go look it up yourself since it keeps killing my post when I link.
Immolate on April 12, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Yes, Obama needs to follow up now and take swift action against the pirate strongholds. This is an opportunity for him to show some cojones.
packsoldier on April 12, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Captian Phillips saved his crew and himself. Obama nearly got him killed by calling in those law enforcement pukes in a middle of a military situtation. Watch Obama try to take credit for a “successful negotiation.”
BottomLine5 on April 12, 2009 at 2:38 PM
toliver:
You are assuming that somehow or other Obama had something to do with what was going on there on the water.
I don’t believe that. I think the Navy had people there within hours. The truth is that Obama did try to negotiate, did try to arrest people, did try to anything and everything else first…however, I am sure that there was never any doubt that if the Navy could get a clear shot, they would take it. It is not as if they would say, Now if the Captain jumps in the water be sure and not help him. Let him drown first.
I just think that another sort of president would probably have pressed the issue earlier, like say when the Captain first jumped in the water.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Mission accomplished. Oh wait, isn’t killing the pirates a hate crime?
Dhuka on April 12, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I thought you were against capital punishment, Ed?
Oh wait! Punishment for only foreigners right?
AlreadyKnownAs on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
If we take the MSM at its word that the One would not comment on the issue because it would raise the importance of it on the world stage, means that if it turned out badly he wouldn’t be blamed. This would imply that he had left all the decision to the Navy/FBI to provide him deniability. Now there will be a whole new attitude of being in the loop and making the right decisions.
inspectorudy on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
thomasaur on April 12, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Yeah, thats a Big, BIG AYE!!!
bernzright777 on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
The link would be the empty shell casings.
Most of us here were thinking Barry ordered the Navy not to shoot. It looks like Obama gave the Navy the OK to use force if a window of opportunity opened.
We shouldn’t be the conservative equivalent of the KOS kids that wouldn’t give Bush a break no matter what. A little fairness please.
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Your assumption that this even went to Obama’s desk, is based on what?
It could have been cleared by SECDEF.
artist on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Thanks for a very big smile.
Loxodonta on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Far more satisfactory if he expires en route or somehow falls off the Bainbridge to his death and saves us the expense and aggravation of a trial.
Love your Easter SEALS quip, btw . . .
califcon on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
I’ll puke if Obambi tries to take credit. Will he be that dumb? We’ll see….
I’m just saying we need to be better than the liberal loons. We really should try to be fair.
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:39 PM
As you know, the leftists hate our heros (and heroism generally) because they threaten their collectivist norms by popularizing the ideals of courage, exceptionalism and individualism. So yes, the media will marginalize Phillips’ role in all this, in favor of something that advances its own agenda.
petefrt on April 12, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Perfect!
conservnut on April 12, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Cant wait for the details. Glad Captain Richard Phillips is safe and will be home with his family soon. First kudos to the crew and captain for their bravery, and second for the Navy for turning those pirates into wormbait. I was reading a news story about the crew stabbing one of the pirates and tieing them up and fighting with them. Knowing that Capt.Phillips jumped not once but twice shows just how diehard that American spirit of freedom really is.
canditaylor68 on April 12, 2009 at 2:41 PM
SnarkVader:
We were taught well by your ilk.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:41 PM
obama are you shure you want to cut the pentagon budget.to every body in uniform today god bless you we love you keep up the good work i know if you were not there when this went down you wanted to.be safe be strong america loves you ,atleast the right does
wade underhile on April 12, 2009 at 2:41 PM
I give Obama credit for unleashing the Easter Seals and accomplishing this rescue successfully. I didn’t think he had it in him. I thought the legal beagle in him would overcome good sense. Thankfully, the operation went off successfully and the Captain is unharmed and three terrorists are now sea temperature,as it should be. The only down side is the Fox News has not interrupted its Easter Mass with Rick Warren to deal with this rescue operation so I’ve been forced to listen to either CNN or MSLSD on the rescue, cruel and unusual punishment.
Again, just because the US has the best military didn’t mean that this would be successful. Many commentators on this Board and others were predicting (hoping?) for a Carterite Iranian helicopter disaster to blemish Obama’s presidency. While I don’t wish Obama well on his socialist agenda, I did pray for him and the hostage and our armed forces for a successful release. There’s a time for partisanship, but when the rubber hits the road, we better pray for the success of whoever’s in office.
eaglewingz08 on April 12, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Obama and his anti-american minions doubling-up their efforts to destroy the military before that happens again.
ex-Democrat on April 12, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Just heard about this. Great news. The brave and selfless Captain Phillips is free and healthy, and three thugs are gone. Way to go US Navy!
Now what needs to be done is to go into all the ports in Somalia and blow up every vessel that isn’t a legit fishing boat.
rbj on April 12, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Finally, job well done……….
ahkjr33 on April 12, 2009 at 2:42 PM
toliver: Okay, since you are so all-fired hot to give Osama Obama a lick for being a good little pseudo-president, let’s try this:
I’ll give the child-president props for not ordering the Navy out of the area and sending Somalia a couple billion bucks to use for “peaceful purposes.”
But the entire credit for this goes to Captain Phillips and the NAVY, particularly the SEALs who put it on the line to get the job done.
Do you actually think The Messiah and The Hildebeest will follow up with any meaningful action?
If they did, I might reconsider. As of now, my scorn for Obama runs as deep as my admiration for those who did what had to be done.
MrScribbler on April 12, 2009 at 2:42 PM
We don’t know what happened in the Oval Office. Obama didn’t screw to pooch on this, like I thought he would. I really thought he ordered the Navy to play it 100% safe,as in a totally restrictive ROE.
Obama sucks, but he doesn’t have to eff up everything.
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:43 PM
A sociopathic narcissist takes credit for anything in their sphere of influence whether warranted or not.
thomasaur on April 12, 2009 at 2:43 PM
I heard on the radio this morning in Toronto that Obama was seeking to have the pirates “arrested”.
google: obama pirates arrested …
sort by date …
Third story
So much for “approval by CINC” …
gh on April 12, 2009 at 2:43 PM
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Okay… At least Obama didn’t order the US Navy to apologize to the pirates… yet. Better?
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RalphyBoy on April 12, 2009 at 2:44 PM
toliver:
I am sorry, but I have a hard time believing that Obama was in any way involved in this. I think the whole thing was just a distraction to him. He has better things to do doncha know. If that Captain had not jumped out of that boat, the FBI would still be trying to arrest these people. The Captain gave the Seals the opportunity to act. Obama had nothing to do with this.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Nice to see our military rescuing our hostages instead of relying on another country for a change.
SnarkVader on April 12, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Everyone’s your friend when you’re an AP reporter. As long as it gets you a great story and photo op.
Gregor on April 12, 2009 at 2:44 PM
We don’t know if it was the SEALS yet, and we may never know.
Anyway, I give 90% of credit to the good captain and the Navy.
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:45 PM
There’s a lot of scary things going on in the world right now. I wish we’d start kicking a little a$$ here & there just to remind the world who’s the greatest nation on the planet.
Colorado Anne on April 12, 2009 at 2:45 PM
What’s this most of us crap?
Obama, being a man of great decision making experience didn’t have freakin’ clue and no doubt in my mind let the Navy have at it. Their brains, their ideas, their courage. Obama’s title!
katy on April 12, 2009 at 2:45 PM
With the military budget cutbacks, I suggest an even cheaper solution:shark bait.
fred5678 on April 12, 2009 at 2:46 PM
I think you’re wrong to come here and make excuses for the Pantywaste Prez when this situation has been going on for how many days? And sorry, I won’t give the Pantywaste Prez credit for any of this, especially when I hear that Captain Phillips jumped on his own accord for the second time.
“We have a housing crisis”…..remember????
Knucklehead on April 12, 2009 at 2:47 PM
You betcha! and we will hear about this until our ears fall off or we rip them off.
katy on April 12, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Why feed the trolls? It’s allowing that dipwad to jack this thread over to a discussion of the Pantywaist-in-Chief, instead of a celebration of American bravery on the high seas.
Just sayin’
califcon on April 12, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Lol. Yeah, that’s a little better. A good start. :-P
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Now if they didn’t read the one surviving pirate his Miranda rights, AG Holder will order the man freed.
Wethal on April 12, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Actually, I thought that was the right approach–we’d let them surrender if they submitted to American justice. It sounds like we were not negotiating to reward the pirates and let them go free. Rescues are dangerous, so if you can negotiate to end the crisis with the perpetrators brought to justice, that cannot be a bad result. I wander what these elders were trying to negotiate for their benefit? If these elders were part of the plot, they should be held to account as well.
Now if there is a government or other organization we can pin these on rather than just being bands of thieves, I’d say bombs away.
BryanS on April 12, 2009 at 2:49 PM
toliver:
I agree with katy. It never occurred to me that Obama said they should sit back and let the man die. It also never occurred to me that the Navy does not have certain protocol they follow in situations like this. I am sure that Obama just sent in the FBI to secure the crime scene and sent in negotiators to talk to the socalled elders and the whole thing just dragged on until the Navy and the Captain finished it.
Honestly, presidents do not control everything. It is not as if the world stops until they make a decision. Obama could have been in a coma and the whole thing would have ended the same way.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:50 PM
I get a fantasy image of the Navy wacking those pirates and the captain of the Bambridge turning to the FBI hostage negotiators and flipping them the bird.
Makes me get a tingle up my leg!
conservnut on April 12, 2009 at 2:50 PM
4 days. Three U.S. Military contractors were held hostage in a Colombian jungle for five years.
SnarkVader on April 12, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Hear, hear!
Captain Phillips and the Navy deserve all the credit. If it had been up to The Precedent, we’d still be negotiating … as if there’s anything to negotiate with terrorists.
And if The Precedent tries to bring that scumbag who lived onto US shores for a trial … I’ll blow a fuse.
progressoverpeace on April 12, 2009 at 2:51 PM
BryanS:
They were probably buying time as well.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Remembering that Obama’s UN Rep is part of the current debate on a UN-proposed resolution on piracy that states that merchant ships could not arm themselves, nor could punitive raids be taken against pirate strongholds and safe harbors, and add the involvement of the FBI and Attorney General in all of this, seems to be very very 9/10 thinking…
coldwarrior on April 12, 2009 at 2:51 PM
What do you call three dead pirates floating in the Indian Ocean?
A good start.
thomasaur on April 12, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Here’s a thought. Rather than “doing something” about Somalia, like the MSM keeps saying, which would be expensive, dangerous, and open us to blame if things don’t go well (which they won’t), and continuing obligations in any case, why not do nothing?
Trying to take an American ship didn’t work out well for the pirates. I have a feeling the pirate community is going to remember that.
Infidoll on April 12, 2009 at 2:52 PM
How about “all of us”?
==============
Piss off. If you think I’m taking anything away from the captain and Navy you have little going for you in the reading comprehension category.
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Perfect! + 500!
BrideOfRove on April 12, 2009 at 2:52 PM
lol
gh on April 12, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Wow, this story could not have ended much better! I’m guessing there are plenty of heroes, with Captain Richard Richard Phillips, first and foremost.
Great Easter Surprise, and hopefully the sharks in the area are eating heartily! Ar-r-r-r-h!
Next up on the horizon: made for TV movie. Kepp the Hollyweird dolts out of it, they’ll turn the pirates into the victims.
For the future, a “multinational force” (i.e. the US) should have multiple drones patrolling the waters around Somalia to prevent further pirate attacks. The pirates make one wrong move and a drone sends them into the land of 72 virgins…
Sweet_Thang on April 12, 2009 at 2:54 PM
The MSM will try to “give” Obama credit for this, regardless. That says nothing about Obama. Watch the President and his usual flag boys (Press secretary, designated Congress critters, etc.) to see whether he tries to “take” credit. Watch carefully.
A man of character would be generous in assigning praise in this situation on anyone deserving it other than himself. He would exercise humility and not try to make hay by tying some goal of him administration to this victory.
Immolate on April 12, 2009 at 2:54 PM
SnarkVader:
yes, they were held in a jungle for years. And it is also true that they were being held by Marxists and were rescued by people that the American left does not even want to do trade with. I also read that in the computer belonging to that marxist leader was contact information for certain members of the Democratic party.
It is not as if the American left had any desire at all to go in and get those people. It is also true that the US Navy was not watching them for five years.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:54 PM
No, after he topped off his European apology tour with a bow to that lump of cr*p in a dress, the Saudi King, he gets no breaks from me. I will hold him in contempt until the glorious day he slithers from office to some gold packed rathole in Chicago.
austinnelly on April 12, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Those pirates wanted $2,000,000?
We just gave them $2,000,000 in hot lead!
pilamaye on April 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM
We need to bring in more Somalis.
Maybe we can learn more piracy techniques.
Just ask those local yokals in Minneapolis.
BowHuntingTexas on April 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM
shark bait
Colorado Anne on April 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM
I hope the 4th “falls down the stairs”.
mr.blacksheep on April 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM
You mean like Jimmy Carter? Oh wait, they were still hostages when he left office….
packsoldier on April 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Immolate:
yes, that is true. Bush would have given the credit to the Captain.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Last one before I go Easter visiting… God bless the good captain, the US Navy, and all God’s children.
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I found out today that my daughter will be having another child. She is very happy about it and I am too! She is an awesome mother and I already have a few grandkids by her.
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Life is good. My best times are Thursday nights after dinner at her house. I get on the floor in front of the TV and let the little ones treat me like a buddy.
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Enjoy your families this wonderful Easter day, and every day.
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Later
RalphyBoy on April 12, 2009 at 2:56 PM
I thought, as did the rest of us i presume, that Barry was going to let pirates take the captain to Somalia. I really thought Obama was going to screw it up that bad. I thought Obama had ordered a total stand-down. He didn’t. Are you finally understanding where I’m coming from?
toliver on April 12, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Has Obmama expressed regret for the loss of life yet? It’s coming.
BrideOfRove on April 12, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Yes! And then after we wipe out the pirates, we thank Europe for their contribution and apologize for living.
Daggett on April 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM
This former Squid would like to say, no shout..
GO NAVY!!!!!
Yakko77 on April 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM
You’re David Frum ?
gh on April 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Captain Phillips deserves the credit more than anyone. At least the Navy got it right the second time he hit the water. If it was up to the Administration, the Navy top brass, and the FBI negotiator, this thing would have gone on for months.
michaelo on April 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Oh, come on. Who do you think is president? Bush?
Wethal on April 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM
It will be in the pirate reparations announcement.
Daggett on April 12, 2009 at 2:59 PM
The DU is giving all the credit to Obama, bunch of morans(sic)
borg on April 12, 2009 at 2:59 PM
toliver:
There is no all of us…there is no reason to believe that the Captain would be free right now if he had not had the courage and the presence of mind to jump when the opportunity presented itself. I refuse to give Obama credit for not telling the US Navy to sit back and watch him die. That is just ridiculous.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 2:59 PM
o/t – could not let this one go… do you not remember “General Betray Us?”
PUH-LEAZE!!!!
Branch Rickey on April 12, 2009 at 3:00 PM
The lone pirate does have some “treasure” experience, and doesn’t Treasury have some openings?
From a libtard perspective it would be a match made in
heav…utopia!Sweet_Thang on April 12, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Praise God and the U.S. Navy *(and the Mr/Ms Anonymous American who assembled the ammo)*
It is a good Easter!
Limerick on April 12, 2009 at 3:00 PM
borg:
I could have guessed that.
Terrye on April 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Has their port and all the ships in it been destroyed?
Are the ‘tribal elders’ dead?
Until then I think not.
agmartin on April 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Happy Easter.
Vincenzo on April 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM
“Now if they didn’t read the one surviving pirate his Miranda rights, AG Holder will order the man freed.”
LOL ! +1000
nagee76 on April 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Watch and listen carefully to Obama’s statements coming out of this.
Count the “my’s” and “I’s”.
Oh he’ll congratulate the Navy and Capt. Phllips but not half as much as he will make this about him…
It’s aaaaaalll about him because he just… can’t… help… himself.
katy on April 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM
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