KDKA/AP - "The Defense Department twice asked Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast. Obama first gave permission around 8 p.m. Friday, and upgraded it at 9:20 a.m. Saturday. Officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations said the second order was to encompass more military personnel and equipment that arrived in the Indian Ocean to engage the pirates."This bothers me immensely. It shows indecision. To me at least, you pick your people and go with them. The idea that a Navy Seal needs me green light each and every time to do what I could NEVER do is ridiculous. It also shows a Carteresque micromanaging bind at the top of our decision making process.
I have never served. Obama has never served. Swift and effective retaliation for piracy is of paramount importance. You have to trust the people that know what they are doing when you have no experience of your own to rely on. Those that have served doubtless do this already and review performance afterwards, not manage performance during a crisis. I fear the damage is already done. Obama hesitated, furthermore the story that he hesitated is out there. Though this incident ended well, Obama as a result, will be tested again and American lives put in danger, or taken, as a result.
Consider that all you have to do to overwhelm a micromanaging "involved" leader, is start several fires on several fronts. This is the character that Obama has revealed to a world full of enemies.
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