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Conservative Compass Blog
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Written by Bob Sordahl
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Monday, 13 April 2009 |
The news this Easter weekend was good. The standoff in the Indian Ocean was over. The good guys were alive, and the bad guys were dead. A storybook ending if I ever heard one.
For several months, Somali “pirates” have been hijacking merchant ships, holding their crews and cargo for ransom. In most cases, they have been successful getting the money and going on their way. This time however, the pirates made a serious mistake, taking a ship flying the American flag. This time they also found themselves pitted against a captain willing to offer himself up in return for the safe passage of his fellow crew members. And so he became a hostage held in a small life boat by four desperate Somalis looking to turn a profit from a bad situation. The freighter had disappeared over the horizon, they were low on fuel and food, and the full force of America’s Navy was about to come down on them in ways they couldn’t even imagine.
Four days dragged on with no progress, as American warships jockeyed for position and kept the lifeboat from drifting to shore in Somalia. Negotiations broke down when it became clear that it is pointless trying to reason with people who want you dead. Finally word came from the Obama administration: When the opportunity presents itself, take your shot.
After our President’s simpering apology tour just concluded in Europe, it is almost amazing that this situation ended as it did. I’m sure the outcome has shocked those who read Obama’s conciliatory rhetoric as weakness. American strength, resolve and necessary lethal force were on exhibit for all the bad guys in the world to see and hopefully they were taking note.
There is no nation on earth that has the ability to be more generous, compassionate or humanitarian than America. Having said that, the international outlaws of this world need to understand that when America is forced to defend itself or its citizens, there is no nation on earth more deadly.
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