I can not reiterate enough all of the "he is not strong enough, he does not know enough, he is weak on national security", well all that "he is not" was totally shut up, yesterday as it emerged that Obama ordered the take out of the pirates and the rescue of American Captain Richard Phillips.
For President Obama, last week's confrontation with Somali pirates posed similar political risks to a young commander in chief who had yet to prove himself to his generals or his public.
But the result -- a dramatic and successful rescue operation by U.S. Special Operations forces -- left Obama with an early victory that could help build confidence in his ability to direct military actions abroad.
On the Sunday news shows, all that was talked about is what Obama was not doing about those pirates and how he was not ready. Well, again the Republican talking points are moot. AGAIN.
Throughout the past four days, White House officials played down Obama's role in the hostage drama. Until yesterday, he made no public statements about the pirates.
In fact, aides said yesterday, Obama had been briefed 17 times since he returned from his trip abroad, including several times from the White House Situation Room. And without giving too many details, senior White House officials made it clear that Obama had provided the authority for the rescue.
"The president's focus was on saving and protecting the life of the captain," one adviser said. Friday evening, after a National Security Council telephone update, Obama granted U.S. forces what aides called "the authority to use appropriate force to save the life of the captain." On Saturday at 9:20 a.m., Obama went further, giving authority to an "additional set of U.S. forces to engage in potential emergency actions."
A top military official, Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of the Fifth Fleet, explained that Obama issued a standing order that the military was to act if the captain's life was in immediate danger.
"Our authorities came directly from the president," he said. "And the number one authority for incidents if we were going to respond was if the captain's life was in immediate danger. And that is the situation in which our sailors acted."
The bold emphasis is mine.
What have we learned about Barack Obama? It is easy as poker. He knows when to show 'em and knows when to fold 'em. He showed this tenacity throughout the Democratic primaries and throughout the general election, yet, folks still underestimate him. Again, from the media to the right wingers, they come up EMPTY or in other words given a cup of STFU.
Yesterday was a good day for President Barack Obama.
He got Bo, the new First Dog; he went to church for Easter Sunday, as he and his family are continuing to find a spiritual house; and he came out looking like the leader we voted for November 4, 2008.
Yep, a good day.
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