An Early Military Victory for President Obama

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/12/AR2009041203002.html?hpid=topnews

It was one of the earliest tests of the new American president -- a small military operation off the coast of a Third World nation. But as President Bill Clinton found out in October 1993, even minor failures can have long-lasting consequences.

Clinton's efforts to land a small contingent of troops in Haiti were rebuffed, for the world to see, by a few hundred gun-toting Haitians. As the USS Harlan County retreated, so did the president's reputation.

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.

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.

[mia]

1. It was a victory for all of us. Thank you President Obama.

Please deal with the pirates on Wall Street too.

[BlooInBloo]

2. He is. Negotiations first....

[Duke Newcombe]

4. Yeah, he gave negotiations a chance...

and authorized popping caps in their asses when that failed.

And the earth didn't stop rotating on it's axis because we actually waited and acted reasonably first.


Amazing when there are adults in charge, eh?

[readmoreoften]

3. Is this a fucking joke? This is not a "military victory." /nt

[Bobbieo]

5. May not be, but I think it just turned deadly!!!

[Demeter]

6. It's Called Public Relations

and it is rather sick, if you ask me.

I can just imagine the chaos and crisis Bush would have created out of such an incident. And nobody would be calling him out on it, because he was the Decider.

but let a Democrat deftly handle a police action, and it's a freak of nature. A one-off.

[depakid]

7. Graham's Pravda was just itching to tear Obama down had the slightest thing gone wrong

-as the writer telegraphed with this statement:

"Had yesterday's rescue at sea gone badly, the political damage for Obama might have been severe."

In point of fact, the boat being towed behind the destroyer was a minor hostage situation, not all that different than what happens hundreds of times a year in jurisdictions all over the country. Obama and his administration percieved it as it was, which is why they sent in professionals with appropriate experience (FBI hostage negotiators and Seal Team 6) -giving them standing orders to execrise their discretion.

But by building it up to appear much more than it was- they hoped some misstep by the pros would be enough to justify weeks woth of attacks.

No such luck, this time out.