MILITARY
- April 12, 2009 - President Barack Obama signed an executive order twice to use force against Somali pirates holding an American captain hostage (Capt Richard Phillips of the U.S. flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama) at sea after a 5 day standoff with the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy snipers aboard the USS Bainbridge shot and killed three of the pirates and took the fourth one into custody after the Bainbridge’s commander gave the order. The pirates were spotted aboard the lifeboat pointing an AK-47 rifle at Capt. Richard Phillips. Obama's involvement in the decision to authorize lethal force was legally required, officials said, because it was a hostage situation. The White House showed Obama issued the orders to use force at 8 p.m. Friday April 10 and again at 9:20 a.m. Saturday April 11, after new Navy forces moved on to the scene. In both cases, he was first briefed by the National Security Council for an update on the situation. President Obama promised to work with other nations "to halt the rise of piracy," while Somali pirates vowed revenge for the deaths of three colleagues shot by snipers during the daring high-seas rescue of an American sea captain.
A+ : With the authorized lethal force legally required, credit should still be given to Obama for supporting the hard-line defense and sending a stern message to the rest of the world. This was the first time in American history that pirates had attacked a U.S. cargo ship. But they failed miserably. First they were fought off by the unarmed crew members of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, being only able to take the captain as hostage. Then the pirates had to face the U.S. Navy Seals, who is the best trained and most skilled unit in the world. The pirates stood no chance and paid the consequences with their lives. Unfortunately the Somali pirates have been much more successful in recent years attacking other nations' ships. In 2008 alone, African pirates have hijacked over 100 vessels, collecting approximately $150 million in ransom money.In 2009, in the first 3 months alone, they have attacked over 60 vessels, collected millions more in ransom money. They currently have over 220 hostages. So once again, like the war on terror and countless previous evil regimes, the world has left it up to America to stand up and fight back. Will Obama's continued strong stance on African piracy give him his own legacy against a different type of war on terror? Will the rest of the world continue to embolden these pirates by paying them ransom money or can Obama convince these nations to take a different, more aggressive approach?
- April 6, 2009 - President Obama approved the Pentagon's decision to lift the 18 year ban on video and photos of the return of the war dead to US soil. The ban on media coverage began under former president George H.W. Bush during the first Gulf war in 1991 and covers the solemn transfer of flag-draped caskets at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the first US stop on the journey to the final resting place for the military personnel. Now, it will be up to the families of the service members killed whether to allow such media coverage. It now allows them to make the decision and protect their privacy if that's what they wish to do. Press groups pushed for the change, but the American Legion and other military groups opposed lifting the ban. It should be noted CNN/Opinion Research Corp. conducted a public poll that asked "When the remains of U.S. troops who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan are flown back to the U.S., brief ceremonies are held when the caskets are taken off the plane at an air force base. Do you think the government should or should not allow the public to see pictures of those events on TV, in newspapers, and on websites?" 67% of Americans said the government should allow such coverage, while 31 % said it should not.
C: Obama is in agreement with the majority of Americans on this issue according to the polls. And giving the family of the deceased service members the option is the right decision. But is there any real benefit to lifting this ban? It now creates opportunity for exploitation by the liberal media, anti war activists and America's enemies. It will allow these parties to push their agenda using pictures and videos of the returned deceased American military service members. And allowing this media coverage certainly is not a way to honor them. They are honored and remembered through the standard practice of both public and privately held services.
- April 4, 2009 - President Obama made a surprise visit to Baghdad, Iraq at the tail end of his first overseas trip as president. There he met with the U.S. troops tellling them that they had given the Arab nation an opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. He called it an extraordinary achievement. Obama stated "Here's a couple things I want to say. Number one, thank you,". He also stated "You've kept your eyes focused on just doing your job and because of that, every mission that's been assigned, from getting rid of Saddam to reducing violence to stabilizing the country to facilitating elections, you have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country." Obama also met with Iraqi officials including Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said afterward that he had "assured the president that all the progress that has been made in the security area will continue."
B: Was this a page from George Bush's playbook? Surprise visits became the norm under Bush. With America involved in two wars the President could not be guaranteed certain security if his visits to the troops were announced ahead of time. Some believe Baghdad was the wrong choice for Obama. Iraq is Bush's war. Remember Obama mainly criticized the war while on the campaign trail and campaigned to begin drawing down U.S. troops as soon as he became President. However, this move by Obama was a good gesture in proving his show of support for the hard work and accomplishment by the U.S. troops.
A+ : With the authorized lethal force legally required, credit should still be given to Obama for supporting the hard-line defense and sending a stern message to the rest of the world. This was the first time in American history that pirates had attacked a U.S. cargo ship. But they failed miserably. First they were fought off by the unarmed crew members of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, being only able to take the captain as hostage. Then the pirates had to face the U.S. Navy Seals, who is the best trained and most skilled unit in the world. The pirates stood no chance and paid the consequences with their lives. Unfortunately the Somali pirates have been much more successful in recent years attacking other nations' ships. In 2008 alone, African pirates have hijacked over 100 vessels, collecting approximately $150 million in ransom money.In 2009, in the first 3 months alone, they have attacked over 60 vessels, collected millions more in ransom money. They currently have over 220 hostages. So once again, like the war on terror and countless previous evil regimes, the world has left it up to America to stand up and fight back. Will Obama's continued strong stance on African piracy give him his own legacy against a different type of war on terror? Will the rest of the world continue to embolden these pirates by paying them ransom money or can Obama convince these nations to take a different, more aggressive approach?
- April 6, 2009 - President Obama approved the Pentagon's decision to lift the 18 year ban on video and photos of the return of the war dead to US soil. The ban on media coverage began under former president George H.W. Bush during the first Gulf war in 1991 and covers the solemn transfer of flag-draped caskets at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the first US stop on the journey to the final resting place for the military personnel. Now, it will be up to the families of the service members killed whether to allow such media coverage. It now allows them to make the decision and protect their privacy if that's what they wish to do. Press groups pushed for the change, but the American Legion and other military groups opposed lifting the ban. It should be noted CNN/Opinion Research Corp. conducted a public poll that asked "When the remains of U.S. troops who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan are flown back to the U.S., brief ceremonies are held when the caskets are taken off the plane at an air force base. Do you think the government should or should not allow the public to see pictures of those events on TV, in newspapers, and on websites?" 67% of Americans said the government should allow such coverage, while 31 % said it should not.
C: Obama is in agreement with the majority of Americans on this issue according to the polls. And giving the family of the deceased service members the option is the right decision. But is there any real benefit to lifting this ban? It now creates opportunity for exploitation by the liberal media, anti war activists and America's enemies. It will allow these parties to push their agenda using pictures and videos of the returned deceased American military service members. And allowing this media coverage certainly is not a way to honor them. They are honored and remembered through the standard practice of both public and privately held services.
- April 4, 2009 - President Obama made a surprise visit to Baghdad, Iraq at the tail end of his first overseas trip as president. There he met with the U.S. troops tellling them that they had given the Arab nation an opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. He called it an extraordinary achievement. Obama stated "Here's a couple things I want to say. Number one, thank you,". He also stated "You've kept your eyes focused on just doing your job and because of that, every mission that's been assigned, from getting rid of Saddam to reducing violence to stabilizing the country to facilitating elections, you have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country." Obama also met with Iraqi officials including Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said afterward that he had "assured the president that all the progress that has been made in the security area will continue."
B: Was this a page from George Bush's playbook? Surprise visits became the norm under Bush. With America involved in two wars the President could not be guaranteed certain security if his visits to the troops were announced ahead of time. Some believe Baghdad was the wrong choice for Obama. Iraq is Bush's war. Remember Obama mainly criticized the war while on the campaign trail and campaigned to begin drawing down U.S. troops as soon as he became President. However, this move by Obama was a good gesture in proving his show of support for the hard work and accomplishment by the U.S. troops.
JOIN THE NEXT BIG ONLINE NETWORKING CRAZE: 