A Few Questions about Barack Obama have been answered.  

I am not sure how politics work in th US, I am an Aussie but never really look at any decision to be wholly for one person surely, woukld it not be a party decision any way....I would hate to think such important decisions rely solely on one person but then I guess judges do that ....I guess I feel no-one should have such a big responsibility...

I knew in my heart that the SEALs were there and I hoped against hope that the U.S. would stand strong but, as this situation continued to drag on, I started to have my doubts. Now we know more and I'm proud of my country's military response and my president's actions. I had a friend in Maryland who was a retired SEAL and he used to talk about how patient you had to be in certain situations while you waited for your opportunity. While the pirates were bolstered I'm sure by the Navy's willingness to work with them and to be so nice, they had no idea that they were being watched through the scope of a sniper's gun and being maneuvered into position for their execution. I guess this was the test Joe Biden was talking about during the campaign and, as far as I'm concerned, Obama passed it with flying colors. I normally don't wish death on anyone...and I didn't in this situation...but, if you're going to attack an American ship and take an American hostage...you're going to be met with the force of the United States Navy. Deadly force.

I'm so thankful this turned out as it did and I agree, it could easily have had a far different ending. Like most Americans, I've been following this story but I must confess, with the Easter holiday weekend, I hadn't followed it as closely over the weekend as I normally would have. I agree our new President did good in this and I also want to say you did good, Ted, in giving this fair assessment of the events that unfolded and in giving credit where it's due to President Obama. I'll tell you what, I'd sure never want to be forced to make decisions like this but all concerned made the right ones, in my opinion.

I was amazed to hear earlier tonight about how many millions of dollars is paid in ransom to pirates each year worldwide. Many people I know had no idea pirates in this sense even really existed today! When they think of "pirates" they envision the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride and movies and not something that's going on right now. I'm glad that in this real life story the pirates didn't prevail and I appreciate the efforts of all the unsung heroes involved in this.
Annie

Everyone behind the scenes did their job well and with good results, including our new President. Even I am willing to give credit where it is due, and I am pleased that the President handled this crisis well and that Captain Phillips is free.

It is hard for me to believe as you and your responders has to this discussion being I have no proof what so ever to base my evaluation on in regaurd to Barack Obama being deeply involved in the drama at high sea.
Obama told a news report when he was asked about the crisis at sea rudely he said he was their to talk about the housing crisis,had he not been arrogant and simply said I'm being brifed and on top of it I would had some reason to belive what was reported as after the fact.
Obama relesed a white house statement last week saying he did not bow to the Saudi king most people with eyes know Obama flat out was lyeing he did bow to a Mulim king.
Last year Obama cancelled his visit while in Germany with our wounded soliders then try to blame it on other people,the penagone released a statement saying Senator Barack Obama himself canceled the visit when he was told he could have no camera.
So with absolutely no proof of what Barack Obama's true stand was I'm not so quick to jump on the band wagon.
Because I know how much of a liar Barack Obama is and we all know how much of a liar our govenment can be,with out a speck of proof as to where Obama stood during the crisis I reserve giving him credit.
I do know Obama wants to disarm our pilots and remove our gun rights,he is anti-terrorist,anti war,anti immigration,likes illegals in our country and expects hard working American tax payers to house and feed them and pay for their medical care,so far as Obama being looked at as a hero I can not jump on this band wagon because he was mum the whole time of the crisis.

I agree. President Obama for the most part does not impress me. But I feel he stepped up and made the right decision. I would like to say that if I were in tha position, I would have chosen the same. But people need to realize that there is always more information that what we get. I am very happy with his decision.

Hello ParaTed,

Bob Beckel declared this morning that Obama had a total of 17 meetings about this Capt. Phillips/pirate issue. Though, what constitutes a "meeting" is often no more than a query or a comment. At the onset, the president would have been asked by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the authority to respond with military force. That decision would most surely have been granted early on, and would not have had to have been revisited, as the saga unfolded.

I believe that all Americans have cause to celebrate the release of Capt. Phillips. I believe that U.S. Service men & women, as well as numerous law enforcement agents, as well as Capt. Phillips himself and perhaps certain of his crew are deserving of a hero's praise. If this incident demonstrates that President Obama did his job well, I'm not seeing how. I'm also not suggesting that he didn't do his job well. I'm simply a bit confused over how this incident, in any way demonstrates that Obama did his job well. Can anyone imagine any president refusing to grant the Joint Chiefs the authority to use military force in a situation such as the one? I see no circumstance where that permission would have ever been witheld, by even the most 'dove' of presidents.

Frankly, I will withold judgement of Obama's performancer to wit, unless and until I learn that he used the power of the office in direct state to state level negotiations with either Somalia directly, or neighboring African nations in an effort to pressure Somalia into constricting the potential for an increase in aggression from other pirates who nest in Somalia's port cities. Or, some other direct intervention. As it is, we have no corroboration that Obama did anything but grant permission to the Joint Chiefs for them to do what they do best. To be fair to Obama, now is his time to either shine or not. What he does now, the decisions and the policy initiatives that stem henceforth, after the fact, will be a much better indicator of how 'involved' he may or may not have been.

What makes me skeptical is Hillary Clinton's early response, indicating that this piracy incident was "criminal", as opposed to the first nautical attack on USA sovereignty in approximately 200 years! If this whole issue of piracy is allowed to by defined by the designation of criminality, then I have very low expectations for what Obama actually did over the course of the past few days, as well as what I expect from him in the future, as it pertains to this issue.

Perhaps I'm missing something. If so, I sincerely welcome enlightenment. However, I remain befuddled over how this incident may be used to gauge President Obama's job performance, or even his direct involvement in the incident. Is my reservation based on the "we're talking housing" comment? Yes, of course it is. I find that response as truly surreal. It can certainly be interpreted in any number of ways. Though, it will likely 'dog' Obama as something that he will regret for a very long time to come. I was reminded of Obama's criticism of John McCain during the bailout debacle -- when McCain returned to DC and Obama remained on the campaign trail .... Obama suggested that a president should be able to do more than one thing at a time. Didn't Obama's 'we're talking the housing crisis' comment demonstrate a distinct inability to walk & chew gum at the same time?

I also think he handled this well. I think not commenting or allowing the press to bate him was a smart move. Also, he trusted the military to handle things after he gave his order. This is the kind of calm, level headed leadership we could use more of and I hope he provides it.

As a Canadian, and Great Admirer of President Obama, let me say,"I told you so!" Congrats to Para Ted for having the guts to write this Post! I've maintained all along - Obama is the Greatest American President in the last 100 years. Even though President Obama would have done almost anything to save the Captain without taking a Life, he could find no way out of the situation, so He gave the order! God Save President Obama!

I am really not sure what is so suprising that he would order it. I am glad that he did... But if someone can say it's okay to kill innocent babies through late term abortions, he had better not have to think twice about killing people who pose a threat to so many other peoples lives. It was a good move on his part but not one that deserves any extra noteriety. Many presidents have had to make much harder decisions and never gotten anything but bashed for it.