by Jonathan Clayton

Created on: April 26, 2009   Last Updated: June 26, 2009

The difficult position of the Commander and Chief, regarding the duties of Command Decision!

President Obama took the right approach by leaving the decision of the,"Right of Command Decision", to his Military Commanders on scene! This particular situation has been going on for several years now, and up until the hostage situation involving an American ship Captain, absolutely no reprisal's had been taken against the Somali Pirates! I find it extremely difficult to understand this non-action policy by other nation's, when their own ships are being hijacked at sea! As is usually the case, it was left to America to have to take a stand. Which will in turn, help all other nation's with their current situation! Or, if you listen to the International Media, it will absolutely make the situation worse, and of course they will blame the United States! There is something inherently wrong with this avenue of thought! I will leave it up to you, the Reader, to figure that one out for yourself!

President Obama did what should have been done years ago, by any of several different nations! If a group of High-Sea's criminals, continually hijack and then receive millions of dollars in ransom for their criminal activities. What do we as the International community expect them to continue to do? If allowed to continue their current activities without any reprisals whatsoever, these criminals will continue and even escalate their terrorist activities, as they have shown over the past several months. For President Obama, this Command Decision, was absolutely necessary! Now it has to be followed up by similar decision's, by every other nation who has been made to suffer at the hands of these pirates!

I, as an American, was extremely relieved to see the situation come to an end! All though the loss of any life is never to be condoned. This response was absolutely inevitable once the US commander determined that Captian Phillips life was in "Imminent Danger". The fact that president Obama left the ultimate decision to use force in the extremely capable hands of the Military Commanders on scene, was absolutely the right course of action! The outcome was only able to end in one of two ways. We all wish that these types of situation's would end without the loss of anyones life. Unfortunately, this was not the case in this situation.

Finally. Under the title of this article. The President of the United States Barack Obama. Made the right decision considering the drastic circumstances! There wasn't really any other choice that the president was given. Personally, sitting behind the desk in his oval office. I feel quite sure in assuming that President Obama, felt the weight of his office and his decision's, in those extremely long, intense days. Waiting in suspense, inside the White House!

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