by Robert Mckenna

Created on: April 28, 2009

The outcome of the rescue of an American captive from the Somali pirates, due to time sensitive intelligence, a strong military contingent in place, and a decisive order from the President of the United States authorizing the on scene commander of American forces in charge of that crisis to make the call, is outstanding work by our Commanderin-Chief, President Obama. The President of the United States

is by our Constitution the Commander-in-Chief of the American forces, the most powerful military in the history of the human race. President Obama showed incredible restraint and measured judgment, based on advice from his commanders in the field and other advisers. President Obama took that advice and without regard to political gain, or some Wild West show of force, from out of the most recent action movie, got the job done successfully.

The reason I restated the obvious, was because of some of the articles I read concerning President Obama's luck in having such an easy situation to contend with, as opposed to the difficult situations President Bush found himself embroiled. The whole premise of one life or death situation is more or less dangerous than another, is a specious statement at best. Ask the families of those involved in these situations; ask the men and women who were held hostage in these situations if they felt their significance is any different.

There is a reason our forefathers wrote the Constitution the way they did, to have a civilian in charge of the military, for a balance in military response and obviously to limit the possibility of a military coup. President Obama is a brilliant man, who faced with incredible brutality from around the world, while handling our crumbling economy at home, took measured steps to giving each situation his full attention. So when I read some joker discounting the daunting tasks [that we know about] as just so much easier then what President Bush had to contend with, I am overwhelmed!
I am overwhelmed someone could be so nave or so ill informed, to think that for even a moment in the Oval Office, the President of the United States and his time, every single moment of every single day since George Washington to President Obama, is anything short of the most significant time any man spends for the betterment of the American people.
People's lives are held in the balance, the future of the world and The United States' role making that future a reality for our children, are just some of the outcomes from what the President of the United States as Commander-in-Chief is responsible for everyday.

When I read no big deal to handle effectively the pirates off the coast of Somalia, I believe the writer forgets about Black Hawk Down, and American soldiers dragged dead through the lawless streets of Mogadishu, the capitol on Somalia. That whole part of Africa
is lawless, and capable of atrocities beyond comprehension. The amounts of money these pirates want, also is indicative these pirates are pawns in a bigger network of terror, whose possible aim might be to unleash atomic weapons on Europe or the US. Why else would they need and demand such huge ransoms? With enough money, you can buy anything you want in this world and have it delivered.

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