An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for 12 April 2009
An Oddity
At five minutes and six seconds after 4 a.m. On the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be: 04:05:06 07/08/09.
This won’t happen again for a thousand years.
Shared by Mr Ol’ Broad.
Or Maybe Not
Earlier, I gave kudos to Obama for finally doing something right. Now, I’m not so sure he deserves them.
From the Wall Street Journal article:
Navy officers aboard the USS Bainbridge were in the midst of a drawn-out hostage negotiation when Navy snipers saw one of the pirates aim his AK-47 machine gun at Capt. Richard Phillips’s back and concluded the American was in “imminent danger,” said Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of naval forces in the Middle East. He said the Navy ship was towing the pirates’ commandeered lifeboat to calmer waters at the time, and the snipers fired on the three pirates from less than 100 feet away.
(…)
Adm. Gortney said U.S. officials had hoped to resolve the standoff peacefully, and that a fourth pirate had come aboard the Navy ship — using an inflatable boat the Bainbridge had employed to shuttle food, water and medicine to the lifeboat — as part of hostage negotiation talks. But Adm. Gortney said tensions escalated between the pirates and negotiators; the pirate on board demanded a ransom for Capt. Phillips, which the Navy refused. “It got heated and the on-scene commander interpreted hostile intent” on the lifeboat and gave the order to fire, Adm. Gortney said. The fourth pirate, now in Navy custody, will likely face criminal charges in the U.S.
I would like to believe that the POTUS would be more involved, but I have my doubts. The MSM will do anything to make Obama look good. Would they lie? Well, yes, I do believe they would.
According to U.S. officials, on Saturday the president was getting briefings on the situation either in person or on paper nearly every other hour. He decided to pursue negotiations on the advice that the pirates would likely be worn down over a period of days.
Negotiations are fine if you are dealing with rational people. Always have a plan of action!
H/T: Bluegrass Pundit
Orders We Will NOT Obey
Points For Obama
Obama Twice Approved Plan to Rescue U.S. Sea Captain
President Obama twice authorized the military to rescue a U.S. captain held by Somali pirates and whose life appeared to be at risk.
(…)
“I am very pleased that Capt. Phillips has been rescued and is safely on board the USS Boxer,” the president said in a statement. “His safety has been our principal concern, and I know this is a welcome relief to his family and his crew.”
Obama also praised the U.S. military and the other departments and agencies for their efforts.
I’ll give Obama kudos for his approval to save the Captain’s life.
Then, there is this:
Somali pirates vow revenge over comrades’ killings
Somali pirates threatened revenge on Sunday after two separate hostage-rescue raids by foreign forces killed at least five comrades, raising fears of future bloodshed on the high seas.
The latest raid by U.S. forces on Sunday that saved an American hostage and one by France last week have upped the stakes in shipping lanes off the anarchic Horn of Africa nation where buccaneers have defied foreign naval patrols.
“The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now,” Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.
“We cannot know how or whether our friends on the lifeboat died, but this will not stop us from hijacking,” he said.
Now, I realize that Somalia is an extremely depressed country. There will be those who make excuses for the ‘pirate’s’ actions, I’m not one of them. I would suggest that while Mr. Obama is on a semi high from this one success, he might put it quite clearly to these, um…people, that the U.S. will NOT tolerate anymore of this behavior, and that there will be consequences. And back up the words with action.
Excellent News!
Ship Captain Rescued From Somali Pirates
U.S. intelligence official says American sea captain rescued from Somali pirates.
Three pirates were killed and one is in custody, the official said.
I’m sure there will be updates, but in the meantime….God Bless You sir!
Accuracy In Action…er…..Inaction!
H/T: Media Lizzy
Sherriff’s Department Speaks Out
Ok, the other version of this was driving me batty. Hunted it down on YouTube. Granted, the quality isn’t all that great, but at least it doesn’t start up, scaring the bejabbers out of me every time I’d click to my home page. 
He Is Risen!
Mark 16:1-6
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
