Officials spread lies for Obama about Captain Phillips rescue

The Associated press reported that President Obama gave the order to use military force to rescue the hostage. That is misleading at best. There were standing orders to take action if Captain Phillips life was in danger, but Obama did not authorize a rescue operation. This success is the result of the Navel Officer on the scene taking action within his orders. The AP should print a retraction. Here is the AP story.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama twice authorized the military to rescue a U.S. captain held by Somali pirates and whose life appeared to be at risk.

Officials say Obama gave the OK on Friday and Saturday to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast. Officials say both times the Pentagon believed Phillips' life was at risk.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Here is what the Wall Street Journal reported.

Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of all naval forces in the Middle East, told a Pentagon news conference that the USS Bainbridge had been towing the lifeboat holding the pirates and Capt. Phillips into calmer waters when Navy Seal sharpshooters, positioned at the tail of the ship, saw the head and shoulders of the three remaining pirates, with one of them pointing an AK-47 machine gun at the head of Capt. Phillips.

Adm. Gortney said the Navy officer in charge of the operation ordered the pirates to be fired upon.

Before the incident, Adm. Gortney said U.S. officials had hoped to resolve the standoff peacefully.

Obama did not order an operation, but instead was still seeking a negotiated solution. Most of the Main Stream Media will print and believe anything that makes Obama look good.