President Obama’s public relations company (i.e., the elite media) is falling all over itself to proclaim our President’s success on the high seas.  Even those in the media who would condemn any military initiative undertaken by a Republican President are standing front and center to cheer on President Obama.  Some have said that this proves that he is going to be as powerful and efficient in dealing with military issues as he will be in handling domestic issues.

We will see. 

But in truth, I do not agree that President Obama’s actions related to the release of Captain Richard Phillips qualify for so much praise.  Of course I am ecstatic that the American hostage was saved.  But President Obama’s actions in the ordeal were nothing more or less than would be expected from any far left liberal President trying to preserve his reputation and his ability to lead.  I say this because his authorization for action was extremely limited.  The authorization was limited to “the use of appropriate force to save the life of the Captain”.  In other words, the military was prohibited from killing the pirates unless they appeared to be ready to kill the Captain.

The limited authority given the Navy by the President put the Captain at great risk.  It allowed the situation to continue much longer than necessary.  But for a split second, the Captain would be dead.  Thank God for the marksmanship of those Navy SEAL snipers. 

As is typical of President Obama, this was another “police action”.  As such, he limited the potential of our military experts.  One pirate survived.  Now, that surviving terrorist will probably be returned to the United States for trial in our court system.  The guy will probably get five to ten years in prison with time off for good behavior. 

Had the President done the right thing by authorizing military action whenever it appeared that they could kill the terrorists without killing the Captain, I would also be applauding him.  That is what a real Commander-in-Chief would have done.  That is what any leader would do unless his primary focus was on not alienating our enemies and/or our “allies”.  Instead, President Obama took the anti-war, leftist approach.  For that I cannot applaud.