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Obama declines comment on US hostage crisis off Somalia

ReverendHellh0und

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Obama declines comment on US hostage crisis off Somalia

Obama declines comment on US hostage crisis off Somalia | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama declined to answer reporters' questions on Thursday on a hostage crisis off the coast of Somalia, where a U.S. ship captain is being held captive by pirates.

Obama was asked to comment on the situation several times by reporters at a White House event on refinancing for homeowners. Obama, however, stuck closely to the script and replied that he wanted to remain focused on housing.



Do you have a problem with this? There is a major international event unfolding and he remains silent? Personally, when every story and all the talk is about the pirates and the brave American captain who traded himself for the crew, one would think President Obama would at least address this international issue.
 
As I said in another thread, he's busy man. Don't bug him, it's all about housing today. And while we ignoring piracy on the high seas, let's scrap production on the F-22 so we can look really weak.
 
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Do you have a problem with this? There is a major international event unfolding and he remains silent? Personally, when every story and all the talk is about the pirates and the brave American captain who traded himself for the crew, one would think President Obama would at least address this international issue.

This is the first time in 200 years an American ship has been attacked by Pirates like this. So you'd think that would elicit a response.. but no there is another reason for nothing from him.

There is drama on the high seas, American bravery (the captain) and the Calvary has arrived (the Navy). These are areas to espouse American values, good things, right here to discuss... but no Obama cannot comment.


And why is that? Well duh, no one loaded the Teleprompter with answers so Obama had nothing to say.
 
And why is that? Well duh, no one loaded the Teleprompter with answers so Obama had nothing to say.

Petty comments like this are so un American. We as a nation will persevere and defeat these muther ****ers that resort to thievery.
 
Jesus, the "unamerican" bs was annoying when liberals were doing it to conservatives for years. Now you're going to start chucking it back the other side? Why?

I think this is a bad move from Obama. There are things that sometimes are more important to focus on. However, you multitask to pick your NCAA bracket, you multitask to go onto Leno, and this is all during the economic crisis.......and yet you can't give a statement on a situation where American property and people were taken hostage and the American military is involved?

Pathetic.
 
Do you have a problem with this? There is a major international event unfolding and he remains silent? Personally, when every story and all the talk is about the pirates and the brave American captain who traded himself for the crew, one would think President Obama would at least address this international issue.

I suspect in reality that one day we'll all wake up and all those pirates will be dead.
 
Ah... The Obama displays -true- leadership.

How much is he cutting from the USN budget?
 
I suspect in reality that one day we'll all wake up and all those pirates will be dead.
Given that everyone dies -- this is 100% guaranteed.
:mrgreen:
 
Do you have a problem with this? There is a major international event unfolding and he remains silent? Personally, when every story and all the talk is about the pirates and the brave American captain who traded himself for the crew, one would think President Obama would at least address this international issue.

Wow, i didnt realize the captain traded himself in. What a man. Its a shame that Obama declined to comment. I have to admit, im dissapointed.
 
Given that everyone dies -- this is 100% guaranteed.
:mrgreen:

Yes yes, but I meant well before their natural time, like in a week or two sort of thing. Which ok, maybe a bit longer than that, but we're not going to put up with this much longer. And we have plenty of resources to take care of these guys pretty much overnight. We allow for the existence of mosquitoes, but if they get too greedy and annoying we can wipe them out. Even Obama at some point will just send in some folk to make those pirates cease to exist.
 
Jesus, the "unamerican" bs was annoying when liberals were doing it to conservatives for years. Now you're going to start chucking it back the other side? Why?

I think this is a bad move from Obama. There are things that sometimes are more important to focus on. However, you multitask to pick your NCAA bracket, you multitask to go onto Leno, and this is all during the economic crisis.......and yet you can't give a statement on a situation where American property and people were taken hostage and the American military is involved?

Pathetic.

War ships are deployed whose to say there is nothing going on? I hope whatever choices Obama makes work out for the best. I do not think every strategic move made should be a matter of the media.
 
Wow, i didnt realize the captain traded himself in. What a man. Its a shame that Obama declined to comment. I have to admit, im dissapointed.

Its one thing to not take the initiative and comment on the incident w/o being asked... but to BE asked and then deflect the question because you're 'concentrating on somethng else' is just plain pathetic.

Its noe like He hasnt had time to craft a comment.
 
Obama declined to comment so the point of the conference wouldn't be derailed from housing to the hostage crisis.

Should Obama make a statement? Ya, I think he should.

What I do agree with Obama on is keeping control of the environment he was speaking in and not letting it go on unrelated tangents.
 
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He doesn't have to give strategic moves to give a comment.

He could've simply said "I understand the Navy is involved in the incident and we are recieving constant updates and giving our input. We'd prefer not to say anything further at the moment until the situation becomes more stable or resolved."

That would've at least shown the President of the United States is at least tacitly involved in this, is aware of the situation, plans on dealing with the situation, but simply is not going to speak about it publicly for tactical reasons.

That's not what he did.

It appears he stated he wasn't going to comment on it, going so far as to say they're concentrating on housing for the moment.

I wasn't one that railed against Obama for going to see kids in school, or making his NCAA picks for ESPN, or going on Leno and even argued against some trying to make it a giant deal. But if he IS going to do those things then the LEAST he can do is actually make SOME SORT of comment and acknowledgement that the Presidents office is involved when pirates from another country takes a U.S. Flagged ship and its crew members hostage.
 
Obama declined to comment so the point of the conference wouldn't be derailed from housing to the hostage crisis.

What I do agree with Obama on is keeping control of the environment he was speaking in and not letting it go on unrelated tangents.
Yes... because to not carefully control everythng means that something might slip that would make Him look bad.
It appears The Obama learned His lesson with Joe the Plumber.
 
He doesn't have to give strategic moves to give a comment.

He could've simply said "I understand the Navy is involved in the incident and we are recieving constant updates and giving our input. We'd prefer not to say anything further at the moment until the situation becomes more stable or resolved."

That would've at least shown the President of the United States is at least tacitly involved in this, is aware of the situation, plans on dealing with the situation, but simply is not going to speak about it publicly for tactical reasons.

That's not what he did.

It appears he stated he wasn't going to comment on it, going so far as to say they're concentrating on housing for the moment.

I wasn't one that railed against Obama for going to see kids in school, or making his NCAA picks for ESPN, or going on Leno and even argued against some trying to make it a giant deal. But if he IS going to do those things then the LEAST he can do is actually make SOME SORT of comment and acknowledgement that the Presidents office is involved when pirates from another country takes a U.S. Flagged ship and its crew members hostage.

I agree here. He should have made a short comment on the situation and then said there will be no more discussion on it so the purpose of the meeting can stay on topic.
 
Yes... because to not carefully control everythng means that something might slip that would make Him look bad.
It appears The Obama learned His lesson with Joe the Plumber.

It has nothing to do with slipping it has to do with control when you allow one tangent question and then getting barraged with twenty more.

Read my response to Zyphlin's post above. That is what should have occurred. Bad move on Obama's part.
 
Yep. If the press confrence was EXPLICITELY stated it was going to be about housing, then I understand saying that he's not going to take any further questions about it and state that he'll be holding a press conference / briefing of some sort about it at a later time in the near future. But IF he's going to do that he at LEAST needs to give some kind of basic comment on the situation, that he's abreast of it, that its being looked into, and that its a serious situation, etc before stating that he's going to stay on topic.
 
"Petticaris alive, or Raisouli dead!"

Send in the Seals.

G.
 
It has nothing to do with slipping it has to do with control when you allow one tangent question and then getting barraged with twenty more.
And, given the circumstances, how is that a bad thing?
What has to happen before it IS ok to ask/answer one tangnetal question that may lead to twenty more?

Read my response to Zyphlin's post above. That is what should have occurred. Bad move on Obama's part.
I did. We agree.
 
Do you have a problem with this? There is a major international event unfolding and he remains silent? Personally, when every story and all the talk is about the pirates and the brave American captain who traded himself for the crew, one would think President Obama would at least address this international issue.

I don't have a problem with this. At this point in time, I would hope that the situation was in the hands of the American Admirals and Navy chain-of-commands. I don't want a pretty-boy playing with issues concerning modern day scurvy cases.

We will get Obama to address the issue, but not until there is a resolution.
 
It wasnt on the teleprompter. Simple as that.
 
We will get Obama to address the issue, but not until there is a resolution.


If he was reading my pet goat at the time I think he should have politely excused himself at the time. At the time tis happened he was reading my pet goat for a photo op.
 
It wasnt on the teleprompter. Simple as that.


Thank you for this amazingly striking and useful commentary onto the situation. I can only imagine the vast depths of intellect it took to aquire such a stupendous opinion and insight into the issue. I am sure everyones debate here is greatly improved thanks to this wonderful insight.

:roll:

Seriously, got anything legitimate to add to the conversation or are you just attempting to troll?
 
This is the first time in 200 years an American ship has been attacked by Pirates like this. So you'd think that would elicit a response.. but no there is another reason for nothing from him.
 
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