Congratulation to the US NAVY for the sucessful rescue of the hostage, Captain Phillips.  With 3 of the 4 pirates killed and the 4th in custody, it seems that it was a very successful operation.  News still seems to be streaming in and accounts vary slightly by source.

MSNBC – ‘Captain was in imminent danger’

MOMBASA, Kenya – U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.

Reuters –  ‘U.S. NAVY rescues captain, kills Somali pirates.‘

MOGADISHU (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy shot dead three Somali pirates and rescued cargo ship captain Richard Phillips on Sunday from a lifeboat off the coast of Somalia where he was being held captive, ending a five-day standoff.

[…]

“The on-scene commander took it as the captain was in imminent danger and then made that decision (to kill the pirates) and he had the authorities to make that decision and he had seconds to make that decision.”

President Barack Obama granted the Pentagon’s request for standing authority to use appropriate force to save the life of the captain, Gortney said.

Washington Post — ‘U.S. Captain Rescued From Pirates by U.S. NAVY SEALs‘

By Stephanie McCrummen and Ann Scott Tyson

Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, April 12, 2009; 6:39 PM

Mombasa, Kenya, April 12 — An American captain being held by Somali pirates was freed unharmed Sunday in an operation carried out by U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. military officials said. Three of the pirates were killed and the fourth was captured.

The captain, Richard Phillips, who had been held in a lifeboat adrift in the Indian Ocean since Wednesday, was initially taken aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge. He was later flown to the USS Boxer, where he received medical attention and phoned his family. The operation took place at 7:19 p.m. local time, the Navy said.

Bottom line is that our new President exhibited some stones, ordered the rescue and let the NAVY do what it needed to do, to make that happen.   Credit is due to all in this situation, including the President.  Why it took 10 days to put the operation together, or for the order to be made, I have to wonder.  But, it’s still great news!

The first US flagged ship comendered in 200 years and it was quickly returend to crew control, the the pirated/terrorists where dispatched.  No money paid.  This is message to the rest of the panzy nations worldwide that help to make piracy a viable business model.   GET WITH THE PROGRAM!   KILL THEM, DON’T PAY THEM!