re: #26 loppyd

Officer: Split-second decision to open fire

WASHINGTON - A U.S. military official says Navy Seals and other officers opened fire on three pirates when a Navy commander made a split-second decision that an American hostage’s life was in danger.

Vice Adm. Bill Gortney also says the pirates made a ransom demand for the release of Capt. Richard Phillips.

Gortney says the pirates threatened throughout the ordeal to kill Phillips. Gortney says the pirates were armed with AK-47s and small-caliber pistols, and were pointing the AK-47s at the captain.

Gortney says the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge believed Phillips was in “imminent danger” when he ordered sailors to fire at the armed pirates.

Gortney says the White House had given “very clear guidance and authority” that if any time Phillips’ life was in danger to take action.

Gortney spoke in a conference call from Bahrain.

Blackfive blog says this is standard operating procedure if they see the the hostage is in imminent danger. They would not have needed any additional authority to make this shot.

Obama did not order active rescue

The standing authority gave them clearance to engage the pirates if the life of the captain was in imminent danger. The on scene commander deemed this to be true and gave the order to fire. All three bad guys were taken out and then a rigid inflatable boat went to the lifeboat to retrieve Phillips. Iti is unknown at this point whether the shooters were SEALs or Marine Scout Snipers as both would have been available. This was not a rescue attempt ordered by National Command Authority i.e. the President. It was a reaction by the on scene commander under standard authority to safeguard the life of a hostage.

Read the whole thing….