President Barack Obama twice authorized the use of deadly force to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips, who was taken captive by Somali pirates last week.
After the 2nd order was given by President Obama on Saturday, USS Bainbridge Cmdr. Frank Castellano saw a small window of opportunity and ordered three navy seal snipers to open fire on 3 of the pirates, killing them instantly.
A fourth pirate was taken into custody without incident and will be brought back to the U.S. to face trial.
The navy seal snipers fired 3 simultaneous kill shots to the heads of the pirates using high powered weapons with a muzzle velocity of 2000 feet per second, meaning the pirates never heard the shots that killed them.
Said President Obama:
“I am very pleased that Capt. Phillips has been rescued and is safely on board the USS Boxer,” the president said in a statement. “His safety has been our principal concern, and I know this is a welcome relief to his family and his crew.”
“We remain resolved to halt the rise of piracy in this region,” he said. “To achieve that goal, we must continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks, be prepared to interdict acts of piracy and ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes.” READ MORE…
Photo: Getty Images
