UPDATE: See here. Left (including you TotalFarkTards) behaving badly.

From the Daily News:

US commandos freed hero Capt. Richard Phillips today and killed most of the pirates holding him hostage in a dramatic end to the four-day high seas standoff that riveted the world.

CNN reported Phillips helped divert the pirates by jumping into the ocean, giving waiting Navy Seals an opening to wipe out the ragtag pirates who had been holding the world’s most powerful Navy at bay on the Indian Ocean.

Three of the four Somali pirates were killed, and the fourth was taken into custody, according to initial reports.

The resourceful Phillips was said to be uninjured and safely aboard the destroyer USS Bainbridge.

(h/t) Tammy Bruce & Moe Lane.

Playing pansy politics with pirates put the Captain’s life at increased risk. His first escape attempt was thwarted by the thugs as Phillips remained adrift from the aid and cover of the US Navy, which sat restrained by an administration too cowardly to let slip the dogs of war. Each day the tension and humiliation of a nation grew. The emboldened pirates fired upon our men of action, who thus restrained could not yet act in kind. The terrorists’ defiant lack of fear inspired their fellows to target other American vessels. All while the community organizer in chief flipped through his conflict resolution handbook.

But here, at long last, the captive captain is free. He leapt clear and our faithful Navy, apparently at last free to take the safety off, rid the world of three contemptible degenerates and have the fourth in custody to question. So the bold leap into the sea frees the President of the burden to act.

In the end, Captain Phillips wasn’t saved by the President, but by his own courageous plunge and the deadly professionalism of our men with guns. The President, you see, was saved by the Captain.

UPDATE: Blackfive with details (h/t SteveLa) … click read more for blockquote:

I just finished listening to the press conference w/ ADM Gortney about the rescue of Captain Phillips. At the time it happened the USS Bainbridge was towing the lifeboat to calmer waters as the sea state was deteriorating. One of the pirates was on board the Bainbridge as the talks about obtaining Phillip’s release continued. The lifeboat was approx. 25 m behind the Bainbridge when snipers on the fantail observed one of the pirates in the pilot house of the lifeboat pointing an AK-47 at the back of a tied up Phillips and the other two pirates on board were visible (at least shoulders and heads). 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.

Which reminds me of this comment earlier from Vegas Rick:

His sissiness is asked repeatedly for authorization to take out the pirates. The situation can be ended at any time using SEAL snipers.

The snipers are WITHIN 20 TO 30 YARDS of the terrorists.

The One says we can only shoot them if the captain’s life is imminent dangers.

The lifeboat is nearing Somali waters and the weather is turning to s&%@.

The Captain of the Bainbridge looks around his bridge and says, “I think the captain’s life is imminent danger.” “Do the rest of you t6hink the captain’s life is imminent danger?”

Unanimous answers to the affirmative.

The Captain contacts the SEAL team leader. “I have determined that the hostage’s life is imminent danger. You have authority to use deadly force.”

“Roger.”

Bang, bang, bang.

You heard it here first.

Awesome. And despite chest-thumping claims by Kossak Obamabots about the uber awesomeness of the One saving the day, this:

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.

and this:

He did affirm the military’s authorization to use force if the captain’s life was in danger, but they already would have had that authorization as part of their standard rules of engagement. If there are innocents about to be slaughtered the same reasoning that authorizes self defense also covers an imminent execution unless the ROE specifically forbid it.The AP is making it sound like there was an active rescue ordered by the President. It was not, there was an imminent threat and the local commander gave the order to fire. Good on Obama for ensuring their authorization was clear, but let’s also be clear that he did not authorize or order an active rescue attempt.

Sorta exactly like I was saying here. Read Uncle Jimbo’s whole report. Illuminating.