Editorial: Pushing back against Somali pirates  The Grand Rapids
Press By The Grand Rapids Press Follow on Twitter on April 19,
2009 at 3:00 AM, updated April 19, 2009 at 3:01 AM Suspected
pirates were arrested by French commandos off the Somalia coast
in January.  Despite hand-wringing and second-guessing from some
quarters, President Barack Obama deserves only praise for his
decisive action last weekend against Somali pirates.  The
president authorized the bold move by Navy SEALs to take out the
three thugs holding Capt. Richard Phillips hostage. It was a
gamble. The pirates held Capt. Phillips at gunpoint in a bobbing
lifeboat 75 feet off the stern of the USS Bainbridge. The SEALs
had to fire their shots under darkening skies on unsettled seas.
They hit the targets -- proof that the elite Navy unit comes
honestly by its reputation for iron determination and precision.
Somali pirates will continue to threaten U.S. citizens until the
brigands see clearly that there are deadly consequences for
their lawles