Well, some right wingers will explode in shock. Remember, we heard from the primaries through the general election that Barack Obama is not tough enough. Well, obviously many forgot that he said he would protect this country and its citizens. Today the pirates went down and the captain was saved.



A senior US official tells me that President Barack Obama approved a recommendation by Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen to dispatch special forces to the US scene on Friday.



These special forces were authorized to take action "in extremis" against the Somali pirates holding Maersk Captain Richard Phillips, 53, hostage on a motorized lifeboat off the coast of Somalia.



A senior official tells me that when the fourth Somali pirate was on the Bainbridge ship, Phillips moved to side of the lifeboat to relieve himself.



At that point, U.S. special forces saw their opportunity and took other three pirates out.



Captain Phillips is now safe aboard a U.S. vessel.



It's "going to make a great movie," a U.S. official adds.

Nuff said on that one.