THE RESCUE - AT 7:29 A.M. ET:  Americans are rightfully cheering the rescue, by the United States Navy, of Captain Richard Phillips.  But in our gratitude, we should also take note of two other items:

First, on the day of the rescue we learned that Washington has accepted, at the UN, a pathetically weak draft dealing with the recent North Korean missile launch.  We couldn't even get a resolution.  Instead, according to news reports, we'll accept a "presidential statement," a consolation prize.  So, once again, while trying to "engage" the international community, we have lost.  The response to the provocative missile launch will be words and vague, unenforceable warnings.  We will just "move on."

Second, on the day of the rescue we learned that the United States, according to news sources, is "leaning" toward attending the upcoming Durban II conference, sponsored by that self-same UN, which will presumably deal with racism. 
Durban I was held a few days before the 9-11 attacks, and degenerated into an anti-American, anti-Western, anti-freedom, and anti-Semitic rant.  The United States walked out.  The same suspects will be running Durban II, and some of our allies have already decided, correctly, to boycott the conference.  It's dismaying to learn that we are "leaning" toward attending, and lending the good name of the United States toward this farce.

Lenin used to teach that the march of communism would involve a strategy of "two steps forward, one step back."  A Leninist interpretation of the last few days would suggest that the UN and Durban II are the two steps forward, the rescue of Captain Phillips the one step back.

So let us be cautious.  The president's correct decision to authorize force to free the captain was a no-brainer.  The authorization was apparently given if the Navy believed Phillips was in danger.  Well, obviously. 

But using force in this case must be placed up against a long list of concessions, acts of appeasement, verbal grovelings and images of weakness, that have characterized the Obama administration from its first day.  As one Urgent Agenda reader wrote, the freeing of the captain was the first encouraging sign from the Obama White House.  Let us hope it is not the last.  The record, though, should cause us worry.

April 13, 2009