she was cia maybe

Maybe you are CIA. Maybe I am CIA. Perhaps the guy behind me in line at the supermarket was CIA. Wild speculation is awesome.

your all heart Randoo

You are not that smart, are you?

Sheeesh, now we are sending in our Active Duty military to "save" civilians.

Now why didn't he get his buddies at Interpol to go into Somalia instead of the U.S. Navy ?

My oh my......another HIGHLY controversial International policy decision from this Administration.

Seems everything Mr. Obama and his "elite" staff does is highly controversial.....example.....even his tarmac meeting with the Arizona Governator after the landing of Air Force 1 for another campaign tour.

Golden opportunity to go in and shoot up the trash. Who cares why the American was there? Point is, he is an American. Hot dog! Go get em seals!

She wasn't worthy of wasting our national assets and money.. neither is he. I hope he gets out okay, but when you knowingly put yourself into a bad situation.. whether its for humanitarian reasons or journalistic... it shouldn't fall on your fellow countryman to risk their national security assets to bail you out.

So, let me get this straight -

We're now going to start risking the lives of our elite service personnel and spend billions of our tax dollars every time some blond bimbo, half-witted hiker, or waldo writer gets into a tight spot when they WILLFULLY go about prancing around in these hostile, rogue terrorist-laden countries? Seriously? Then we'd better open up our wallets some more and be prepared to wage potential wars on ALL these countries simultaneously if we adopt THAT philosophy.

Even if you do not personally believe the U.S. military should be responsible for rescuing him, why can't you feel for this reporter and for his family? Imagine what he and they are going through right now. I would like to know what Der Spiegel plans to do to help him, since he was on assignment for them when this happened.

If I get kidnapped in California will they send in the Seals?

Randoo, let me explain this to you. We are all Americans. We should try to take care of each other. Yes, sometimes the strong carry the weak, but really... If we don't watch out for each other then who will? You really want to be in this world all alone? I don't.

The entire purpose of a government is to do what is in its own people's best interests. Feeling like our government will help us when the chips are down is one of the reasons we have a government.

This idiot should not have been there. Forgetabouthim.

hey, I have an idea. Why don't we just stay out of the place. If you are dumb enough to go to a place that is known for kidnapping Americans and you get kidnapped, why should we risk the lives of other Americans to save you. Just stay the hell out of that country.

The military protects civilians; that's what we do.

Jim in Auburn - "If I get kidnapped in California will they send in the Seals?"

Not the Seals but the taxpayers would send in local police, federal agents, and bad a$$ SWAT teams to rescue you.. and I would happily pay that tax bill just as I will be happy to pay for this one.

This idiot should not have been there. Forgetabouthim.

I'd rather forgetaboutyou.

Anyways, keep killing these pirates like we are and eventually they are going to start asking the nationalities of the potential hostages and leave the Americans alone. F--k putting the fear of God in someone, the certainty of a head shot is much more effective.

So simple but yet so true Chris---looks like about nine head shots got the job done here

The other two were there to help people and working for a non-profit organization.The writer was there trying to get a story for MONEY! Stupid is as stupid does..let his company pay the ransom for his release.

Or the other two were CIA agents and the writer is not.

So you all think we should send in a TEAM of guys to an ambush? Possibly lose another helicopter and a few more lives for one guy who chose to be there? Sounds like you guys should suit up and go get him if you want. Or chip in for the ransom.

This article is hilarious. Like its easy to determine a persons exact location down to which corner of the room he's in in a foreign country, then develop a fool proof plan where only the bad guys get hurt and all the good guys escape unscathed, and then execute that plan with such flawless proficiency that all the sudden some jagoff reporter asks why we can't do it for everybody that's been kidnapped.

Things aren't always as easy as a SEAL Team makes them look.

Two words, Election Year!

Have to keep two things in mind:

1> There was actionable intel as to where she was and who was holding her. Nobody gonna send the SEALs or anyone else into a place where they don't have even basic intel.

2> Her health was declining, so there was a short window of time to get her out.

Nobody expects that the military is going to go jump into every hostage situation. They had the opportunity, the information they needed, and the need to get her out. Otherwise, it would not have happened. Anybody who thinks this is a sudden change in policy to try to go rescue every hostage everywhere right away is stupid.

"Nobody gonna send the SEALs or anyone else into a place where they don't have even basic intel."

Apparently you weren't around during Viet Nam

So Obama's words pertain to only those who he feels worthy? Last night was another publicity stunt and although I am glad the two aid workers are safe, I am concerned for Mr. Moore. They will no doubt take some sort of revenge on him.

Mr. Obama.............you cannot pick and choose. And you cannot wait for "publicity" nights.

We have afew sick republican that cannot give President Obama and the Naval Seals credit on getting Bin-Laden or these two that were rescued.

Optomyst:

Some people do what they do for "other" than politics.

Don't put political on this. They may be republicans, they may be democrats, they may be independent. They may be conservative, they may be liberal, they may be middle of the road.

The folks that put themselves on the line, and have your and my backs, can't and shouldn't be cookie cut with the current mood of the country or any of our political whims.

They do what they do....not for some political party....but for this country.

A salute to them.

Add my salute brother.

So, you are going to just leave it at that? Well, coward, spell it out and tell everyone what it is you smell. Would you also "smell" something if you knew that a few members of the SEAL team were black, white, tan, purple or blue? Your're true color will be evident if you don't reply!

@Optomyst - Are you serious? Do you really think Obama said, "Let's execute this mission so that it ends right before I give my State of the Union address. I'll even tell Panetta good job right before I go on so my mic picks it up. This will be great publicity for my campaign!" C'mon guy, that is the silliest thing I've ever heard.

Believe it or not, some people actually do things for unselfish reasons. CollapseTheScrum brings up a good point as well. We should be proud of the men who are willing to put their life on the line to help protect America. I'm sure your attitude would be much different if you had been one of the hostages being rescued.

It is clearly evident that Optomyst doesn't understand the facts surrounding both cases. The victims where not kidnapped by the same group so revenge isn't likely. Also do you really think we should try a rescue mere days after pulling another one off? These kidnappers would be even more alert so soon after which could harm both the hostage and the SEAL team. The aide workers where rescued because the American had a rapidly deteriorating health. Also they where kidnapped three months ago this man was kidnapped less then a week ago.

Guys... look even the SEALS need to know where he is and what the environment is like to be able to save him. We act when we have actionable information.

How about these people just stay the heck out of Somalia already?

Exactly, if they travel to countries that are unfriendly towards the US and on the do not travel list, you get what you deserve.

So for the smart guys, when exactly should we spend our resources? Is on when the "rich" or famous is held or anytime you get an opportunity to do something for a single regular citizen? I think some people are just simply "Nuts".

I think Ill go to Somalia, get kidnapped and rescued and make money writing a book about the rescue and do rounds on the talk shows! Sounds like an exciting lifestyle. SHMUCKS

Nicely said. If you deliberately put yourself in harms way for your own gain or entertainment, accept the consequences. I wouldn't like to see our SEAL's lives put at risk to save this fool.

You are an idiot. Somali culture is not some Islamic anti-american area. Its a bunch of poor uneducated idiots pissed off because the west turned their coast into a toxic waste dump, so some people got pissed and became pirates, and then the broke idiotic children saw piracy got you a lot of money, and the cycle continues.

Not everything black people in Africa do is part of your Jesus lover vs Mohammad lover world view.

David.. have you never heard of al-shabaab? You should educate yourself. Since without western intervention thats who would control somalia. (and actually does control a majority of somalia outside of somaliland)

I'm always amused by those who ignore facts, but seriously educate yourself. Al-shabaab enjoys far more popular support in somalia than the western backed government.

David in Germany - the Somali culture, as a culture, is being developed as we communicate. They are evolving into a barbaric, warlike fiefdom, doing whatever their particular warlords tell them. Their national government, what there was of one, is broken down because the people don't know any better. Until it redevelops into an actual, effective, government the people, as a whole, of that nation support, nothing good, or safe is going to come of traveling to that country.

Buchanan was in that country, voluntarily, with an international organization, doing humanitarian work. This geltleman was doing a story. Granted, his story may have potentially saved lives, (but I don't think so,) but he was in that country for his own selfish reasons. There is a major difference. And I believe all authors are doing the same thing. Put your life in danger, the value of your story goes up exponentially.

Now, he needs to make it a real story, and work his own way out.

By the same token, these groups, supposedly working for humanitarian reasons, need to arrange for REAL security for their own people, as some of them do. Not hire old men and sick people to do the work.

A person above said it well, the SEALs are a national asset, not to be used for any personal glory or political gain. These Somali warlords/pirates are a blight on civiliztion, and need to be eliminated, but, how many are actually doing this for their own personal gain, versus just taking the easiest way to feed their families?

Dual nationality gives us options.

I don't think dual citizenship is repugnant. After all, America is a land of immigrants. Many Americans hold dual citizenship. Would you feel better if he had Irish and American citizenship? As ethnic groups go, there are more Americans of German ancestry than any other European nationality to settle in the United States. Many were German speaking people who immigrated here before the 1870's when Germany became a state. What about if they held dual citizenship with the US and Canada. Say their Mother is Canadian and Father is American.

Someone sounds jealous. I would love to have dual American and German citizenship! Dual citizenship is a blessing, if you can get it.

Germany's Turn

Yep, you mirrored my thoughts exactly! And as for the folks on here who think the guy deserves it, like Ternan does, you'd be crying the loudest for rescue. What a bunch of cold fishes.

Kai hit it on the head! All the keyboard super-heroes here would be crying like babies in this man's situation. Go in...scare the feces out of a few of these fools, and the rest can make up their mind if they want to continue on as usual, not knowing where the next sniper fire is coming from.

Well if not for humanitarian ones we could use utilitarian ones. By not taking action and rescuing him we inadvertently send a signal of weakness. If pirates and kidnappers see that kidnapping Americans only results in a quick death then they will not kidnap Americans. Remember the Somali pirates go many hundreds of miles from their coasts so there is nothing preventing Americans from being kidnapped far from Somalia by Somalian bandits.

What drugs are you on depro?

So anyone you disagree with is automatically on drugs? That's a rather vain assumption on your part, to think that you are so perfect that anyone not just like yourself must surely be a drug addict loser.

Debbie was a popular name for girls born in the late fifties early sixties,but as with any name the upper class uses the name first then it slowly filters down to the lowest class of people, this years Ashley is next years Trashley as they say. Most Debbies I met in the 80's while in college were sluts, meaning by the mid sixties the name had long since filtered down to the trailer trash of society, what year did you say you were born? I am not trying to make disparaging comments about you, I am stating a scientific fact that two mathematicians discovered and wrote about in the book Freakanomics.

Well, it's going to take time to find out exactly where he is located. Do they move him around? What kind of security surrounds him? There's a lot of factors we need to know before a plan can be set in place to successfully rescue him. The Seals are not like Bush, go in with guns blazing and no plan.

Too bad he'll have to wait for Obama's next photo op...

Right on.

I have American and Russian citizenship. The US does allow dual citizenship.

You can be American, and some other country may recognize you as a citizen there. I have several friends who are granted foreign citizenship, but never renounce their US citizenship, still reside here, still work here, still pay 100% of what they owe for taxes. The US can't control whether the UK recognizes someone as a citizen of their country because of a parent.

Tommy - Senator Lieberman has dual citizenship with Israel

Says he was born in Southern California. I would consider him an American. He is a writer, so perhaps he works in Germany, and found that he likes living there, even though he considers America his home. Personally, I don't think you should have to renounce your home to become a citizen of a country. Especially when the country you are living in is a close ally of the US.

He may live in Germany and be German, but if he is also a US citizen then his is a US taxpayer (unlike other nationalities, Americans have to pay even if they do not live in America).

One is legal, the other is not.

TIDubai, actually Americans only have to pay taxes when living in another country if their income exceeds 91,500 US dollars. They still file a return of course.

As a US citizen, no matter what I earn I still have to pay capital gains taxes to the US (even on assets that were never in the USA). And if I work for a US company, I still have to pay social security and state unemployment insurance taxes.

Before you call someone else stupid. Take a look at your spelling and grammar.

That is a stupid comment. Putting trained Navy Seals' lives at risk is something that should be well considered. If cash can ransom the idiot who went over there willingly, then it should be used. The lives of American servicemen are dear and should not be thrown away on journalists, war correspondents, and aid workers who knowingly throw away their lives and go places where they are warned not to go. These servicemen have families too, and those families are waiting for them to come home safe and sound. Just because the American government doesn't want other countries to hold hostages does not mean all these idiots should be rescued, or perhaps they should repay the millions of dollars the rescue costs as a warning to others that to flaunt the travelers' warning means there will be a price to pay. It is wrong to take the lives of others into your hands and treat them lightly, and that is what these people are doing by going into dangerous countries where they have been told not to travel. None of these people are worth saving who have been kidnapped in Somalia because they have ignored State Department instructions. They are not worth the life of one American serviceman. Just because this mission was successful and didn't cost the life of a Navy Seal doesn't mean the gamble wasn't taken. This writer deserves what he gets. Leave him there.

Orthehighway - your comment about "pay the ransom" is what is keeping this mess going. As long as criminals, regarless of nationality, can make easy money, they are going to take advantage of that. And the surest way to increase their "street cred," as one author put it, is for people to pay these ransoms.

That's part of the problem that has caused a major increase of piracy and kidnapping in that region; shipping companies have been paying the ransom. Until there is no reward for these acts, and the risks far outweigh those rewards, they will continue. (Jail is a form of reward, as they are fed, clothed, and taken better care of than prior to their capture.)

Should they have left the Danish man behind?