Obama Praises Military For U.S. Captain's Rescue; Resolves To Halt Piracy

April 14, 2009 5:40 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President Barack Obama on Monday praised U.S. military personnel for successfully rescuing the American captain that had been captive by Somali pirates and vowed to work with the international community to stop the rising incidents of piracy.

Defense Sec. Robert Gates the same day said the rescue was "textbook," and that "there is no purely military solution" to piracy.

At the Transportation Department to deliver remarks give a speech about the infrastructure projects under his economic stimulus, Obama said, "I want to take a moment to say how pleased I am about the rescue of Captain Phillips... I am very proud of the efforts of the U.S. military and many other departments and agencies that worked tirelessly to resolve this situation. I share our nation's admiration for Captain Phillips' courage and leadership and selfless concern for his crew."

The President, who spoke to the captain's wife after the rescue, added that the United States is "resolved" in halting the rise in piracy in the region by working with other nations.

"We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise, and we have to ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes," he said.

U.S. special operations snipers on Sunday shot and killed three Somali pirates holding Richard Phillips hostage off Somalia's coast. They took one remaining pirate in custody.

Phillips was taken hostage after his crew of 21 Americans were able to take back their ship, the Maersk Alabama, which was on its way to Mombasa, Kenya on Wednesday when it was seized 300 miles off Somalia's coast.

The USS Bainbridge, a destroyer, and other Navy reinforcements had arrived in the area to negotiate a release, but pirates had reportedly demanded a $2 million ransom.

After the rescue, Phillips was taken on the Bainbridge and then flown to the San Diego-based assault ship USS Boxer, where he underwent medical evaluation and contacted his family.

Gates said the rescue was "textbook," and that the four pirates were aged 17 to 19 years old.

"Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons... Everybody in the room knows the consequences of that," the secretary said in remarks at the Marine Corps War College.

Pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa, which are largely due to the overwhelming poverty and political instability in the region, have risen in recent months. Gates said "there is no purely military solution to it."

He added, "And as long as you've got this incredible number of poor people and the risks are relatively small, there's really no way in my view to control it unless you get something on land that begins to change the equation for these kids."