Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 04/13/09
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Tonight on AC360°, we take you inside the cockpit of a plane where a passenger is at the controls after the pilot died in flight. Some very tense moments. Air traffic control operators did an amazing job helping the passenger safely land the plane.
And, don't miss Erica Hill's webcast on the daring landing and tonight's other headlines during the commercials. Watch our WEBCAST
Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
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I'm proud of the way our Comander and Chief and his actions on the hostage stituation.
Anderson is very knowledgeable about these Somali pirates and the entire region– it's very helpful and makes for a great dialogue.
More of that, please!
@Erica~ that is one incredible story. Are you bringing us the first dog story?
I think Bo should be spelled "Beau" it seems more presidential. I hope the family stays "Alpha" with him, these dogs can be quite energetic and some times stubborn if they think they are in control.
*Sigh* Why couldn't these pirates be more like Johnny Depp?
david i dont feel they will have a problem with the muslims after
they hijacked that saudi tanker.
@ Mike, should the President have gone and taken care of the pirates himself?
Anderson you have had so much experience with Somalia, I would like to see you do an update on it, such as how it has changed or not changed since you first reported on it.
As Jack Gray wisely wrote the issue about the first dog comes in a time where people need something lighter, when the issues are so dense and disturbing!
And Bo is too cute!
Why can't we just sink everything that leav es Somalian waters? If they stray away from the coastal fishing areas, they history.
I think the owners of the ships should provide the security for their ships.
I admire the way President Obama handled himself well
with regards to the pirates. Maybe now the international
community can come together and form an alliance to
deal with the situation.
Hello, Anderson, Erica and David–
This piracy in Somalia is interesting just like the drug smuggling in Mexico. Any Somalia assignments for AC soon?
Can you tell us more about what the US has done in Somalia in the past and what kind of help are we providing for the Somalians?
what did we expect President Obama to do? let the Captain be taken into Somalia? What would any other leader have done?
David, the President did a great job of giving them the go ahead and keeping abreast of the situation.
Mike, who do you think give the professionals the go ahead.
Maybe the pirate hostage situation was Obama's Cuban Missile Crisis. he kept low key and did what was right. David Gergen you are right, as always, that Obama did the right thing leaving the incident to those who were familiar with the situation.
David Gergen is still the voice of reason! He knows of what he speaks when it comes to President Obama!
Anderson and Team 360 - good piece on the Navy SEAL training - very interesting and informative.
David Gergen-I think the POTUS did what he should have done-stayed well informed, issued proper orders and delegated the situation to the people who are trained to handle this kind of thing.
@ David Gergen
Always nice listening to your commendation on the news.
As always, I agree with David about how well President Obama held control of the situation. He didn't try to jump the gun about anything and he let the NAVY and its commanders know what an unbelievable job they did.
Mr. Gergen, I believe that President Obama handled this crisis exactly right. He did not raise the temperature and kept the drama down. The seals were magnificent and when it came to make the tough decision he did it without having to do it before the cameras. Excellent leadership and CIC moniker fits him.
The passenger/pilot landing was incredible – not hard to understand why the Air Traffic Controllers Assoc is calling this an "Easter Miracle"
Some new sound coming up in the show - more from the tapes released by the FAA today (I am still in awe of how calm and collected this man is throughout it all!) and also from the man who safely landed the plane, and saved his family, after the pilot died.
It is heroic, miraculous and terribly sad for the family of the pilot.
@David Gergen
I really feel that the President handled the pirate situation the only way he possibly could. Keeping a low profile, but giving the orders he did, absolutely seemed to be the right decision.
I think the shipping companies have to take responsibility for the protection of their ships, but I don't think we can escape having the military involved, as well.
Hello, Mr. Gergen!
I wonder if the pirates had to be killed. I feel good about the captain being freed unharmed. But then, I don't know.
It seeam obvious that Somalia has to change – or be forcefully changed by others – if the world is to be a safer place. It's just one cog in the wheel. Or a monkey wrench.
Good Evening From Reno
I love Candy Crowley's reports, she's like David G. they are both so cool and unbias when they give their reports.
Hellooo David G,
I am so thankful our president Obama is right thing to do for him, they are so great crew and captain Richard Phillips, I am really so proud of the Navy Seals and or Pres. Obama!!!!!!! they are so amazing people!
Mike in NY: That is the role of the Commander in Chief: To sign the permission and then keep in touch with all different agencies involved and trust them to do the right thing..
He did everything he was supposed to do and didn't take any credit or demand political points as a result.
Rather than try to search the entire region, the world's Navies should set up safe corredors. Any unidentified ships that enter the safe zone get sunk.
Woo! Love the Gergenator!
@Mike in Syracuse – I agree with you that the President let the Navy Seals do their job. That is how it should be!
Aid will not help if the land has no stable government
@David Gergen - I thought President Obama did a great job with the "pirate situation." He was informed and made decisions behind the scenes - letting the military and negotiators take action while not inflaming the situation.
Not sure the US can clean up the "nest of pirates" alone, or should we. This needs to be multi-national unified action and needs to start on land in Somalia - not something anyone seems anxious to take on right now.
Tough to be at sea and then held hostage not able to communicate with someone you love, I'm sure Captain Phillips is overjoyed to hear his wife's voice and see her on tv.
Chris, I am sad too to see the situation was not peacefully resolved.
Isabel, maybe the answer is to capture possible pirates rather than conduct a war with them. Obviously the country of Somalia needs help creating some stability for it's people. This is a country having trouble on several levels, lack of govt, food shortages, crime, civil strife...
Good Evening Anderson and all bloggers
I am so glad the captain was rescued and once again impressed with the Navy Seals and, as always, the way President Obama handled yet another situation.
Ironic, I follow Newt on twitter!
High honors to anyone able to complete navy seal training.
no doubt – That definitely takes a special kind of person to complete that training. I personally don't know anyone that special.
Wonderful story on the Navy Seals, amazinf sacrifice and motivation
Regarding how to respond to piracy on the high seas, I feel commercial ships should carry weapons for defense of life and property, accessible to the Captain and First Officer, so in the event of an attempt at piracy, the Capt or F.O. unclok the armory and issue weapons to the crew to defend the ship. Simple & effective.
@David Gergen. To start, we need to understand the infrastructure of Somalia. Not just roads, "law," water, power, etc., but socially.
WHAT? no "Cooper" dog in the house? The White House that is...
Good evening, David Gergen & Anderson!
I thought President Obama was just fine. He gave authorization and got out of the way of people doing the job they were trained for. I think that's appropriate though I'm sure there will be detractors. Delegate! That's the way to get more done and utilize the innate talents of your staff.
Why hello, David Gergen...I think the President did a great job by doing lots of behind-the-scenes work and everything worked out.
As for what to do with the pirates, I'd suggest establishing a functioning government and police force for the long-term. Short-term would be multiple nations (not just the US, as this has a worldwide impact) is policing the seas with military force.
I heard the navy SEALS are able to snipe something three miles away....amazing!
.......what I don't understand is why the pirates are "allowed" on board, I thought that all ships carried arms on board, the larger ship has the "high ground" it looks like they could fire down on the pirates......isn't it time they carried small cannons like they did on freighters in WWII?
Also intersect them as the do the drug dealers in the carribean in their fast boats!
Good evening David Gergen
@David Gergen, President Obama did the only thing he could have done, leave it up to the commander on the scene to make the call when and how to act. His next act should be to implement the plans the Special Forces Command already have just waiting White House approval for special forces to take out pirates in their ports in Somalia.
Good evening Mr Gergen..I think that these private companies, like Maerks, should hire private security..maybe some retired Navy SEALs..but POTUS should get together w/ other nations to stop pirates.