Obama himself has authorized the release of the captain "Maersk Alabama."

SyuzhetyPiratstvo off Somali12.04.2009SShA otbili capital Maersk Alabama at piratovPrezident Barack Obama personally authorized the use of force to release a captured American captain pirate ship, reported Asoociated Press. The operation to liberate Richard Phillips, captain of a container "Maersk Alabama, held on Sunday, gunmen shot and killed three pirates.
Pirates were unable to capture on April 8, "Maersk Alabama, but Phillips left them as a hostage and, together with the four criminals were on the boat, heading to the coast of Somalia. During the boat saw the American warships. As it turned out, the President regularly received reports on the hostage situation with the captain. The Department of Defense twice - on Friday and Saturday - contact Obame to allow, if necessary, use force against the pirates, and gave a good president.
As specified in the communication channel CNN, at the time of the release of the captain on the boat with him were only three of the pirates, the fourth was close on board the U.S. destroyer "Beynbridzh, which led negotiations on the future fate of the hostage. Order to open fire was given a sniper on duty when the officer saw that the pirates target the barrels of their rifles in the back of Phillips.
While Phillips remained in captivity, Obama refrained from making any comment, and made only after the release of the captain. "I share the admiration of the whole country the courage of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage - a model for all Americans," - said the President. In the same speech, Obama promised to do everything possible to effectively fight against Somali pirates. On Sunday, the president also contacted Phillips and his family on the phone.
AP notes that the outcome of the history of Phillips became a significant political victory for Obama: the President has demonstrated composure and a willingness, if necessary, to resort to military force to resolve the crisis. For its part, the Somali pirates threatened the U.S. places: one of their leaders, as referred AFP, promised to purposefully attack the American ships.