Obama handled this in exactly the way it was supposed to be handled, and probably the same way any other president would have, according to the advice of professionals who study these problems, and in accordance to the circumstances of the case and the resources he had available.

It went well, and the temptation is for his supporters to gloat as a result. And if it had turned out poorly, as Jimmy Carter's rescue attempt did, his enemies would have had a field day gloating. Presidents have the opportunity to set long-term policy shifts in motion, and they have a cumulative effect in the long run. But when a crisis like this suddenly materializes, all Presidents must simply rely on pre-prepared scenarios, the advice of experts, and sheer luck. The important thing is to not let events get out of control. That's the mistake the pirates made. I don't think next time they'll make the same mistake again.