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(AP) - True to form, President Barack Obama is
striking a cautious, low-profile public stance as the piracy crisis plays out.

      As the situation changes by the hour, Obama advisers say the new
commander in chief is being kept abreast of the developments,
including Capt. Richard Phillips' foiled escape attempt Friday. But
the president has yet to say a word in public about the standoff,
now three days old.


      The approach is quintessential Obama, who as a candidate and now
as president has tended to let tenuous dramas unfold without remark
unless he absolutely must, lest his words or actions adversely
influence a precarious situation.


      "I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," Obama
said pointedly last month, when a reporter questioned why it took
him several days to express outrage over the big bonuses American
International Group doled out while receiving federal bailout
money.


      In the current case, direct involvement by a president also
could elevate the already high international stakes.


      Asked by reporters about the piracy Thursday, Obama declined to
respond. Same again on Friday.


      Advisers say he's leaving the heavy lifting -- and, clearly, the
commenting -- to high-level administration officials and his
military commanders.


      They haven't had all that much to say either, though they have
been offering the nation assurances that the government is pressing
to free Phillips.


      Vice President Joe Biden said the administration was working
"around the clock" on the matter. Attorney General Eric Holder
said the United States will "do what we have to do" to protect
U.S. shipping interests against pirates. 


And Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "We are bringing to bear a number of
our assets, including naval and FBI, in order to resolve the
hostage situation and bring the pirates to justice."


      In West Palm Beach, Fla., Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S.
Central Command, said the military will increase its presence near
the Horn of Africa "to ensure that we have all the capability that
might be needed over the course of the coming days."


      Somali pirates tried to hijack the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama
on Wednesday, but the cargo ship crew regained control of the
vessel. Even so, the pirates escaped on one of the ship's lifeboats
and took Phillips, of Underhill, Vt., hostage.


      Obama learned of the unfolding crisis in the pre-dawn hours on
Wednesday, shortly after returning from an eight-day trip to Europe
and Iraq.


      On Thursday, the second day of the incident, the White House
portrayed Obama's role as an attentive listener who was getting
frequent progress reports -- but not getting directly involved in
operations.


      White House press secretary Robert Gibbs put the focus on an
interagency group on maritime safety that includes representatives
from the departments of State, Homeland Security, Commerce, Energy,
Defense and Transportation, as well as the FBI and the Joint Chiefs
of Staff.


      "The president has followed the situation closely, has gotten
updates throughout yesterday and today," Gibbs said Thursday.
"And, obviously, his main concern is for the safety of the captain
and the rest of the crew on the ship. And he will continue to
receive those updates."


      Asked if that was the extent of Obama's involvement, Gibbs said:
"At this point, he's staying apprised of the situation."


      "Obviously, the Navy and the FBI are to some degree on the
scene with their resources," Gibbs added. "And so the resources
of our government are deployed in ensuring the safety and security
of the captain and the crew."


      The president who took office in January has proved willing in
many cases to field off-the-cuff questions from reporters at the
close of events at the White House, even on matters differing from
his focus that day.


      When reporters asked the president directly about the incident
on Thursday, he demurred. Instead, he stayed on his message of the
day, saying: "Guys, we're talking about housing right now."


      At the end of a White House meeting with his economic advisers
on Friday, reporters asked when the Obama girls' dog was arriving.


He laughed and said, "Oh man, now that's top secret." He also
said he looked forward to seeing the reporters at Monday's Easter
egg roll.


      They asked about the pirates. No answer.


      Associated Press writer Ben Feller contributed to this report.

Gallery

FBI joins effort in hostage standoff with pirates

Piracy showdown escalates

Politics and Government News

Liz Sidoti

Author

True to form, President Barack Obama is
striking a cautious, low-profile public stance as the piracy crisis plays out.

Obama careful, quiet on pirate drama

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