Nomination for "Understatement of the Year'!!

Navy commander: Trio of shots ended sea standoff
AP News
Monday, April 13, 2009

Adm. William Gortney said Monday that it took only three shots for Navy snipers to kill the trio of pirates holding captain Richard Phillips hostage on a lifeboat drifting in the high sea.

Interviewed from Bahrain, Gortney said the takedown happened shortly after the hostage-takers were observed by sailors aboard the USS Bainbridge "with their heads and shoulders exposed."

Asked how the snipers could have killed each pirate with a single shot in the darkness, Gortney described them as "extremely, extremely well-trained."

He told NBC's "Today" show the shooting by the snipers was ordered by the captain of the Bainbridge after the pirates "exposed themselves" to attack.

Military officials were widely praising the snipers for three flawless shots, which they described as remarkable, coming at night and from the stern of a ship on rolling waters.

Defense officials also indicated, speaking anonymously, that the Navy snipers got the go-ahead to fire after one of the pirates was seen holding an AK-47 so close to Phillips that the weapon appeared to be touching him. Two other pirates popped their heads up, giving snipers all three of their targets, one official said.

I reckon calling those Naval snipers 'extremely well trained' would be kinda like calling a Navy Seal...... pretty well conditioned! Or Jimmy Doolittle a 'pretty good pilot'!!! See also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCOZBr7pSAQ&feature=player_embedded