President Obama's plan is to talk to the pirates, maybe even pay them a ransom.  Probably, if they are captured, he will try them in American courts.  He would treat pirates better than US citizens.  I mean, did he fine each pirate $30,000 and give it to failed American companies?  No, sorry, he stole that money from US citizens.  In fact, he will probably use taxpayer money to protect the pirates in US courts.  Probably, even put them into the US prison system, and when they get out, they will become US Citizens with minority benefits, and tax rebates.  Somali pirates, Obama welcomes you.

We could easily scan the boat with infrared, set snipers to shoot through the hull, and make sure not to kill the hostage based on his biometric, and/or infrared profile.  Done.  What Obama is doing will probably get the captain killed, but no one cares about that, since talking and change is more important than life and death.

Seriously, can anyone imagine Obama doing what the French did?  Kill all the mother fucking pirates on the boat.  Happy day.  Good thing the crew took care of themselves, because Obama certainly isn't going to prevent this from happening again.

Update:

So, Obama had three pirates killed and one survived.  Great, he's done one good thing as the President of the United States.  Big fricken deal.  He should win a fucking cookie.  Next, he should go blow the shit out of the pirate bases in Somalia . . . like that is going to happen.