Remember when Joe Biden said someone would really test Obama early in his presidency? Well I would consider the pirates capturing U.S. ships and crew as a test, and after yesterday’s news of the Hollywood style rescue of captain Richard Phillips, it looks like he passed his first big military test.

For President Obama, last week’s confrontation with Somali pirates posed similar political risks to a young commander in chief who had yet to prove himself to his generals or his public.

But the result — a dramatic and successful rescue operation by U.S. Special Operations forces — left Obama with an early victory that could help build confidence in his ability to direct military actions abroad.

Oh and he passed it without having to resort to Reagan style hostage negotiation deals. Of course the right is spinning this and trying to give the administration no credit at all.