Now is the time for all good men ...

...to come to the aid of their country. Not just a typing exercise anymore.

Today, we have the first real-time foreign policy challenge to America under the Obama administration, he's back in town ready to go, and we will get to see how our leader responds.

Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said that it was the first pirate attack "involving U.S. nationals and a U.S.-flagged vessel in recent memory." She did not give an exact timeframe.

When asked how the U.S. Navy plans to deal with the hijacking, Campbell said: "It's fair to say we are closely monitoring the situation, but we will not discuss nor speculate on current and future military operations."

It was not clear whether the pirates knew they were hijacking a ship with American crew.

It's been a busy Holy Week already, friends, and I suspect we've just been given the foreign-policy topic that will dominate political discussion around the Easter table.

Were those Jimmy Carter comparisons campaign opponents tried to paint on him inapt? Can one indeed pledge cooperation to other nations in pursuing a soft easy diplomacy, yet maintain credibility in action while responding to such provocations against American citizens? Do we negotiate with terrorists and buy the crew's freedom, or do we wait them out much like Carter's embassy approach?

We shall see... I'm saying a quick prayer here myself that our country's leader indeed has the experience, judgment, and solid team around him that many have questioned when he was commenting only on hypothetical or potential dangers confronting the country.

(And the fact that he was out of the country on business, and the North Korean missle reportedly fizzled ... is probably the only thing that kept that from being an observable foreign-policy response by the new administration.)

Now it's not just about running for the job, but actually seeing how these promised policies play out in action. Good luck, boss. The responsibility for at least 20 lives, and an anxious country watching, observing and waiting, is now in your hands.

Those of us who remember the 1979 hostage crisis, and the accompanying years of uncertainty being "on hold" under President Carter's policies, recognize the stakes at hand here. Again, let's hope that your team is prepared for this challenging situation, and up to the job. A sincere and hearty "Go get 'em!" Mr. President, however you choose to proceed...