US special forces targeted al-Qaida in Somalia
September 15th, 2009 . by TexasFredUS special forces targeted al-Qaida in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The U.S. helicopters, guns blazing, swooped over a convoy carrying a top al-Qaida fugitive in rural southern Somalia. Elite commandos rappelled to the ground, collected two bodies, and took off on a cloud of red dust.
The raid took just 15 minutes.
Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, wanted for the 2002 car bombing of a beach resort in Kenya and an attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner, was killed in Monday’s raid, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the operation and a Somali security official who cited intelligence reports.
The helicopter assault - rare in Somalia since the October 1993 battle of “Black Hawk Down” that was chronicled in a book and movie - underscored Washington’s concerns that lawless Somalia is fast becoming a haven for terrorists, including foreigners who want to plot attacks beyond the African country’s borders.
Full Story Here:
US special forces targeted al-Qaida in Somalia
As most of my long time readers know, I am a staunch believer in covert type operations. I know that in places like Afghanistan there is a serious need for boots on the ground, but covert operations are still a valuable part of the equation, they have been since the Afghan campaign kicked off in October of 2001. Covert operators played a major roll in Afghan operations back in the 1980′s, when Charlie Wilson’s War was a lot more than a movie.
Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989. Operation Cyclone is one of the longest and most expensive covert CIA operations ever undertaken; funding began with $20-30 million per year in 1980 and rose to $630 million per year in 1987. SOURCE
When we went to Afghanistan following the attacks of 9-11, we were facing an army of sorts, the Taliban, an evolved version of the Mujahideen, trained by us, armed by us and now fighting us. Our troops went in and pretty much took the Taliban apart, in fairly short order.
Then we took our eye off of the ball.
The covert type operation that was carried out in Somalia could have been all that was necessary to accomplish the REAL mission that was intended in Iraq. And Iraqi Freedom had nothing to do with it.
Back in 1991, Saddam had been chased out of Kuwait, his army was decimated and he himself had been embarrassed on the world stage. Saddam was an evil person, and I have NO problem with his demise, no matter how it came about. But there were rumors floated that as the world was crashing in on Saddam, there were 3 U.S. Special Operations teams in place, in Baghdad, and that at least one of these teams had eyes on Saddam, and that his demise was imminent. All the teams needed was a GO from Bush 41. Rumors also say that the teams were on the Satellite phones, in direct contact, BEGGING for those orders. Bush 41 did not give the order.
The most likely reason that Bush 41 didn’t give the order can be found here;
In February 1976, President Ford signed Executive Order 12333, forbidding anyone employed by the United States government to “engage in or conspire to engage in assassination.” Successive Presidents renewed the order, but some found ways of evading it while paying lip service to it. SOURCE
But, they didn’t say we couldn’t oversee the sudden demise of a foreign leader. Seriously, Gerald Ford was a far left peacenik compared to me and I truly hated it when this particular Executive Order was placed in action. There are times when you just don’t need a WAR to accomplish your goals. There are times when a highly trained team of shooters is all you need. One well place, suppressed shot and some problems just fade away as a page in history.
That was all we needed in Iraq this last go-round. 3 teams, 3 shots, Saddam and both sons are gone and Iraq is no worse for wear.
Bush didn’t figure on the insurgency we were going to face after deposing Saddam, that was HIS bad. Had we used the tools of the trade, a few well placed stories and rumors, it looks like Iran did it, and voila, Iraq and Iran are too busy destroying each other to be a threat to anyone.
The political correctness that has enveloped the White House in recent years is a HUGE part of the reason that America is in the situation it is. If you can bring about a bloody and expensive war between your enemies, and all you have to do is encourage it along a bit, why go fight them yourself?
And don’t for 1 minute believe that other nations of the world wouldn’t take a shot at OUR president, or his chain, if given the chance.
We are the only player on this field that even remotely plays by ANY rules. Our need for those rules is, in MY opinion, one of the very reasons we are engaged in a protracted engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And for what it’s worth;
MOGADISHU, Somalia — A U.S. raid killed one of Africa’s most wanted al-Qaida suspects sought in connection with a deadly hotel bombing, and Somalia’s powerful insurgent group vowed Tuesday to avenge the American attack.
Full Story Here:
Somali Insurgents Vow to Avenge U.S. Raid
Does any of that illustrate our NEED to address, and destroy our enemies?
We have threats made daily, against ALL Americans. I know that our troops face danger overseas, that’s the job they signed on for, that’s the job they know and the job they DO on a daily basis. Here in this USA, on American soil, we shouldn’t have to worry about terror attacks. We KNOW who they are, we know WHERE they are and we have the tools to removed them from this earth and cease their wasting good oxygen.
And it ALL boils down to ISLAM and Islamic radicals. Yeah, I know, Islamic RADICALS, there’s no other kind of Muslim other than radicals.
All it takes is a President with the resolve to make things happen. It takes a President that cares more about the citizens of this nation than he does about world opinion and his Muslim brothers. And our last few presidents, from BOTH parties, have certainly cared a lot more about what the world thought of them than they did what the world DID to us.
Some serious covert operations could save this nation a lot of military lives, money and ultimately, lives right here in the good old USA itself!
When you have a President who says we are not a Christian Nation, celebrates Ramadan, ignores Nat. Day of Prayer and goes around kissing the buts of our enemies, we are in serious trouble here. Then you have current and former President’s who allow the Muslim schools to exist in our country, it makes me want to scream!!! I just seems to me this President does not care one bit about our Country or anyone for that matter, he just likes to do interviews on the lame stream media like he is still campaigning. I would like to line up all those who voted for this Acorn nut and give them all a good smack!!! Well, I am done venting now!!! Keep up the good work Fred!!!
Limited covert operations are always great when they get the job done. Its great that we got our man in Somalia, so hats off to the special forces team. I agree with your statement “no other kind of Muslim other than radicals” so two dowm and tens of thousands of radicals left to go In Somalia. Should the remaining radical leaders carry out their threats and many Americans die they action should again be taken and those leaders taken out. I hope we are not getting into an endless war of tit-for-tac. Frankly, there is no easy solution. The other day I was bitten by a fire ant on my back deck and looking around a saw many of the little sorry critters crawling on the deck floor so I began looking for the source of this scourge and found a huge nest below my deck. This nest is no longer there.
You are correct Dr. Dave, however Obama must have given his stamp of approval on this operation—but probably only after some serious prodding by the joint chiefs and maybe, just maybe some staff. Obugger, is doing his best to destroy the CIA and that could lead to American deaths down the road.
TF, that has been a major irritation to me for a long time. Why is it our military has to play by unrealistic rules made by politically correct libtard politicians??? They are killing our young heroes!
When you have an enemy, you don’t embrace them with your political correctness.
I can think of one convert operation that the CIA really needs to take out….but I won’t go into that any farther. In fact, I can think of at least half a dozen targets….with some 40 other minor targets.
First, I have to say that “OPSEC” restrains any commentary from me.
From a strategic point of view?
Marine’s
Rangers
Simple Females ( You know who you are! LMAO!)
Navy Seals
I say this: GET SOME!
For what it is worth, my brother was in Desert Storm and he has told us they had the Republican Guard surrounded and there was no place for them to go. Why they were called off is still a mystery to him and others who served with him.
I agree with most of what you had to say, TexasFred, with one main exception. I do not believe all Muslims are radical. A lot of them are, but I know some who are not. As long as they just want to practice their religion peacefully, then I have no problem with them. If they go radical, then all bets are off and the game should be on.
Good post.
Larry, lets say there’s a snake pit… And IN that pit there are 100 Diamondback Rattlers…
10 of those rattlers are really NICE GUYS, they won’t bite, they just want to hang out with you, drink beer, eat popcorn and be your buddy…
The other 90 want to bite you, inject you with poison and kill you…
I am not wading off in there and doing a one by one, individual inspection to find out who exactly, is who…
Kill em ALL and let Allah sort em out…
Simple Females ( You know who you are! LMAO!)
I don’t think there is such a thing as a “Simple Female”, Patrick! Of course, unless that is code for a PMSing, pistol packing woman who happens to be full of “Attitude”… LOL!!!
Larry, during WWII when the German SS was hauling Jews to death camps by the train loads, there were plenty of German citizens who recognized that it was wrong and evil and the did what they could, risking their lives to help as many as they could. Corrie Ten Boom and Herbert Schindler com to mind. I’m sure there were many more. What has bothered me since 9/11 was visions of Palestinian citizens in the streets rejoicing.
My point is this. If any of our fellow Christian denominations started a “jihad” type movement against say Buddists, do you think the majority of Christian Americans would cheer them on, participate or do nothing to stop them??? I sure don’t. That is the problem I have with Islamics. Only a rare few seem to be speaking out against the suicide bombings and violence. Even the ones here in this country are silent for the most part. When there is an “honor killing”, their communities do now speak out and show outrage. There have been several of those in the last few years in the US and Canada. They are, as a community, always silent.
I have worked with many who were nice, professional, and seemed very nice. But they never show what I feel should be appropriate emotion and outrage when these things happen in this country. And that to me makes no more sense than blowing oneself up to kill other people.
You are right, HoosierArmyMom. I do believe the majority of Christian Americans would immediately call for a cease and desist order if such a jihad was started by an American group. Even if I do believe there are some Muslims who are not so radical, it is clear they are made of a different sort of “cloth” and they certainly have a different set of values than do most of us.
So… Killing em ALL works?? Just askin’…
There’s a lot to be said for a good rifle and scope combination for use at home and abroad.
My brother has a Savage .270 that he is very proficient with. I reckon he could give us a hand.
Seriously though, it’s sad when we have to even joke about something like this. As human beings, we shouldn’t have to even consider it, but we we are faced with people who have no morals and do not value human life, what are we to do?
Yeah, Fred. I suppose killing them all would work.
HAM says:
“I have worked with many who were nice, professional, and seemed very nice. ”
So were the muslim doctors in the UK that killed innocent people not too long ago. They are sleeper cells that “JUST WAIT” for the order to come down to kill the infidels. Oh, they assimilate into everyday lifestyle, lie like a bunch of politicians until the call comes and then it’s “KILL,” because allah and muhammed and the quran says so.
I’m with Fred, send’em all to allah and if he’s that great, let him sort their radical asses out. We’ll just help send them on their way to meet him.
Ex-tex cop:
I get your drift my friend. Should you ever require help, well,………………..
Oh, I like Texas Fred’s statement… (kind of borrowed from one of the English Crusaders… LOL!!!)
Kill em all and let Allah sort them out!!!! (Let’s not bother our God with such mundane tasks!) Good one TF.
It does seem tacky to make wise cracks but it’s abhorrent to think about all the women and children who die each year from terrorists in the ME too.
Here’s my belief. It’s a wonder that the helo’s were able to carry out this mission. Not because they couldn’t do it with ease, but because of all the other operations that have been aborted by “higher up’s”. We have nothing in government except a bunch of pansyassed, pond scum politicians, trying to fight a bunch of terrorists with their political correctness horseshit that’s killing our elite young fighting men and women.We are more concerned what the un asswipes will think. I KNOW what I’d think, I’d think I’d close that festering shithole where all these third world shitheads of state set on their crooked asses while their people live in squalor to support their lavish offices and lifestyles.
Miranda rights my ass, I’d kill the son of a bitch, THEN, I’d read him his rights. Our hands were tied in Iraq, and now in Awwfuckistan.
KILL ‘EM ALL If we don’t we’ll be fighting their children still.
I’m done, thank you for your attention ladies and gentlemen. LOL
Vigilante, you are crude, rude and sociably unacceptable…
I love ya man!!
Fred, I’d rather be in a pit with 100 Rattlesnakes than 2 Muslims. I would love to think that there are a few good Muslims out there. Ha. But after living in Kuwait for 5 yrs as a civilian, your chances are pretty much Zilch. It’s their religion, you can not change a thousand years of stupidity. Boy could I vent a couple days about this. The American citizens in Kuwait were continuously on the mission of making friends with the Kuwaitis. The Muslims don’t want our friendship. There’s just too much of a difference. If American Christians want to see their children grow up and grandchildren, we have to do whatever it takes. This Religion Guilt has GOT TO GO.
My heart and prayers go out to our military, FBI, CIA or whatever alphabet govt is out there trying to keep us safe. The odds are not in their favor with this administration.
You’d be better off looking for a smart liberal.
Something else that pisses me off. Since we are all a little Opinionated on this topic.
Maybe since I’m a mom, all I can think about is how to protect my kids. When you become a parent, grandparent whatever, every breath you take is trying to provide for their future. Do these politicians not love their kids as much as we do? How many days ahead can these politicians plan? Do they not see how dangerous our children’s lives are? I know, to many questions.
Please send these politicians to Saudi Arabia for an Indoctrination. Please start with Pelosi. Send them out to the real world.
We must remember that the 9/11 hijackers lived in the country. They attended our universities and enjoyed the best this country had to offer. Their children played in our playgrounds, attended our schools, and grew healthy under our standard of living. Their wives shopped in our stores and enjoyed the freedoms this country has to offer. They lived among us, befriended us, and then attacked us when the time came. They killed three thousand of the people that opened up their arms to them and welcomed them to this nation. That’s the type of enemy we face…they are worse than rattlesnakes but like a rattlesnake, it’s in their nature to strike.
“Vigilante, you are crude, rude and sociably unacceptable… I love ya man!!
” profound quote from TexasFred
And a big ole DITTO on that.
We have a bunch of career scheister politicians trying to fix the “economy” and run a War. That in and of itself is a time proven (just look at history!) oxymoron. The libtards have murdered some of the “cream of our military” with their stupid rules of engagement and Miranda bs. They have no business trying to run the City Dog Pound let alone a war or “playing with economics”. Most of them need to go back to chasing ambulances and putting murderers back on the streets… it’s what they do best.
“Please send these politicians to Saudi Arabia for an Indoctrination. Please start with Pelosi. Send them out to the real world.” quote: hardheadedtexan
What a FABULOUS IDEA!!! I’d even pay to fit her with her hijab. Maybe then some of her/their decisions would be based on knowledge of this enemy rather than koolaid ignorance.
@ HoosierArmyMom
You supply the hijab for Pelosi, I’ll supply the stones for the Saudi’s. ha
Hey, you have a deal hardheadedtexan! Sounds like a plan.