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Subscribe to RSSAfter the death of Western workers in an attack on a gas plant in the Sahara, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta vows to hunt down the militants responsible. NBC News' Annabel Roberts reports.
Twenty-three hostages and 32 militants were killed in the attack on a natural gas plant deep in the Sahara, the Algerian interior ministry said on Saturday, according to news services.
The official also said 107 foreign hostages and 685 Algerian hostages had been released, several news outlets reported.
Earlier, British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said, speaking on information received by the British government, that the hostage crisis had "been brought to an end."
The militants took over the In Amenas plant on Wednesday, but Algeria's military launched a rescue attempt on Thursday.
The Algerian Press Service reported that a during a final attack by Algeria's military, the militants killed seven hostages, whose nationalities were not revealed. All of the remaining militants were reported killed.
At a joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Hammond described the loss of life as "appalling and unacceptable."
"We remain in close contact with the Algerian government," Hammond said. "We remain determined to defeat terrorism and stand with the Algerian government."
Hammond said that the latest Algerian military operation had resulted in further loss of life. "We are pressing the Algerians for details on the exact situation and the numbers that have been killed and, if any, the numbers rescued," he said.
The Associated Press reported that around 100 of the 135 foreign workers on the site had been freed by Friday. The U.S. government confirmed Friday that one of the dead hostages was Frederick Buttaccio from Texas.
The militants claimed Friday that they were holding two American hostages and would exchange them for two people being held in the United States — the blind sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, and Aafie Siddiqque, a 40-year-old Pakistani neuroscientist and mother of three, who was convicted of attacking U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
That would appear to account for all five Americans thought to have been at the plant, one U.S. official said, if the militants are telling the truth.
In a statement Saturday, President Barack Obama said: "The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out ... This attack is another reminder of the threat posed by al Qaeda and other violent extremist groups in North Africa."
In a news release Saturday, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he feared for the lives of five British citizens who remained unaccounted for, Reuters reported.
Anis Belghoul / AP
Two British hostages -- Peter, left, and Alan, right (no family name available) -- are seen after being released, in a street near the gas plant where they were kidnapped by Islamic militants.
"One British citizen has already been killed in this brutal attack and we now fear the worst for the lives of five others who are not yet accounted for," Cameron said, according to Reuters.
British Petroleum said Saturday that four of its employees were among the hostages who remain missing.
In a conference call with reporters, Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley said 14 of the 18 BP employees who were working at the site are “safe and secure” but four remain missing. Dudley said at this time he could not reveal the identities or nationalities of any of the employees. Dudley said the situation remains “very fluid and complex.”
Based on information from those hostages freed, Dudley said they suffered a “terrible and agonizing ordeal” and the situation inside the facility was “horrific.” Before “pre-judging” the actions taken by Algerian security Dudley said “we need he entire picture.”
The In Amenas plant, in a remote part of the Sahara Desert in eastern Algeria close to the Libyan border, is jointly run by BP, Norway's Statoil and Algeria's state-owned oil company.
The hostage standoff in Algeria is proving frustrating as both media and governments struggle for information. The Washington Post's Joby Warrick discusses the situation with MSNBC's Alex Witt.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related content:
- 1 American killed, 2 escape in Algeria hostage crisis, US officials say; militants seek to trade 2 others for blind sheik
- Details emerge in militant takeover, rescue operation at Algeria gas field
Leave a Comment:
Many people in the Executive Branch are secretly relieved that the crisis ended by the hostages getting offed that way. Now the U.S. didn't have to play the role of "diplomatic good guy" and nevertheless follow the policy that "the U.S. doesn't negotiate with terrorists".
The loved ones and bereaved families of the victims have our deep-felt sympathy, but terrorists are irrational and usually prepared to be martyred. We are only guessing when we think that an attack using special forces from a Western power would have obtained a more favorable outcome.
Really, STG??
Somehow you have an "in" at the Executive branch?
It sounds more like it's your opinion rather than what you know.
The question that should be asked is what happened to the security around this facility? It is well-known that Algeria has had problems with these people, especially since many of them have returned from working with Gaddaffi. That, and the French incursion into Mali should have been enough of an argument for augmenting security.
Lastly, my deepest sympathy goes out towards the friends and families of the hostages. However, there is a degree of danger when one travels and works in certain parts of the world inhabited by these criminals. How these threats are dealt with changes from one country to another. Do not expect your own country's special forces to help you when traveling.
Indeed, oft times you are on your own.
@Sees thru,
Your glass is a little foggy. I doubt strongly that anyone in the Executive Branch (one assumes that you mean Obama) was "secretly relieved" that the hostages were "offed." It is more likely that there was no input from the Executive Branch and little information until after the fact. This is just another lame right-wing attempt to slander Obama on any issue that arises.
What drove this incident is something far different. The Algerian Special Forces were trained by Speznatz commandos. Their motto is "Terrorize the terrorists." They are trained to ignore hostages and any terrorists that attempt to surrender are killed. This is just a case of the Algerian Special Forces doing exactly what they were trained to do. And, like the Speznatz, they do not ask for assistance or information from anyone else because they are trained to be self-sufficient.
WQhy not see through your "glass" and blame all the January snow on Obama. That makes about as much sense.
Why didn't they have assault rifles ? I thought all home grown Americans had one..
Well, it must all be a lie. AQ has been decimated. It has been made an ineffective force. Or so someone said recently. What a shame for the killed workers and their families and friends. Their work in that country was making that country a better place on earth for the people there.
I think our reliance upon being reactive rather than proactive will continue to keep us less safe than we could otherwise be. My solution, which no one seems to want to consider, and which I suggested over a decade ago, is that we identify the financiers of terrorism, and then begin to assassinate them. Some are princes, some are business people, some are religious figures, but all, unlike the poor SOBs they finance, want to live. The news would spread very rapidly that their kind are methodically being shot once in the head, twice in the chest, and those not yet dead would rapidly I think contact our CIA, or Mi-6, or whoever will get them off the list fastest.
I'm tired of the adherents of The Religion of Peace killing people who don't deserve to die. Without money they could hate us all they want, but they would become far less threatening to the west.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmm ... A strange act of .... "Terrorism" ... more like opportunist kidnappers looking for a quick buck ...
If you were a "ideological" motivated terrorist would you have left the facility intact ....even if you were going for the buck of ransom? lol ..
This type of action is about destruction that has a mass financial effect on your adversary .. and slows his ability to produce .... the plant should have been left a pile of useless rubble ... these guys are really not the brightest lights in their sandy park ...
The blind Sheik is only a psychological gain ... nothing more ... his day has come and gone ..
And the winner is ................ BP ... a little loss of production ... but a plant that will be operating again soon..
For all the folks that think you can solve this problem by killing someone high in the chain .....
Bull@!$%#!
Your fighting the same battle that the Romans fought against Christianity 2000 years ago ... if you try to destroy it this why it will continue to grow ... not die!
The "War on Terror" is just like the "War on Drugs," both are an effort in futility and can NEVER be won! The USA has been diligently fighting the "War on Drugs" for over 40 years and for all the non-results for the billion of dollars spent, we would have had more success just piling all that money up in a big open space and burned it, at least we would have the ashes for something positive. The "War on Terror" is just another waste of money except not only do we lose money, we lose precious lives. The only reason we are in these backwards azzed countries is because of oil. Keep our borders damn slammed shut, "beware of entangling alliances," get out of ALL military pacts, put ALL our soldiers on US soil and get our oil from our own land, and there is more than enough for 200 years. Well before then we will have figured out a sustainable alternate fuel source. Isolate the USA from the rest of the world except for necessary exports and imports, none of which would be oil!
Hi ORB,
I agree with your sympathies, but I think you are wrong about terrorists being irrational. They do what works, and that is profoundly rational. Their goal recently, for instance, was to get the western governments to exit from Benghazi. Well, the UK left, and we left, and the rest have, or will, leave. Their strategy is a brilliant one really.
Imagine if bank robbers could get the police or bank guards to leave, and get the alarm turned off. And the police and guards and alarm company comply. Just brilliant.
Mr. Obama, despite his many claims of success against terrorists and terrorism, is presiding over a period in which terrorists are achieving the very goals they established for themselves. Only a fool would claim that what we are accomplishing is "success". Mr. Obama is that fool. Oh, what is that goal? It's the caliphate, of course.
Hey Bonebreaker,
I think I understand why people think like you do. But the human reality on earth is that instability leading to totalitarianism loves a power vacuum. Like it or not but the USA is the most important country on earth. If we leave, we create a power vacuum, one which people and countries who hate us and want us dead would happily fill. The "safe island" mentality in a world of nuclear power and methods to deliver it, or other ways to kill millions, makes even less sense than it did when neither existed.
Chris - The right-wing doesn't have to attempt to slander Obama. He manages to take care of that all by himself by his actions or lack thereof.
There was a ban on assault weapons in Algeria......
Rich-281385. As I'm sure you know, "The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over the same way and expecting different results." Don't you truly think that we have tried this "BIG Brother" mentality way too long? The US can no longer be the "Peacekeeper" of the planet and if power vacuums suck in all the crazies if we pull out, then so be it. It's better to fight the enemy when they attack you on your own borders than to try changing the way they act when we are in their country. On top of that, they do not want us there in the first place, they only want the cash we give them to pretend to be allies of ours. What a waste of time and money and lives. The USA can more than protect itself in a nuclear war if it ever comes to that.
If we quit needing oil these scenarios would cease. Can we all drive a little less? Can we all use a little less plastic? Can we all recycle a little more? It won't change things overnight but we didn't get to this point overnight either. Let each and every one of us PRACTICE backing off of oil dependence. Walk once a week. Ride a bike once a week.
Our military are NOT fighting for any freedom these days except America's luxury to drive with cheap fuel. Sorry but that's the way things are.
Idiot! right wing rhetoric by a fool!
Sees thru Gloss,
"nevertheless follow the policy that "the U.S. doesn't negotiate with terrorists"."
It's Algeria that does not negotiate with terrorists. So if you happen to be a hostage caught between the Algerian army and the terrorists they're after, well... too bad for you!
Rich, you sound like John McCain send our troops to war even if it is a losing effort (Iraq), and attempt to establish a democracy (like that has worked in Iraq). Yes, lets send that blind cleric back to the terrorists but only after smearing his beard with pork blood. He's blind so he'd just think they were shampooing his beard before release.
If Romney had been elected Pres. I bet instead of Algerian forces doing what they did, he (Romney) would have insisted they accept US forces since there were US civilians being held hostage. The results would have still been same, some hostages killed by accident besides being killed by the terrorists; and who knows how many of our troops would have been killed in the rescue attempt.
I can only shudder at the thought of our foreign policy in the Mid East had Mc Stain been president. We'd be a*hol deep in World War III by now. And had Romney been elected? It would have been ten TIMES WORSE.
What exactly do these terrorists want to accomplish? Doing barbaric things like this doesn't change anything all they end up doing is killing Innocent people and usually themselves. All in the name of God, what a waste.
See Through Gloss has nothing and while his post is absolutely radical, it offers no more than what many posters here do... in other words some opinion. His is just funny because it leads to a suspicion of having only radical sources of information as input.
Hammnd, the British Defense Secretary, wants to run the Algerian military? Maybe he should quit his job and go there. Yes, it is horrible the loss of life, but who is to blame are the hostage takers. Once they took the hostages, everything that happened after is on their heads.
A gas facility in the middle of the Sahara surrounded by AQ in Libya & Mali without adequate security. Just waiting to be overrun. Sounds too much like Benghazi all over again. First time it was the US not protecting our embassy, now it is BP not protecting it's interest. Dumbass people will never learn.
Typical tea party crap: Obama is responsible for everything wrong in the world. Bunch of cowards and hypocrites. The tea party talks about responsibility, while being irresponsible. Pathetic clowns; it is their neo-con crap that has turned the world into the mess it is today.
Hey Bonebreaker,
I'm not sure it would comfort people to think that we can brave a nuclear war and survive it if we just remain inside our own borders. But what I suggest isn't something actually ried before by the USA, except in lore surrounding muslim terrorists in the Phillipines. The war in Iraq has largely succeeded. Mr. Obama followed to a "t" what Mr. Bush had put into place. Afghanistan looks far worse. I doubt we can do much there but do what I am talking about--target individuals and then kill them. But the point is to keep the fight there, not here, if there has to be a fight.
The idea we can seal our border is just fantasy. The MOST secured border, ever, in world history was probably in Berlin, and many people escaped. It's a fantasy to claim that we can seal our borders and keep danger out even though it wants to get in. Could we stop some of it? Sure, but all this means is that you are prepared to see some people die here as an acceptable cost for not being over there.
Hi Ed Orr,
Really? McCain? I haven't said anything that is even close to what he favors. I don't see the reason to go into most countries with an army when I think we can do far better by destabilizing the government with targeted assassination (McCain doesn't favor), economic warfare of a sort (McCain doesn't favor), cultural destabilization (McCain doesn't favor), and so on. I don't think we should rule out the need for military force though. The war in Iraq was a very proper use of force given the situation we faced.
Had Mr. Bush not been left with a massive mess on HIS plate, from both his father and Mr. Clinton, then maybe we'd have had no reason to resume hostilities with a nation that failed at every chance to comply with the cease fire requirements it agreed to. But Bush 41 and Clinton didn't do the job right, and Iraq acted rationally because of this and refused to comply with the cease fire, and so following 9/11 there was never much chance that we could simply continue sanctions against Iraq when those sanctions were a major motivating factor for jihadists wanting to cut off your head. In other words, an end to the Gulf War had to finally occur. And no way existed to do it other than to resume war in Iraq. If you can conjure up another solution I'd be supremely interested in knowing what it would/could have been.
@Ed: The US offered Algeria use of HRTs,Do you think Bush made the offer?(he is no longer president.)
@Hotticket:Your grasp of well everything is simply underwhelming,if Bush had been able to bury OBL at sea what would you be posting?
MORE EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURE OF THE BARRACK HUSSEIN FOREIGN POLICY AND PRESIDENCY!!!!!
This is the result of electing a person whose only achievements were a few picnics in Chicago as a community organizer, writing a couple books about himself and getting through our affirmative action system.
Afghanistan and Iraq are turning into a disaster. Benghazi is just another cover-up by this corrupt administration and now we have more American civilians being killed on foreign soil. Of course the media will be complicit with the deflection as they all dwell on this bizarre preoccupation with banning guns and trampling all over the 2nd Amendment.
This is not unexpected from out "Constitutional scholar" who doesn't believe in the Constitution. How can he when he admits he doesn't believe it's a "Charter of Negative Liberties". This is what anti-colonialist statists do to our great Federal Constitutional Republic.
Our economy continues to collapse, unemployment continues to worsen, our foreign policy is the laughing stock of the world and our once United States are divided more than ever. Of course the unwashed masses will be swooning over the weekend as they know their freebies will continue.
We are a 50/50 nation.
The country is roughly divided 50/50, the real American's that work for a living verses those that vote for a living.
Condolences to the family and friends of the lost hostages.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I'm sorry about the tragedy and offer thoughts and prayers to family and friends of those lost.
(In a statement Saturday, President Barack Obama said: "The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out ...)
Why must the first words out of this Presidents mouth always be "someone else did it"??? I do not expect him to take responsibility for any of this but he always (no matter what the subject) places blame with someone else. I sure wish he would get a new line.
Chris,
That is the first I've heard about any involvement or training by Spetsnaz, but it makes some sense.
For those who don't recall, these Russian special forces were the ones who ended a Chechen rebel hostage situation in a Moscow theater about 10 years ago using gas and then assaulting the theater killing any terrorists they encountered. They killed 39 terrorists but about 130 out of 850 hostages were killed. Many as a result of the gas used in the assault. The Spetsnaz forces wouldn't reveal what type of gas was used and hospital personnel complained that it cost lives of many of the hostages they couldn't treat.
A couple years later they had a similar situation with Chechen rebels at school Beslan Russia where about 1100 were taken hostage by 32 rebels, some with suicide bombs. The rebels vowed to blow up the school and kill all the hostages if the Spetsnaz attacked. It went on for a couple days and then upon an explosion in the school, an assault took place. No one knows for sure what happened and there was some speculation that sniper hit one of the rebels who's detonator device went off when he dropped. Could possibly have been part of the assault, no one is really sure. Regardless, that's when the stuff hit the fan and the assault went into full force. The Spetsnaz charged in and fired RPGs with thermobaric grenades. A major fire ensued and a roof collapse killed some of the innocents as well as clear executions by the rebels. After a couple hours or so of ongoing battles and a sweep of the school as well as a neighboring building being destroyed by T-72 tank fire, after some of the rebels fled there, 31 of the 32 rebels were dead. Unfortunately almost 334 hostages died too and over 437were injured. 10 of the Spetsnaz forces were killed too.
Some 5,000 or so, friends and family watched as this all happened. There was a lot of criticism afterwards that far too excessive firepower was used during the assault which contributed to the high loss of life of the hostages.
The Spetsnaz are the Russian Special Forces and they have several groups within these. Not all that unlike our Special Forces, but probably less better equipped and not as surgical in action, but ruthless and effective. There primary goal is to kill the terrorists or who ever it is they are after. They tend to view that stopping their enemy is the most important thing. They stop terrorist attacks. No negotiating, no deals, no survivors. The idea is to make sure terrorist actions that involve taking hostages are pointless exercises. There will be no outcome but dead terrorists.
I was not aware that they trained other forces in their techniques, but it does sound like this assault had their type signature. I suppose that with almost 800 hostages involved, losing 23 of them might be considered "acceptable" losses. There is something to the idea that there will be no negotiations and there will be no survivors on the part of the terrorists. If approached this way, these kinds of hostage situations really have no purpose. Terrorists are already known for indiscriminate killing of innocents. If you assume they will kill hostages either way, it makes sense for no peaceful outcome to these situations. Ideally, you do your very best to save the lives of the innocent, but no terrorist survivors should be the expected outcome.
Generally, we take a view of using patience. The longer these situation last, the more vulnerable the terrorists become. Having patience also generally means getting more intelligence on the situation. The more the assault team knows going in, the better off they are. At least up to a point. Ideally you want the hostage takers near exhaustion while you assault team is fresh and ready to go. Then it is all about fast and overwhelming from multiple fronts. A second or two of distraction or confusion is what then gives the attackers the edge. However in a situation like this with so many bad guys and so many hostages, they have to get a little lucky too. This was no easy task and no doubt the assault teams are made up of some courageous guys.
Yes, and what about the hostages killed ???
The algerians did not care how many westerners they would kill or would get killed and that has to be looked into !
Algerians are arabs and they don't care about westerner's lives ! They attacked too early and without consulting with the different governments ! they need to be held responsable for this !
Well, that's just how things transpire with the foreign militia of many nations, especially smaller nations.
If you think the Americans in general give two @!$%#s about Arab lives you are delusional. For anyone who's keeping a collateral damage count they are still at minimum tens of thousands in the hole.
@ Americanfools2008, you are the real definition of a FOOL. The Algerian government is sovereign, it does not need to consult with anyone regarding matters on its on soil, just like we would not. Additionally, the Algerians have been dealing with binladen (bin gone) and company way before we did, they were dealing with them when we supported bin gone, when he was fighting the USSR in Afghanistan. The Algerians have way more experience againsts those terrorists that is probably why they acted so swiftly to minimize the loss of lives and mind you the Algerians are mainly Muslims. Now regarding the comments about being Arabs and not caring, that threw your whole argument about "no consultation with others" out the window, because it unfortunately shows how racist you are.
Cheers...
@ americanfools2008, you are the perfect definition of an ignorant fool. Algeria is a sovern nation that does not need to consult with anyone regarding matters on it own soil, including rescue missions. The Algerians, mind you majority Muslims, have been dealing with binladen (bin gone) and company way before us and to be more specific, when we supported bin gone when he was fighting the USSR (soviets in case you did not know what it meant) in Afghanistan. This means that the Algerians have way more experience as compared to us when dealing with those terrorists and acted swiftly to save as many lives as possible. If they waited to talk to others and negotiate, more innocent lives would have been lost. Regarding your comment about Algerians being Arabs, so what ???? It just shows how racist you are, which throws your whole argument and credibility about "not consulting with others" out the window. Unfortunately, they will always be collateral damage. As long as they are kept to a minimum and that the bad guys have been eliminated, then it is a victory...
Cheers...
I doubt that the Algerians cared too much about the many ex-colonies foreigners being killed. They didn't detailed the situation. If we don't like it, well, we can always leave any commercial interest we have with them.
the good: we, or they, were tough on terrorists.
the bad: non-military workers died.
This is a good reminder on how other countries deal with crisis and how we the US deals with a crisis !
this is a good example how elite our special forces are and trained.
unfortunately this is a wake up call that the US is and will always be the worlds police force !
for the Algerians this was a great outcome and mission accomplished !
for the US this was a cluster @!$%#ed operation and would have never been so reckless !
Americanfool, you can't expect authorities and secret services in every single pokey dunk foreign country to behave EXACTLY the same way American forces would when confronted with a hostage situation. They can't afford to - and DO NOT - fool or pussyfoot around when dealing with terrorists, and unfortunately it doesn't always come out peaches and cream. It's BOOM -lights out. Nite nite. Sweet dreams. The end. PERIOD. END O' HOSTAGE SITUATION!!!!!
You already answered your own question, they just don't care!
americanfools2008 Algeria like the US doesn't make deals with terrorists. You are a biased fool.
@americanfools...
and while Algeria consults other governments the terrorist hunker down and hide... no offense but I think they did the right thing... the US wouldn't have consulted anyone and would have killed a bunch of people too... oh, right, maybe they would have used drones.... we all know how accurate they are...(sarcasm-heavy)
The Americans who does make deals with them God is watching. Judgement day is coming
Face it, the Algerians don't have what it takes to stop terrorists in their own backyard. BP is responsible for much of this outcome since they know they're in a hot zone in North Africa and Al-Qaeda is operating just across the border.
Most units that claim they don't negotiate with terrorists and they don't concern themselves with the hostages lives simply aren't trained well enough to be able to intervene on behalf of the hostages. If they were a world-class Special Operations Unit they would have already trained for this exact situation at this facility many times in the past.
Did Mr Marlboro get smoked?
It's interesting reading some of the posts from right wing fanatics blaming everything on Obama. Are you people so deluded that you truly believe that the President of the United States knows all, sees all and controls all....... wake up and smell reality.
So sorry for the loss of life over neither food nor water to preserve the effort to live.
Resources are finite, and some are worth fighting and perhaps dying to preserve for our children... but oil is not one of them.
The N. African countries are full of muslim extremists. Somalia is full of pirates. Darfur is muslim extremists trying to exterminate all the natives and take over the country for al qaida. Al Qaida is trying take over Syria as well, plus Yemen and Pakistan. What do we do about it? We go all politically correct, thus castrating ourselves in the Name of some liberal extremist, convoluted notion of "fairness". The US killed those hostages. Odumbo, Biden, Pelosi, Reed and all the other muslim fearing morons and dimwits in DC who don't have the faintest clue about how to erradicate this cancer on the middle east and N. Africa. The blood of all the hostages is on their stupid, PC hands.
Big al...
How droll that you express your opinion of obama as not being...
Apparently you are very selective on what you read and watch coming out of the WH. While many posts are suspect in what the facts are the POTUS has shown us all in the past what his scope of thinking is. His most glaring failures in action are...
I am willing to listen, but I will veto anything not agreeing with my agenda.
We need a fair and balanced approach. IE the middle class (receiver of the largest outlays) don't need to contribute more. SOMEONE ELSE will pay the bill.
Compromise is good if you are left wing, bad if you are right.
It's always someones elses fault.
We can pass this right away (because it is my plan, the heck with everyone else)
The house is being ornery on their passed budgetary legislation, but my good buddy majority leader reid doesn't need to come up with a plan so that reconciliation can take place.
He talks about being responsible in paying our bills, but why does he run away from making cuts that would reduce our balance sheet?
Naturally I have paraphrased his exact words, but like many politicians his words are many times empty and in many cases bereft of reality.
While it is unfortunate on the loss of hostage life, @!$%# happens regardless of who does it. A shame that some of the terrorists survived. Let's hope that good intell can be obtained from the survivors before they get their matyrdom.
It hasn't been that long ago (2010) that a U.S. Navy SEAL recklessly killed a British hostage (Linda Norgrove) during a botched rescue attempt. So it happens to the best even under the most exceptional of promising circumstances. Given the number of rescued as a whole, in the hundreds, we should not be too judgmental of the Algerians exercising their legitimate authority and rights as a sovereign nation.
@ mike-2598123, you need to look-up the 2010 Linda Norgrove fiasco, not only did a SEAL kill the hostage by recklessly lobbing grenades into uncleared huts, but then he and members of his team lied about the incident triggering a full naval disciplinary investigation and a bevy of punishments upon those culpable within the SEAL team.
I said it once before, and will say it again. They choose to "kill em all, and let God sort em out" . Just like we have in the past. Really isn't any different. may be different folks, different country, but it all come out the same. In the end, its called "collateral damage". And, we invented the term.
No - America doesn't have the will to become barbaric like the terrorists. Terrorists don't care about human life. Americans actually do. For example - hit a population center with a couple of bombs. Ensure that several thousand people are killed or injured after every terrorist attack. Escalate in proportion to the damage you receive. At some point, one of the parties has to cry uncle. Americans don't have the will to play that game and destroy a group of people - and I do mean act against Geneva conventions. This won't generate love from the terrorized groups of people. But then, I don't need love. I want them to fear my retaliation so much that they won't pick up that gun. And last - don't send medical aid in terms of vaccines and medicines. I'd rather the enemy figure out how to maintain their peoples health and food supplies without my charity. But Americans won't do this. There will always be a group who doesn't have the will and guts to stoop to that level and become monsters.
I suspect they will think twice before messing with Algeria again. The Algerians gave them a very clear message. All to often, tragedy is caused by misunderstanding.
Should have sent in a bunch of PA school teachers with bubble guns, to the rescue.
This is the kind of non-involvement and lack of leadership we can expect from the Bozobama in ANY crisis where his political backside isn't on the line. Typical Bozobama uselessness.
kraussk, seriously? And you could have done an excellent job yourself, of course.
This didn't involve Obama or the US.
It's amazing how US citizens, usually on the right, p*ss and moan about the lack of respect the US receives these days, then openly disrespects the US themselves. Of course you prefer the last mental midget we had, you're an officer of the club!
To the Algerians, westerners being killed are simply "collateral damage". Just as when Western forces kill innocents in Iraq and Afghanistan. What goes around, comes around.
@TIDubai
That is an evil comment and you must be one of those evils too! Go back to the caves where you actually belong.
TIDubai
We all know that innocents become collateral damage in every kind of hostile situation. We also know that in the law of averages, Westerners have been lucky in their numbers.
However, the manner in which you stated your factual information was brutal and insensitive, and quite unlike your usual diplomatic posts that I normally look to for balanced reasoning in the midst of hysterical and angry bias.
Alas, my disappointment is heartfelt.
I am simply stating that the Algerians first priority is to rescue the hundreds of Algerians there and that like it or not, Westerners are not immune to being marginalized.
Yay! The good guys strike back!
What is that supposed to mean? 23 people on "our side" are dead.
With the body count at 23, our side is looking pretty much dead!
23 were killed. Nearly 800 hostages were freed. I hate that any of the hostages were killed, however, that was less than a 3% casualty rate. (I hate numbers and statistics on this, but it needs to be borne out.) On the upside, the terrorists had a 100% casualty rate (or at least this is as we were told).
Terrorism does not work. It has a 100% failure rate. Over time, people get fed up with the control issues and wholesale murder mindset, and they rebel. Some of these events take longer periods of time, while others happen overnight. However, in every single case, the terrorist agenda fails. I think that's the message that needs to be told. I don't think we say it enough. Terrorism = FAILURE.
I'm done with the numbers and statistics. Let me offer my sympathy to the families of the deceased, and wish a quick and speedy recovery to the injured. Don't give up, working together, we can build a better world.
I think the people who are 'appalled at the loss of life' had better go back and read their Arab history books before commenting. To an Arab terrorist, life is cheap and everybody is expendable. Had someone not jumped in and attacked the terrorists, they would have killed all the hostages over time anyway, so it is better that the end came quickly. There is still no report on how many terrorists got away or whether they got 'Mr. Marboro' or not. I would hope all the terrorists are accounted for, dead or alive. When you fight terrorists, you fight by their rules and on their timetable, so it's good this is over.
I too hope that the Algerian special forces sent "Mr. Marlboro" straight to hell.
No, he is still in hiding somewhere.
GTR5
Bugger!
He'll slip up sometime or another, just like a lot of other Al Qaeda leaders have done, and either US, or someone will take him out and maybe his would-be successor as well.
You know, Ed, my brother commented not long ago that "second in command of Al Qaida" must be the most dangerous job in the world; I've lost track of how many times we've reported this or that guy killed and claimed that he was, " "...
And yet they keep dying. What else would you do?
At least someone knows how to deal with people that take hostages...
Yes, but the idea is to do it without hostage casualties.
They are as safe there as anywhere America..
save -
"Yes, but the idea is to do it without hostage casualties."
No, the idea is to capture or kill the hostage takers with as few hostage casualties as possible.
No, the idea IN AMERICA, is to end it with no hostages killed. In Algeria life is cheap. They consider foreign workers as expendable. But it goes with taking a job in the middle of terrorist territory. If they thought they were making big money simply because BP liked them they know different. Wherever they may be.
Kudos! At least the Algerian military know how to get the job done.
23 of "our people" are dead how is that getting the job done? This mission was FUBAR
1SGFitzsWife4ID You are right. Obummer and his goon squad are total idiots.
What the @!$%# does our President have to do with this situation? Huh! Moronic right wing @!$%#!
Obama has been virtually shouting that Al Qaeda is on the run and decimated and not worth worrying about any more. He is too busy being Obama to spend the effort being the President.
Anonamoose1, surely you've realized by now that Obama is the source of ALL suffering and misery in the world! He is vacillating and weak, not a leader, but still is all-knowing and all -powerful.
Every bad thing that has ever happened to anybody anywhere is his fault! Botched anti-terror operation (in which no American military were involved, or even consulted); all Obama's fault. Let's impeach him for it! And that goes for his wife and their kids too!
Uhhh- yeah, right. Just between us, Anon, I think a few posters here today have their tinfoil hats on just a little too tight. Peace!
Nah Bush did it. Take your medicine and STFU.
FoxTrot, agreed.
One blotched attempt with a bunch of dead workers. Now 7 hostages dead. What a great ending. Who writes this stuff?
these '' people'' are nothing more than cowards and animals!!!!!!!
QUICK pukebags, you gotta get another Congressional hearing going on this killing. When did the SOS and POTUS know about it, what did they say to each other, yada yada yada.
That is all the good the pukebags in the house are good for is hearings. Nothing about creating jobs, guess they also are waiting for the "trickle down" to start producing jobs. Or maybe fixing the debt problem that they helped cause. Nope, just hearings. LMPO
and your president sighs a sigh of relief that he does not have to cover up a bunch more "problem" deaths. it would really have gotten in the way of his upcoming parties.
Yeah, where was Barry?
Where was Boner, Cantor, and little lying Ryan? They have responsibilities as Congressmen.
I'm glad you righties realize that Mr. Obama is omnipotent! That's a good start at least.
The only damn thing republicans are good is holding hearings. They can't do anything else right. Maybe collect those congressional freebies, otherwise they just collect their kickbacks from the lobbyists.
Anonamoose1
you are an idiot
What country are you from, "Gofigureit"?
Aw, such liberal brainiacs. Ya, I don't think this sham bum is ANYONES president. He is just a lying power hungry corrupt self absorbed piece of soap flake. Better?
And, FYI, Congress does not set foriegn policy. Junkheads.
And, FYI, without those 'congressional hearings', the king president would keep getting away with murder, as if he hasn't over the past four years already.
Gofig, I do believe the getting away with "murder" has been going on for a lot longer than the last four years. The only difference between the dems and repubs is the method with which they engage in taking our money to finance their "murder."
One big question: Considering the region, why didn't BP have adequate protection for it's facility? Was it the bottom line? One can only wonder. Remember the deep water horizon?
I imagine it's cheaper to pay off the relatives of it's killed workers than pay for ongoing security.
Unfortunately, we cannot control how BP chooses to conducts its operations in Algeria. If some of our citizens choose to work in the operation, it must be up to them to satisfy themselves that security is adequate.
How can we be sure that this was actually an act of terrorism from Al-Queida and not just some spontaneous flash mob enraged over an anti-Islamic video. Last I heard, is that Al-Queida is on the run and hiding after Obama killed Osama. Lets not rush to judgement on this until all the facts are brought to light. I expect the CIA and State Department analysts will give us the details in about five to eight weeks.
hee,hee good one.
I'm getting tired of these militant rag-headed Islamic terrorists. The USA is such a big pussy and won't come out and say we are at war with Islam... We are. And we need to treat it at such. The spread of this backwards 4th century cult has to stop and we need to go after them with everything we've got.
You're excessive Jim. We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with terrorists who use extreme interpretation of Islam as a moral excuse to their objectives, which are control and power and reduction of people's rights and liberty. See Taliban.
Yeah, we are at war with Islam. If you read the Koran, the extremists are following it exactly as written. Sharia Law is the way of Islam and the sooner we recognize this the better.
No doubt about it Jimbo! Gotta go after these towel heads! When they start taking hostages at a BP refinery or whatever you call a N.G. depot these P.O.S. @!$%# heads have to go.
AND the hostages chose to work in an Islamic country. An Islamic country that appears to have tried to take on the Islamic terrorists who took hostages there. That Algerian forces did it in a way we may not approve is, unfortunately, not something we can control. BP and its Norwegian counterpart chose to do business in Algeria. The employees chose to work there. Condolences to ALL the families of hostages dead or injured, irregardless of their religion or nationality!
Sorry to bring tears to anyone but once again it is religion.The belief in fairytales.My God is better than yours is the insane mindset.Why should we be suprized?Seen any talking snakes?Women made from ribs?These idiots are no different than Rick Perry claiming prayer works better than gun control.Sure thing Rick.This is the same nut who called a giant prayer meeting for rain last year.They ended up with a drought like no other.They are no different than those who blow up abortion clinics for God.Their all loving perfect God.
Yeah, religion is the narcotic of the anal retentive. Those that call themselves too good to do real drugs. They believe in fake books, absolute fiction in that book and call everyone else heathens. You gotta love those morons for takin' the bait hook, line and sinker!
Jackalac and Anonamoose, I hope I'm going to be seeing you in these pages a little more often in future. Why not drop by 'First Read' some weekday morning, and give us the benefit of your point of view? We've got lots going on: News flashes, pontificating pundits, loopy Liberal loudmouths, quacking conservative chowderheads, and no end of idiotic Wrong-wing blowhards to beat up on and abuse.
Stop by some morning. Peace!
our State department doesnt want to do anything until they have looked into the situation first...im sure it will be right affter the Bengazi murders are setetled.....we Americans now know that no matter where one goes in foreign countries, our goverment will NOT protect them no matter what.....welcome to our new spinless government
It's you conservatives that want LESS government and you're getting it. Now you want our government in other countries too?! Make up your mind!
It's more like "Welcome to our same SPINELESS REPUBLICAN PARTY!"
Here is an eye-opener for some. It is a dangerous world out there. Dont count on the government protecting you in your own country, let alone if you travel abroad to places like Libya or Algeria. That is called "reality". I know it must come as a terrible shock to those that don't live in the real world. If you want to be safe, start by educating yourself a little bit. Here is another gem: The USA does not control the world. Good grief some people are so gosh-gall-darn-dumb. Makes you wonder how they survived long enough to reach adulthood.
You got it, Anon- that's the same Republican Party who're always squawking that they want government to get out of people's private lives...
... except people who are female, or who want birth control, or who want the freedom to marry whom they choose, or who smoke a plant which was created by their Almighty God and which grows wild on five continents, or who walk around in the non-white skin that that same God created them in, or who expect to be paid a living wage for the work they do, or who support workers' right to bargain collectively, or who expect the extremely wealthy to obey the same laws and pay the same taxes that all the rest of us do...
... yeah, that's the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. SURE it is.
God created white people. Everyone else evolved from lower forms of life. Or maybe he created black people and everyone else evolved from lower forms of life. Hard to say but since he created humans in his own image, he couldn't have created all of us.
Wow Jim, you make us all proud.
Our State Department cannot tell a sovereign nation, Algeria how to handle a hostage situation on their soil, any more than the equivalent government office in Algeria can tell us how to handle a similar situation here. It has nothing to do with being "spineless". It has to do with the fact that there was a hostage situation in a foreign country (Algeria) at an oil processing plant owned by foreign interests (British, Norwegian and Algerian) at which some Americans chose to work. This does not give us the right to intervene.
Oh, and Jim, genetically we are all "out of Africa".
Reg. Walker, Let's see. We are "spineless" because we declined to do what? Invade Algeria because we do not like how they are handling a hostage situation on their soil that involves employees of a British, Norwegian and Algerian venture? Would you have us invade every country where a private U.S. citizen, working for a non U.S. owned company might be in danger? How much would THAT cost? And how do you propose to pay for this?
Fortunately only one killed here from US in the exploitation of oil and gas (again) and other plundering, like we the Vikings did 1000 years ago!--But at least we learned to stay home.
My wife is the 28 th generation of Eric the Red and 29 th generation of The Mayor of York UK for several years, but UK is our long time friends since then because we stopped plundering about 1000 years ago---
Let us make a new energy system that burns all gas from septic tanks (Sewer Plants) and all manure (Yes collect all behind the cows (try to look at the methane evaporation map from Wisconsin (and over all the cities))) and USA can stay home in ten years and burn all the drones so we can stop the killing for oil and gas, like almost 1 million in Iraq and over 100,000 in Afghanistan just to keep a through pipeline safe from the former Soviet states.--And Bush failed miserably in turning all dead in Iraq into gas, but I heard on top level that was the plan--
And if we fall short just start mulching all the trees in Pennsylvania from one side to the other and then repeat 30 years later--no fertilizer required-----All electric from wind and solar, and of course nuclear (what George Bush called nuke-liar--we later found out he was actually lieing about that in Iraq)
Glad that they stormed and ended it that way it does... hopefully, this sent a strong message that if you do this again... both hostages and you WILL die!!!!
Yeah, It looks like the Algerians didn't mess around ,delay, or mewl around with the terrorists like with the Olympics in Germany a few years ago. More lives would have been lost if they hadn't acted swiftly. Those "sand terrorists" won't terrorize again because they have gone to meet Allah !!! Good riddance to them and it's too bad about the gasfield workers and their families. When I worked in a refinery it was risky enough without the likes of al quaida around. Also it was an attack from a foreign country and I fully expect all out war.
Try 40 years ago.
Al-Qaeda is DEAD and GM is ALIVE
....and I will not raise taxes on the middle class
And in 50 years, we will be 66 trillion in debt with a population of 500 million and 400 million on food stamps...
...and 47% of Americans voted for Romney...he lost....what's your point?
And 270 million people in this country did not vote for President Obama...what is your point? I dont know what election results have to do with this subject.
Yes, Romney lost, and he is an idiot.
The problem is we have Obama in office. We chose an idiot, over an idiot.
Right, left. Doesn't matter, we all still lost.
Looks like the right wing crazies have totally turned on Romney. So did you want Santorum, Perry, Gingrich, Cain or Bachmann? Which republican was not an idiot?
Right wing crazies? If you're referring to me I'm a Democrat, sir. The only difference between me and the typical Dem is I can accept the blame and I'd rather not ban guns. Quite ashamed of what this and the Republican party has become. If Republicans have become the party of no, the Democrats have certainly become the party of blaming anyone but themselves.
That Paul Ryan seemed to have a good plan. Don't know much about him, though. On the note of who I think should be president, I would say Dennis Kucinich, one of few Democrats who actually have the cajones to speak their mind and not just blindly follow the party like a sheep. Of course I wouldn't mind being president either.
This is way off topic, but let me be the first to say I nominate Oldgreywolf for president.
The snake said to the frog, "Please carry me across the river." The frog said, "Oh no. You'll bite me, and your bite is fatal."
"Don't be silly," the snake said. "I won't bite. I promise."
"Okay," said the frog and carried the snake across the river on his back. When they arrived on the other river bank, the snake sank his fangs into the frog.
As the frog was dying, he said, "You promised! Why did you bite me?"
The snake replied, "What did you expect? I'm a snake."
I think the best way to start gun control is to disarm all of the secret service and then the all the police in Washington, and finally since it is obvious that every elected official incompetent they should also have all their cpl's and weapons taken by force if necessary. If after 10 years they still feel that guns need more controls we can revisit it then.
Kurt
You belong in a federal penitentiary, for life!
Kurt....that is one dumb post you put up.
You will want your guns When the UN's Agenda 21 goes for the final push. When all of a sudden, you now live in a Non Human zone and they come to take your property and move you to the population centers. Don't think so? Better educate yourself on all the great plans being brought to you by the UN. It is already being implimented. Gun control makes it easier to control the population.
This looks like the way we should handle all the kidnappings. The kidnappers are all dead. Most of the hostages are okay.
Americans living outside the U.S. shouldn't think that we will pay millions of dollars to get them back. Once you leave the U.S. it's between you and whoever's paying your hazardous duty pay.
"Most hostages are okay." Wrong!
the first 2 paragraphs read:
"Twenty-three hostages and 32 militants were killed after an attack on a natural gas plant deep in the Sahara, the Algerian interior ministry said on Saturday, according to news wires.
The official also said 107 foreign hostages and 685 Algerian hostages had been released, several news outlets reported."
your reply might need some rethinking.
That's like saying rehabilitated as opposed to habilitated.
Algeria is a member of OPEC so why are they being attacked by Muslims? If Al Quaida is Sunni Saudi backed why would they be attacking an OPEC member? Your thoughts?
I think the attack was directed mostly against the Westerners that worked at that facility, not at the government of Algeria. Nevertheless, I applaud the quick and decisive response the Algerians made.
Probably more criminal than religion based?
Murdered by evil assault weapons. It's George Bush's fault. Cain't we's alz jus' gits along ?????
Try breathing through your mouth AND nose and go back to your six-pack.
These are tough times, and they call for tough measures. The Algerians did the right thing--end the situation as quickly as possible, thus minimizing casualties.
The same goes for those Somali pirates--no negotiations; kill them on sight.