35 hostages killed in Rescue

[cthulu2016]

The Algerian hostage situation has ended with air strikes by Algerian army. Lots of hostages killed in the attempt.

This has always been one of the most challenging decisions in hostage situations -- how many hostages can be killed to rescue most? Or even a few?

It it is certain that all the hostages will eventually be killed by the hostage takers then killing 90% of the hostages to rescue 10% is still a good move.

But one can never know the future and it is certainly never an easy call.

In this case, 35 hostages killed, 15 hostage takers killed and 145 hostages rescued. (They were saying there were 180 hostages, so I subtracted. I don't know of an official number of hostages rescued yet.)


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE90F1JJ20130117

[NYC_SKP]

1. Often, all hostages are lost due to the incapacity of "rescuers" to risk a single one.

35 killed for 145 rescued seems like a not-too-bad outcome.

...

[Mika]

2. Huh? They were killed in an air strike.

http://www.reuters.com/article/video/idUSBRE90F1JJ20130117?videoId=240567164

[cthulu2016]

3. An air strike against hostage takers counts.

It was helicopters, not bombers, so the "airstrike" term confused me at first also.

It appears that Algeria attacked the hostage takers in a helicopter raid, with many hostage casualties, in an action that allowed the other hostages to escape. Algerian military now in control on the ground there.

[Mass]

4. It is 30 and still not confirmed, but Reuters has been pushing reports that were unconfirmed and

that most European media treated with carefulness. Anyway, the last news from both French and English media is that the site is not yet freed.

According to RFI and Reuters, it is 30 hostages killed including 7 foreigners.

[cthulu2016]

5. Thanks. I am never inacurate intentionally, but am not following this story super-closely

[Mass]

6. I just updated as you typed.

I know it was not intentional, but Reuters reporting has been so erratic that it is hard to follow. The Guardian was much more responsible.