SEAL Team rescues American and Danish hostage in Somalia Tuesday night

[Bolo Boffin]

Last edited Wed Jan 25, 2012, 07:37 AM - Edit history (1)

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10229917-american-hostage-in-somalia-rescued-by-us-navy-seals-in-overnight-raid

In a daring nighttime raid Tuesday, U.S. Navy SEALs rescued two hostages, including one American, who were being held by kidnappers in Somalia, U.S. officials tell NBC News.

American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and a 60-year-old Dane, Poul Thisted, were working for a Danish relief organization in northern Somalia when they were kidnapped last October. U.S. officials described their kidnappers as heavily armed common criminals with no known ties to any organized militant group.

...The first indication of the rescue operation came Tuesday night in Washington from President Barack Obama himself.

As the president entered the House chambers to give his State of the Union Speech, he pointed to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta standing in the crowd and said, "Leon. Good job tonight. Good job tonight." The president made no mention of the hostage rescue, but finished his speech with a reference to the killing of Osama bin Laden last May in a similar operation to the one conducted by Navy SEALs Tuesday night.

Stone Cold Barack Obama, Example #228.

[MADem]

1. The Mail has more...

...Galmudug's president, Mohamed Ahmed Alim, said nine pirates were killed and five captured during the rescue operation near the pirate haven of Haradheere.

Alim was speaking from Hobyo, another major pirate base north of Haradheere, where he said he was negotiating to secure the release of an American journalist kidnapped on Saturday.
He said: 'About 12 U.S. helicopters are now at Galkayo. We thank the U.S. Pirates have spoilt the whole region's peace and ethics. They are mafia.'

While U.S. and French forces have intervened to rescue pirate hostages at sea before now, attacks on pirate bases are very rare.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2091458/BREAKING-NEWS-Navy-SEALs-daring-nighttime-raid-Somalia-frees-American-hostage-Jessica-Buchanan.html?ITO=1490

No wonder BHO was feeling pretty good this evening. Can't say as I blame him.

[pampango]

2. From the UK Guardian: Somalia: foreign aid workers held hostage freed in 'US helicopter raid'

The Danish Refugee Council confirmed the two aid workers, Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagan Thisted, were freed "during an operation in Somalia".

Buchanan, the US national, and Thisted, the Dane, had been working with a de-mining unit of the Danish Refugee Council when they were kidnapped in Somalia in October.

The Danish Refugee Council said the freed hostages were unharmed and at a safe location.

A pirate who gave his name as Bilal Hussein quoted pirates at the scene of the raid as having told him nine pirates had been killed. A second pirate, who gave his name as Ahmed Hashi, said two helicopters had attacked at about 2am at the place where the hostages were being held, about 12 miles north of the Somali town of Adow.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/25/foreign-aid-workers-somalia-freed-helicopter

[hedgehog]

38. Off-topic, but

"Qat is a stimulant but users often sleep heavily after hours of chewing."

Somehow, I think someone doesn't understand the meaning of "stimulant"!

[BlueMTexpat]

3. You might want to correct your headline from "Dutch" to "Danish" ...

I have nothing against the Dutch, but the second hostage is a Dane.

[Bolo Boffin]

7. D'oh!

Much obliged.

[whistler162]

8. The OP might've gotten in dutch with the Dane's!

Good job Seals and good call Mr. President.

[DCBob]

4. This is great. I am so sick of these evil fools kidnapping innocent people for money.

I hope this sends a message.

Well done SEALs!

[gateley]

40. I saw a piece on this and this is almost considered a career choice -- not much else to do for money

It's heartbreaking for those people, but it does NOT excuse how they've decided to use kidnapping as an income source. That, I agree, makes them evil.

[riderinthestorm]

45. Foreign nationals have contaminated Somalia's fishing grounds by dumping radioactive waste

illegally. Most of the pirates are former fisherman who are starving. They and their families are sickened by radiation sickness, great numbers are dying.

The "pirates" are lashing out at the international community in retaliation. They are also trying get cash for food and medicine. The governmental collapse has resulted in massive problems inland which we know very well but the pirates are a direct result of eco terrorism inflicted on them first.

A link to a story about this: http://ecolocalizer.com/2011/03/27/more-illegally-dumped-radioactive-waste-found-on-somalias-coast/

It is utterly hideous though with the kidnappings. I don't condone it at all. I'm hugely relieved the Navy Seals came through again and showed the rest of the world how it's done, I just thought I'd give a little bit of backstory as to why the situation is the way it is there.

[DCBob]

49. Well they could at least target those most guilty..

the two they kidnapped have nothing to do with causing polution of their fishing grounds.

"The hostages, Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, were working for the Danish Demining Group, which clears land mines and unexploded munitions in conflict zones."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/25/2608278/navy-seals-rescue-2-held-captive.html#storylink=cpy

[Lucky Luciano]

53. Just wouldn't be DU without at least one apologist for Somalian pirates. nt

[riderinthestorm]

54. Yes, well clearly you missed the entire last para in my post where I specifically DON'T excuse

the behavior. AT ALL.

[IamK]

5. this will be big news because she looks pretty good..... media will love it.... n/t

[truthisfreedom]

6. GoBama!

Wow, what a great campaign he's running. While he saves our country's face at the same time. Wow.

[hamsterjill]

9. Thank you (once again) Navy Seals!

They are truly our finest!

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Ninja President strikes again

[chrisa]

11. But, Obama is weak on defense.

Just ask...

Um...

Never mind.

[Botany]

12. Can we have a DU meet up in Jan. 2013 in D.C. @ Obama's 2nd inauguration?

President Barack Obama was overheard congratulating Defence Secretary Leon Panetta,
apparently for the success of the rescue operation, as Obama entered the House of
Representatives chamber last night to give his annual State of the Union speech.

'Leon. Good job tonight. Good job tonight,' Obama said. He did not mention the rescue
during his speech.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2091458/Jessica-Buchanan-Navy-SEALs-raid-frees-American-hostage-kidnapped-Somalia.html

**************


Kick ass SOTU address, kills some pirates, saves some people, and kicked
republican ass too.

BTW Navy Seals

[FailureToCommunicate]

30. Sure. This needs it's own thread. (And we'll bring warmer clothes next time!!)

[gateley]

41. I SO hope Obama has seen this pic! nt

[Ian David]

13. More Big Government interference in the Free Market!

Really, shouldn't we just pay the ransom and let the Free Market decide when the hostages come home, and how much it costs?

[flpoljunkie]

14. TPM: AP reports it's the same Seal Team Six who got Osama bin Laden

01-25-2012 8:30 AM
U.S. Navy SEALs Rescue Pirates Hostages

U.S. Navy SEALs have rescued an American and a Danish hostage from Somali pirates after they had been held for months. The same SEAL team that raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan carried out this raid, the AP reports.

“This successful hostage rescue, undertaken in a hostile environment, is a testament to the superb skills of courageous service members who risked their lives to save others,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a statement. “I applaud their efforts, and I am pleased that Ms. Buchanan and Mr. Thisted were not harmed during the operation. This mission demonstrates our military’s commitment to the safety of our fellow citizens wherever they may be around the world.”

President Obama seemed to refer to the raid ahead of Tuesday’s State of the Union address, telling Panetta, “Good job tonight.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/4673

[MinervaX]

15. Planned for publicity

and propaganda value at State of the Union address.

[yellowcanine]

16. How so, Obama didn't mention it except with a cryptic word to Panetta before the speech.

Seems to me if he was going to use it for publicity/propaganda at the SOTU he would have mentioned it in the speech itself.

[MinervaX]

17. You are talking about it now.

and he did mention it to Panetta, and now the news outlets are all over it. More important than the actual SOTU is the day after. Come on now, anybody can tell you that.

[yellowcanine]

18. Of course because it was a big event. Not the same as saying it was "planned for the SOTU"

If anything it partially steps on the SOTU as a news story.

Obama approved the operation but the timing was up to the commanders on the ground. You really have to be cynical to think otherwise.

[appleannie1]

19. Bet Jessica's family does not think like that. Give credit where credit is due.

[Atman]

20. Oh ferchrissake, GET OFF IT!

Good grief, we rescued hostages, it wasn't even mentioned at the SOTU except for a wink and a nod to Panetta. Maybe it just happened to be that the time was right? Maybe? Just maybe?

[dgibby]

21. Your ignorance of Navy Ops

is mind blowing. I'm a 22 year Navy vet. There's no way a mission that dangerous would have been planned for political gain. Consider the "publicity and propaganda" value if the mission had failed.

[MinervaX]

25. Gulf of Tonkin come to mind.

So don't tell me that it isn't done, it is.

[dgibby]

28. Gulf of Tonkin

Two separate instances, one real, one false. There's a BIG difference between an actual OP and a lie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident

[gateley]

42. Why don't you cite an ACTUAL event to back up your charge? nt

[JoePhilly]

44. Obama could have never planned that he was too young ... and using his big wheel to help Bill Ayers

blow up the Pentagon at the time.

[A Simple Game]

46. I'm sure you know the navy better than I do, but

it appears you don't know politicians that well. Wars and major battles have been started for political reasons. Do you really think timing a small excursion for political gain is below a politician?

That said, I don't think that's what happened this time.

[chrisa]

23. Do you really think the hostages care?

They're home safe now, not having whatever their captors were doing to them being done for another night.

People will bash Obama for anything. He could invent the cure for cancer, and someone would still say he had nefarious intentions.

[JoePhilly]

29. Yea, Obama called Somalia and asked them to kidnap those folks so he could send seal team 6 ...

to rescue them in time for the SOTU.

That's what happened!!!

[gateley]

43. Boy, he IS good!

[octothorpe]

32. Are you being serious or just messing around?

(I don't recall any of your other posts, I don't know your personality and stances)

[MH1]

50. That poster has left the building.

For anyone who hasn't already noticed.

[octothorpe]

52. hahaha... I guess he was serious then..

I was kinda hoping he was just mocking the republicans...

[tabatha]

33. NO !!

Vice-President Joe Biden told ABC News that the mission was approved because of the failing health of one of the aid workers.

Danish Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal told Denmark's TV2 channel that one of the hostages "has a disease that was very serious and that had to be solved''.

"Jessica's health was failing," Mr Biden said, referring to Ms Buchanan. "They concluded they should go at this time. The president gave the go."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16714344

People on the left generally look for facts not guesses.

Otherwise, I think someone is jealous.

[onehandle]

22. Total setup for after the SOTU. Obama probably arranged the kidnapping to start with.

Just writing copy for Rush's performance today.

Am I close?

[chrisa]

24. It was orchestrated by Biden who contacted George Clooney who contacted

George Soros, an obvious middleman for the Legion of Doom, who was under mind control influences from chemtrails and Dick Cheney's weather machine.

It makes too much sense!

[onehandle]

26. Get out of my head. nt

[tabatha]

34. Brilliant! That makes the most sense. (LOL)

[tabatha]

35. You forgot about giving a disease to one of the hostages, as well.

[bemildred]

27. LOL.

Right on Barak!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

31. Which is why he's a total sissy appeaser who can't be trusted...... wait What??!! nt

[rollin74]

36. Excellent news! Good Job SEALs

both hostages safe
9 bad guys dead
no U.S. injuries

[hedgehog]

37. For the young'ins out there, there has always been a rumor that one

reason the Challenger mission went ahead was pressure from the Reagan White House to have some pretty pictures of a school teacher in space for that evening's SOTU.

Quite a contrast, IMO!

[LeftinOH]

39. Thank you, Navy Seals. Now.. everyone please stay away from Somalia.

[Tx4obama]

47. Statement by President Obama on Successful Hostage Rescue

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 25, 2012
Statement by the President on Successful Hostage Rescue

On Monday, I authorized an operation to rescue Jessica Buchanan, an American citizen who was kidnapped and held against her will for three months in Somalia. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home. As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts.

Jessica Buchanan was selflessly serving her fellow human beings when she was taken hostage by criminals and pirates who showed no regard for her health and well-being. Last night I spoke with Jessica Buchanan’s father and told him that all Americans have Jessica in our thoughts and prayers, and give thanks that she will soon be reunited with her family. The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice. This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/25/statement-president-successful-hostage-rescue

[jtuck004]

48. I wonder, if Seal Team 6 was tasked with rescuing middle-class America from

the Financial Class, leading them out of voluntary servitude...

oh, never mind.

[quaker bill]

51. It is a good thing they did not use drones

Folks on the left like their bullets delivered with that personal touch. (sarcasm)

It was an unfortunate task, but very well accomplished.