Hostage Rescue Somalia - US Navy seals

[PELHAM 10]

US Navy SEALS backed by Helicopters from Djibouti rescue hostages

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/somalia-hostage-rescue-obama-aid-workers.html

Mohamed Ahmed Alim, president of Galmudug state, where the rescue took place, congratulated those who carried out the mission. He said the Galmudug state welcomed the operation to free the hostages and hunt down violent criminals

"We congratulate those who carried out the operation to rescue the Danish Demining Group aid workers, and thank the soldiers who risked their lives to rescue these innocent people," he told reporters in the port town of Hobyo, which is reputed to be a major pirate base. "I am very happy today that the hostages will be united with their families soon."

Job well done?

Oi8Stl4UvP4

[dekster 1]

From time to time (at the president's state of the union) Navy seals, do something good. :)

It's a good thing they were rescued, nothing to say on that.

[tacticalnuggets 24]

Yes, Somalia is a pretty messed up country. Yes, there are a lot of criminals in Somalia. But Somalia is still doing a lot better right now and they are not all bad...

http://www.peterleeson.com/Better_off_Stateless.pdf

[Maddmatt 1]

Great. Pity nobody wants to rescue the South African couple being held there though, think they've been there for more than a year now, not sure if still alive.

Must be nice having a home country that would actually rescue you if you were in trouble...

[PELHAM 10]

Yes, Somalia is a pretty messed up country. Yes, there are a lot of criminals in Somalia. But Somalia is still doing a lot better right now and they are not all bad...

http://www.peterleeson.com/Better_off_Stateless.pdf

Interesting read!

In 1970, under the influence of the Soviet Union, Barre transformed his military dictatorship into a socialist one. Full-scale central planning pursued under the government’s policy of “scientific socialism†brutalized the Somali people. The government slaughtered civilians who posed threats to the government’s plans or political power, used coercive intimidation to create artificial support for its activities, and forcibly relocated others to further the political or economic ends of Barre and his cronies.

“Both the urban population and nomads living in the countryside [were] subjected to summary killings, arbitrary arrest, detention in squalid conditions, torture, rape, crippling constraints on freedom of movement and expression and a pattern of psychological intimidation†(Africa Watch Committee 1990: 9).

The state ruthlessly suppressed free speech and controlled all forms of information reaching Somalis. Newspapers (only one was officially permitted by the government), radio, and television were fully censored and dissent in any form stopped with force. Under Somalia’s National Security Law No. 54, “gossip†became a capital offense. Twenty other basic civil freedoms involving speech, association and organization also carried the death penalty.

I agree, anarchy is preferable to that, but a free democracy is preferable to anarchy. The things the Communist block precipitated in Africa will haunt the world for generations.

---------- Post added at 10:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 AM ----------

Great. Pity nobody wants to rescue the South African couple being held there though, think they've been there for more than a year now, not sure if still alive.

Must be nice having a home country that would actually rescue you if you were in trouble...

It's one of the privileges of being a US citizen. If you are a citizen of another country you seem to be on your own if this happens. There are around 150 hostages in Somalia.

Earlier this month they chopped the arm off a Vietnamese Captain in front of his crew and then ordered them to call their families to tell them what they had seen. The latest disturbing tactic to extort money from people. Others, such as a French woman taken from a holiday resort in Kenya, have died.

Factbox: Foreigners kidnapped in Africa

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/25/us-somalia-hostages-africa-factbox-idUSTRE80O0WJ20120125

Edited January 26, 2012 by PELHAM

[dekster 1]

Aren't there any private operators who look to rescue these people?

I (vaguely) remember that in the past the french foreign legion has carried out operations? I know that the Belgian army carried out operations in the past to save belgians in Congo. (but that weren't really kidnappings)

I love Africa btw, would love to go (and live) there, but I wouldn't go there without at least a sidearm.

[Maddmatt 1]

I love Africa btw, would love to go (and live) there, but I wouldn't go there without at least a sidearm.

As someone who grew up in South Africa, I cannot understand why :confused:

Unless you live in Haiti, Iraq or something where it might actually be an upgrade.

[Prydain 1]

As someone who grew up in South Africa, I cannot understand why :confused:

Unless you live in Haiti, Iraq or something where it might actually be an upgrade.

Seconded.

As a guy who really never believed in races and distinctions I found it impossible for anyone western or well off (that is to say moneyed, not just white) to live outside a 'white area' in South Africa and, even in the more privileged parts of Pretoria, we had electric fences topping the high walls of our compound.

[dekster 1]

I find it hard to believe that all of Africa is like South-Africa, that's like saying all of South America is like Brasil (?)

I know there are differences between races, don't fool anyone, but it's not as if my country (Belgium) is full of white people anymore.

[eble 3]

I find it hard to believe that all of Africa is like South-Africa, that's like saying all of South America is like Brasil (?)

I know there are differences between races, don't fool anyone, but it's not as if my country (Belgium) is full of white people anymore.

As many countries have taken in South African encomnic migrants, the ones that can and will escape South Afrcia if they can.

I have a guy in my office who has told be shocking stories about South Africa, from what he tells me, it would be the last place on earth I would live.

Armed security is a must have, locked in electric wall compounds, people getting killed for cars? the average mugger will kill you as much as take the items they want.

Africa, nice place to watch on TV, not somewhere I'm in any rush toi visit.

[PELHAM 10]

I find it hard to believe that all of Africa is like South-Africa, that's like saying all of South America is like Brasil (?)

It's worse elsewhere in Africa!!? The reason you find it hard to believe is because it is never reported. It can't be reported because they don't keep statistics and journalists find the subject taboo. Not all places are as bad as SA, but many are far worse.

I would disagree that carrying a gun around is a necessity. I have visited many parts of Southern Africa and provided you act a certain way and take precautions you don't need it. That said, I have been followed by carjackers on several occasions and had police pestering me for bribes for made up traffic violations (keep an eye on the police too) and at roadblocks outside SA it's just customary to give them something so they don't delay you. The trick is to spot a potential problem before it happens.

I don't go now because I don't like taking my wife there and the fact is you just can't relax, particularly around the cities. You have to constantly look over your shoulder, check the cars around you and be paranoid about keeping everything out of sight and locked.

Here is the world intentional homicide page at Wikipedia. Notice most of Africa is blank?

The SA government are trying to hide the problem and are refusing to release crime statistics on a regular basis now.

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

Edited January 27, 2012 by PELHAM

[Dosenmais 10]

Hey nice PR Stunt as Tears of the Sun.

That was the only reason, push the image of the SEALs. The US Government doesn't give a shit about you untill there is a chance to profile.

Obama aid workers... give me a ducking break. :rolleyes:

That guy leaded a war which brought black hating freaks to power in North Africa.

[solidsnake2384 10]

This is going to get locked. I just know it.

[rye1 21]

Lol. SEAL Team are not politicians. They commit to what politics determines they should. Suddenly in related news... Africa. And African politics.

Stupid thread just got stupidier.

Good job SEAL's.

[PELHAM 10]

Dosen isn't entirely wrong, his reasoning is just a little back to front. The mission occurred because of the medical condition of one of the hostages, Obama then capitalised on the PR. It's what politicians do and it makes us wince every time. It's the fault of campaign managers and I bet the staged telephone call photo was their work too.

I had hoped the focus of this thread would be the SEAL's, military technology and planning involved but.............

[dekster 1]

I think, that if Obama wants news coverage, he sends seals, if he doesn't, he sends Delta's or other operators.

I think seals have become more of a pr-tool, the so called "secret" unit even has it's own movie comming out, with actual seals playing in it.

Appart from that, I do respect them, they must be great warriors and I wouldn't want to do it. And I do think they also get used for some secret stuff.

[froggyluv 2130]

Funny how people try to remove all credit from Obama's signing off the order for successful missions yet to this day the failed Iranian hostage rescue is still attributed to Jimmy Carter :rolleyes:

[GRS 10]

I never hear that. :rolleyes:

People don't care as much about success because its what they expect.

[rye1 21]

I had hoped the focus of this thread would be the SEAL's, military technology and planning involved but.............

Now you've got my ear... (eyes?) :p

[daman3 19]

That guy leaded a war which brought black hating freaks to power in North Africa

What war?

[PELHAM 10]

What war?

He's talking about Libya. He has seen some black prisoners being mistreated on TV and has therefore labelled all Libyans as racist thugs. We know there is a problem because some militia groups are wildly out of control, but labelling an entire nation due to the actions of a few amounts to the same thing.

Edited January 30, 2012 by PELHAM

[cricon 10]

Sudan rebels say holding 29 Chinese workers

[rye1 21]